Evening star., 1935-01-20

Mckinley during the Spanish-American
War.
THIS recital of serious cabinet sessions
could be extended far back into the
past history of this country and would
cover many written pages, but just as
frequently these sessions are not at all
serious or grave. They might be rated
as the run-of-the- mill routine business
Sometimes there is virtually no real busi-
ness. 1t is generally during the latter
occasions, as we'll as when the business
is more or less routine and not taxing,
that the President and his associates
sit and swap stories and discuss the
topics of the moment.
1t has been a custom of Presidents,
after a general discussion Of business
and after a certain amount OF story
telling, to go into a huddle with one
member at time in order that they
might dispose of some particular busi-
ness relating to individual departments
without bothering the other cabinet Off
GERS assembled.
The latter may go ahead chatting and
laughing while these little private inter-
are being conducted. Sometimes the
President will hold an individual con-
ference like this with each member. But
this is very seldom the case. Generally
1t is only with only two or three, and
frequently only one.
While no President in recent years
has been known to play the host to such
an extent as to pass around cigars or
cigarettes, none has been known to
f1own upon smoking on the part Of his
associates. Presidents Coolidge and
Hoover most always had a cigar In the
mouth throughout cabinet sessions. The
same is virtually true Of President
Roosevelt, who is cigarette smoker.
President Harding alternated between
q pipe and a cigarette and q cud OF
chewing tobacco. Those cabinet officers
who care to may smoke what they please
and as much as they please.
THE cabinet table Is 20 feet long and s
- feet In width, and has served its
Important and historic purpose since the
last administration Of Woodrow Wilson.
Each man about the board sits In COM
Portable, high-back, leather chair, ade-
quately cushioned. The chairs are ar
ranged according to cabinet rank and
precedence. The Presidents chair, .
wee bit larger than the others, Is at
the so-called head of the table. The
Vice President sits at the other end.
Hhe ranking member of the cabinet, the
Secretary Of State, Is seated at the Presi-
dents right and the Secretary Of the
treasury at the Presidents left. The
Secretary Of Labor, who comes last IN
NE order Of cabinet precedence, sits at
he right Of the Vice President and the
Secretary OF Commerce ut the 1atter's
3e1t.
On the back Of each chair b . small
brass plate bearing the name, o1lice and
t1Ate Of appointment Of the occupant.
Upon the table are large desk blotters
md in front Of each seat Is an ink Wen
and holder with pens and pencils and
tablets and scratch pads.
This order Of seating Is never changed.
The only thing changed Is the chair
ltself. With each incoming administra-
saon the old chairs are bought At nomi-
nal sums by the members Of the out
uotng administratio no doubt TO be
passed down through the generations
- historic family possessions. When
. member of the cabinet leaves during
IN administration he generally buys his
chair as memento.
Strangely enough, when Andrew Mel
Lon left the cabinet Of President Hoover
30 become Ambassador to Great Britain,
-