The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1936-12-31

S" AVN 10Y hSSSpuVus
so great and so unruly during
this administration that Tyler
found il 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 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 /, 1853 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 1t
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 II.
Seward, secretary of state,
brought the proclamation to Lin
coin for his signature.
"I have been shaking hands
since 9 o'clock this morning and
my right hand is almost para
lyzed" Lincoln told him. II my
name ever goes into history II
will be for this act, and my whole
soul is in it. If my hand trembles
when I sign, all who examine
the document hereafter will say
He hesitated.'" Saying that ne
signed - but those who look
upon the signature on that nus.
toric document now say tna1 y
was written as boldly, as firmly
and as unfalteringly as any ever
signed "a Lincoln"
Like Buchanan, Ulysses p
Grant was also severely cru
cized by the public in regard "
the New Years reception pu1 ~,
a different reason. Because ~, ~
the death of Mrs. Bellnap, wne
of his secretary Of war, ne can,
celled the function. ThereuP0
Washington gossips declared ,'s,,,a =
was a bad breach of internauona,,
good manners for the Presloen'
to slight the foreign diplomas,
who desired to pay their reSps s.n
to the head of the Amer'. ..n
nation, simply because oil an us,' ~
fortunate tragedy, even ll ss;sl
it was in the Presidents oii'
family.
World War Aftermath.
In 1908, during the adminls',ass 10
ton of Theodore Roosevela, 10
public was especially eager ,se
attend the reception because .; "a
White House had been exien s.,'ss
" remodelled and the crown WV
which turned out TO see tne The she
decorations were among rssi.
largest in history. During r tbe
dent Wilson'S administrator, ,ary
traditional functions on 1an were
/ were discontinued but tnesys; %
resumed in 1922 by Presi s,ssr
Harding. The reception tha ~ stit
was notable for the ia ae;ou a since
was the first public function and
the war at which German aseut.
Austrian diplomats were pre ,'sse
During the Harding, C .sowds,
and Hoover regimes the &c cl White
which lined up on lle wears
House grounds on New shake
Day for the chance 70 md the
hands with the President a"o often
First Lady OF the Lano ooo ner.
numbered as many as o,u ~. that
sons. Because of the fa .csa,u'ber
greeting such a large % nu' upOp
imposed a useless sIra hSesaviesi
the man who carries the n ass an.
burden in our nation tn ,rs,;tted
nual reception was again a zion
by the present adminis. IT,