The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-05-13

- ted States Of America
Hsyy%g%5H these dnys. He ~ the
4 gs&&xzGyH liead OF the higgeat bnsi'
ness concern on earth,
aud probably his secretary George
u, Christian, Jr, Is the next busiest.
Moreover, Mr.. Christian Is as I'm
portant as be Ii busy. Really you
know, there are few more important
Jobs In Washington than that OF the
secretary 70 the President. Some peo-
pile go 80 Gar az to say that the Pres
idents secretary Is 10 reality q more
important official than any member Of
the cabinet. They argue that II the ex-
eeutive departments were left without
heads they would run along Just
about the same, whereas without Il sec.
retnry O President could not get along
az all. This Is the Kind OF picturesque
exaggeration that we Americans like
because II Ii mighty near the truth
Anyway, the discriminating reader
VIII have noted that the press OF the
country gave Mr.. Christians appoint
iaent quite MS much space MS 1t did
some OF the cabinet appointments.
Mr., Christian has been with Mr.,
Harding quite long time long
enough TO have gotten we'll acquainted
with his chief and to have proved his
own abilities AS secretary to Sena-
tor Harding, he had i chance TO learn
Washington. And he won his
spurs during the trying days OF the
campaign.
The Presidents secretary Is the
mouthpiece OF the President. When
he speaks II Is ex cathedra. II a COM
munlcati0n IL TO be made 10 the pub
Nc ON any subject not so important as
10 require formal proclamation. II
III the secretary who utters II, usually
through the medium OF the newspa-
pers
Every letter that reaches the White
House, IL read and a rule requires
that TO everyone courteous reply
shall be made. A dozen clerks attend
10 this business. They even read and
answer the letters addressed 10 the
Presidents wife; for mutitudes OF
strangers write to her also. Private
letters, recognized as such by sort
OF INSTINCT alone pass unopened,
Ills futuref That remains TO bS told.
Many OF the presidential secretaries
graduated from the White House Office
10 fame and riches.
Simply white House"
The Official residence Of the ma.
tl0n's chief Ii called To the laws the
Presidents house, and with this name
much OF the old silver and china be.
longing TO the establishment Ii
marked. When Mr.. Roosevelt arrived
on the scene he found large stacks
Of note-paper and ietter,paper stamped
with the words Executive Mansion
IA title adopted by Mr.. Cleveland
who delighted in big words "Throw
out that Junk r said he TO his secre
tary; and, by his direction, All OF this
stationery was thereafter headed sim
ply "Whlte House"
Up to Mr.. Rooseyeits time the bust
ness offices OF the White House wers
IN the mansion prapee, directly ovel
the East room, SO that visitors cam,
10 AZ the front door and climbed fiigh
OF stairs to reach them, Across iii,
main corridor on the second floor MA
placed screen to shut on the office,
from the private quarters of the Pres
ldent's family.
The arrangement was certainly de
plorabie. Sofas along the walls o
tile corridor, into which the PresI
dents own Office opened directly. pro
ylded seats for persons anxious i
see him or his secretary. The secre
tary's room adloined that Of the Pres
ident. and on the opposite side Of III
corridor were rooms for clerks an
the telegraph room.
Mr. Roosevelt tore The mansion III
orally to pieces, spending for tile pun
pose $555.00o, or nearly twice as muc
money as Il originally cost. AS on
result, the former office quarters /
the White House are now five bel
Fsonis. and al executive business
transacted In a small oIie-story anne
= couple of hundred feet to the Yves