Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-04

The Social Precedence Problem.

While to some, living away from
Washington and unacquainted with the
delicate niceties Of oflcial-social rela-
tionships at the Capital, the issue raised
by Vice President Curtis protest against
q recent ruling by the retiring Secre-
tary of State regarding the status Of
his official hostess, his sister, is q small
and immaterial matter, to residents OF
Washington this question Is momentous.
It has been, in one form and another,
. burning question for many years.
Probably more brain fag has been
caused the ofiicials whose duties include
the scheduling Of social-oficial ranks
by such problems than by any interna-
tional complications. Indeed. the So
cial-precedence puzzle Is in large de-
gree international in character.
The fundamental issue in this mat
ter Is whether the hostess of the Vice
President, whether wife or sister, takes
precedence at social functions over the
representatives of foreign governments.
The now retired Secretary of State,
perhaps upon the advice Of the experts
of the State Department, has decided
that she does not, and has so notified
the dean of the diplomatic corps. This
ruling recognizes as valid the conten-
ton that the Ambassadors and Min
listers are the direct representatives Of
their sovereigns and executives. But 1t
departs from precedent, in q manner,
by 30 declaring, inaSmuch Is since the
early days Of the Mckinley administra-
ton the hostess Of the Vice President
has taken precedence over the diplo-
mats. In this particular case the real
complication arises from the fact that
the hostess Of the Vice President Is not
his wife, he being . widower, but his
sister. And the complication is further
involved by the fact that the Vice
Presidents hostess has husband, who
must be taken into account in all
Teckonings.
No strict social-oficial code has ever
been established in Washington beyond
the possibility Of amendment. The
memory Of man runneth not to the
contrary Of the posing Of problems be-
fore the Department of State relative
to relationships between ambassadors
and judges. ministers and Senators and
Representatives, Speakers and cabinet
officers. A fairly workable system has
been evolved that has met most Ques-
tons. But from time to time Presi-
dents have changed matters, as did Nc
Kinley in the case OF the Vice Presi-
dents hostess, and it has been neces-
sary for the State Department to recast
the social horoscope.
For q long period these social ques-
lions were settled, as they arose, by
Alvey A. Adee, who served as Assistant
Secretary Of State for many years. He
was recognized as past master Of prob
lem solution. But even he at times
was unable to find the way out Of the
icial-diplematic- judicial laby-
rinth, as on the classic occasion, often
cited, when, after the list Of guests for
o proposed dinner had been submitted
to him for expert advice in table seat
ing, he pondered for time and then
recommended that the prospective
hostess become Ill and postpone the
dinner.
Keen sympathy is felt for Secretary
etimson, whose advent into ONCE is
thus marked by the direct putting of
what is perhaps the most dificult and
embarrassing question that could be
laid before the head Of the State De-
partment. But however he may decide,
whatever the outcome of the disputa-
ton, whatever expedients may be de-
vised to prevent the precipitation of
diplomatic involvement, 1t Is assured
that the Government at Washington
viii survive.