Lexington Leader. (Lexington, Okla.), Vol. 18, No. 31, Ed. 1 Friday, April 23, 1909 Page: 3 of 8
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r
h
Lively
It would be a different proposition
tf the men who Are leading double
Uvea were doing the work of two men.
- Judge.
Not New, Just Overlooked
We have every reason to bellevo
that the statement that a new planet
has meen discovered, at Harvard la
untrue. All the indications point to it
having been there for some time,
though in the hurry of modern astron-
* by Waldon K&WCET
oray it would
■overlooked.
appear to have been
?HE advent cf William H. Taft as gen-
oral manager of the nation's affairs
marks the dawn of an era of
higher efficiency in the conduct of
the presidential business offices. The
new vitalizing influence is not going
to merely restore to the business at-
mosphere of the White House the
best traditions of a period when the
executive office was the premier busi-
ness establishment of the country in
nurtesy. precision and promptness. It
;1 do more. It will temper this clock like
ruhrity and formality — essential
f T-'Ii it be to the dignity of the place
iih a modern progressivene. s that
will make for economy of time and la-
i t he disratchof the public business.
ft is safe to predict that henceforth
no person will have occasion to coin-
I'lain, for instance, that letters ad
<11< .-•'«! to the White House remain un-
;i' : ,1,,> (1. The president's ofiice will
t back on the basis on which it was
! ■;"((I by the conscientious Cortelyou
wit!; an invariable rule that every let-
ter should be answered the same day
as j «r eived no slight chore when it
i ta.Vn into consideration that from
it, t.000 letters reach the White
■ / • every day. Similarly, visitors
' be handled with a minimum of
ti!- d tempers because the work will
hands of the best business
lonrats in America.
optimistic forecast is justified
' . o the new bosses at the White
e offices are 'toot novices or un-
known quantities. They have for years
past been proving themselves in the
most exacting sphere of public busi«-
ii< as and have made good most emphati- _,
<'• ■ ■> in .he first place, William H. Taft comes pretty near
I * in-: an ideal man for the head of a governmental business es-
tal.lis-hnient. 1-etter even than an ultra-practical business man
I'm a petition that combines political and business considera-
OFF/CF OF Trtif cSECRETARY TO T/YE PRESIDENT
largely by a policy of jus
tice and absolute Imparti-
ality to all callers and pe-
titioners for favors. That
was, of course, in the days
before the public had
PHOTOCHAPHS
wz pa nnell
II[IV DOOmtCKtf AT THi
PREilDEHTIAL omCEi
p fred
w.
CARPENTER
1
.ARTHUR BROO/<>J
/7AUfi/C£ C LATTA,.CWEF EXECUTIVE CLftfJS
Hons Is a man such as Taft a la.wyer with more or less busi-
ness training. Equally important as an augur of the future are
thp exceptional Qualifications of the new chief magistrate's busi-
ness aids. Finally it is lo be noteil that It will be unnecessary*
to waste any time in "shaking down" the new organization.
President Taft and his chosen helpers have been in the same
relation to one another for years past and they are letter perfect
in that teamwork which is the first requisite of business suc-
cess.
I he business staff at the White House comprises about 4'i
persons including secretary, assistant secretaries, clerks, tele-
phone and telegraph operators, messengers, etc. This corps
is divided, very equally, numerically, into two different classes,
in the one group are the higher officials, who by reason of their
positions are constantly in the closest association with the
president. For these posts each incumbent of the presidency
naturally desires to have men whose qualifications especially
appeal to him, and possibly men who, by reason of previous con-
nection. are familiar with his personal policies and business
methods. To that end, each incoming chief magistrate feels
free to, as one of his first official acts, fill the secretaryship to
the president and the assistant secretaryships with his personal
seleclions.
The second class of White House business aids Includes the
executive clerks, disbursing officer, etc., etc.—positions which;
though subordinate ara important cogs in the executive ma-
chinery. In this sphere, however, experience, knowledge of
routine and precedent, the latter always an important considera-
tion at the White House—are accounted to outweigh personal
considerations and so most of the occupants of these positions
remain undisturbed from administration lo administration as
"fixtures" and "Indispensables." Not a few of the places are
under civil service and there are on the White House payroll,
veterans who have been in continuous service since the days
o.- Lincoln.
