The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-12-31

so great and so unruly during
this administration that Tyler
found it necessary to have an
extra detail of police on hand to
handle the people. However, he
was luckier in their reaction to
this innovation than was one of
his successors. Later a storm of
protest was directed against
James Buchanan because of the
gauntlet of policemen" who sur
rounded the White House for his
reception. There was good reason
for having the officers there, how
ever, for it is recorded that in
the crush at least one pocket
was picked and other disorders
marred the occasion.
The Day of the Proclamation
One of the most important New
Years Day receptions ever held
in the White House was that of
January l., 1868 and it was sig
nificant because of a momentous
event which took place immedi-
ately afterwards. Abraham Lin
coin had drawn up his Emanci-
patton Proclamation, had read it
to his cabinet and had won their
approval of this document which
would commit the government
irrevocably to the destruction of
slavery. At noon William H.
Seward, secretary of state,
brought the proclamation to Lin
coin for his signature.
"I have been shaking hands
since 8 o'clock this morning and
my right hand is almost para
lyzed" Lincoln told him. eff my
name ever goes into history it
will be for this act, and my whole
soul is in it. If my hand trembles
when 1 sign, all who examine
the document hereafter will say
He hesitated.' Saying that he
signed - but those who look
upon the signature on that his
toric document now say that 1t
was written as boldly, as firmly
and as unfalteringly as any ever
signed ga Lincoln"
Like Buchanan, Ulysses S.
Grant was also severely criti-
cized by the public in regard to
the New Years reception but for
a different reason. Because of
the death of Mrs. Belknap, wife
of his secretary of war, he cam
celled the function. Thereupon
Washington gossips declared it
was bad breach of international
good manners for the President
to slight the foreign diplomats,
who desired to pay their respects
to the head of the American
nation, simply because of an I'M
fortunate tragedy, even though
it was in the Presidents official
family.
World War Aftermath.
In 1908, during. the administra-
ton of Theodore Roosevelt, the
public was especially eager to
attend the reception because the
White House had been extensive
ly remodelled and the crowds
which turned out to see the new
decorations were among the
largest in history. During Presl-
dent Wilson'S administration the
traditional functions on January
were discontinued but they were
resumed in 1922 by President
Harding. The reception that year
was notable for the fact that it
was the 6rst public function since
the war at which German and
Austrian diplomats were present.
During the Harding, Coolidge
and Hoover regimes the crowds,
which lined up on the White
House grounds on New Years
Day for the chance to shake
hands with the President and the
First Lady of the Land, often
numbered as many as 5000 per-
sons. Because of the fact that
greeting such a large number
imposed a useless stra4u upon
the man who carries the heaviest
burden in our nation the an
nual reception was again omitted
by the present administration.
q Western Newspaper Union.