It can readily be appreciated from Ihe foregoing that the im-
portant positions at the presidential business headquarters and
those whose occupants sound the keynote of business procedure
at the nerve center of the nation are the secretaryship and as-
sistant secretaryships. No small part of the confidence mani-
fested in the future is to be attributed to the circumstance that
Mt\ Fred W. Carpenter is Taft's choice for secretary to the
president. Carpenter has been for ten years past the "right hand
man" of William H. Taft and now, having earned promotion
corresponding to that bestowed upon his chief, he will prove
to be the right man in the right place as business manager of
t'je White House. Carpenter can be depended upon to restore
the position of secretary to the president to the plane upon which
it was placed by Lamont and Cortelyou. #
It was Cortelyou, acting as secretary to the late President
McKinley, who made this post of cabinet calib«r and he did it
heard so
much of
the "square
deal," but
C o r t e 1 -
you in his
quiet way
made this
\ aunted slo-
gan a fact
and not fic-
t i o n. In
C o r t e 1 -
you's time,
as ever,
men depart-
ed from the
White
House rag-
ing and
fuming be-
cause their
r e q u ests
had been
refused or
b e c a use
they have been granted less than they sought, but
each such supplicant went away with salve for his
disappointment in the knowledge that if it had
been denied, at least no person else would be
granted the boon that he sought. Cortelyou was
ever consistently the foe of unwarranted special
privilege. Fred Warner Carpenter, worthy suceess-
_ or of Cortelyou, strongly resembles the latter in
.?♦ temperament. Quiet, dignified and a trifle re-
served in manner with a suggestion of tremen-
dous reserve power, Carpenter Is ever tactful
and diplomatic, yet he has the faculty, when occasion demands,
of being firm without becoming ill mannered. The new secretary
to the president also has Cortelvou's love for and prodigious
capacity for hard work. Like Cortelyou, too, he Is a self-made
young man and his meteoric rise had much the same beginning,
with skill in stenography as the first stepping-stone.
Carpenter, who will be 37 years of age next December, is a
native of the little town of Sauk Center. Minn., but in 1882.
when the hoy was only ten years old, his father removed to
California and most of his boyhood was spent on a ranch in
the (lolden Gate state, enjoying all forms of open air life and
Instilling what has ever since been an abiding affection for this
climatic paradise. Young Carpenter attended the public schools
in California and a private academy until he had almost reached
his majority, when he returned to his native state and entered
the law school of the University of Minnesota. In 1897, four
years later, he graduated as bachelor of laws, and in 1898 took
the L. L. M. degree, being admitted to practice both In Minne-
sota and California.
In 3898 Carpenter returned to California and was with the law
firm of Bishop & Wheeler in San Francisco as Mr. Charles S.
Wheeler's stenographer when there came to him from the
Philippines that message which started hiin upon his interesting
career of Ihe past decade. It was little more than mere accident
that brought Taft and Carpenter together. The president of the
Philippine commission was in need of a stenographer for con-
fidential work and could not find one to his liking in the islands.
A friend, fresh from America, to whom he appealed in his di-
lemma, remembered the willing worker in the San Francisco
law office aud recommended Carpenter. The young man came
out on the next steamer and proved his mettle so speedily that
in less than a year, with the inauguration of Taft as governor
of the Philippines, Carpenter was made his private secretary.
From that day to this Carpenter has been continuously Taft's
chief aid In the roles of secretary of war, presidential candidate,
president-elect and chief magistrate, and certainly no public man
ever had a more energetic or so tireless a secretary. He accom-
panid Taft twice around the world; sojourned with him succes
sively in Washington; Murray Hay. Canada; Hot Springs, Va,
and Cincinnati, G„ to say nothing of those weeks of strenuous
existence on the special train that "swung 'round the circle"
during the recent presidential campaign. In short, Carpenter
earned the tribute recently paid to him publicly when Mr
Taft said of his personal representative: "lie is the best secre-
tary that a man ever had, and I got him by accident. I cabled
across the Pacific from Manila on a statement of a man named
Dan Williams, who was out there, that if I secured him. I would
get the best secretary in the United States or Ihe Philippines,
ir between the two. He has been with me for about ten years.
He lias not grown any older, except in service. He is just
good to-day as then, or even better, because ho understands
better how to control me and keep me straighter."
Next to Carpenter probably the most interesting newcomer
of the recognized White House business staff is Wendell W.
Mlschler, likewise young in years but old in official business
experience. Mlschler, who is a native of Taft's own state,
Ohio, was first clerk to Secretary of
War Taft and later became, in effect,
assistant private secretary. He went
with Taft in the latter capacity when
the Republican presidential nominee
retired from the cabinet to conduct his
canvass and has been a member of
the personal staff of the new president
ever since. During the stay of the
Taft family at Augusta, Ga., when
Secretary Carpenter was enjoying a
long-deferred vacation in California,
Mischler was acting secretary and he
accompanied the president-elect on
the Panama trip. Mischler Is a splen-
did stenographer and is much the
same sort of quiet, efficient, general
utility man as Is Carpenter.
The other assistant secretary to the
president is Rudolph Forster, who has been a member of j
the White House business staff for a number of years. He !
started in a clerical position and by virtue of hard work j
combined with ability worked up step by step until he at- j
tained his present responsible position. The newly appointed j
chief executive clerk, Maurice t'. Latta, is likewise old In
experience at the White House offices, though young In |
years. An "indispensable" who lias survived the present
change of administration just, as he has been undisturbed
by previous White House "shake-ups," is Col. William E. j
Crook, the distributing officer of the executive offices, who j
has been for 41 years continuously in the service of presi-
dents. Col. Crook was Ihe bodyguard of Abraham Lincoln; I
President Johnson made him a clerk; ho served under Grant j
as acting secretary to the president, and almost ever since he
has been distributing officer, paying the salaries of all the
workers at the White House offices and expending in the aggre-
gate hundreds of thousands of dollars for supplies.
Warren S. Young is another clerical veteran at the White i
House and a record of service through three administrations is
held by Thomas Anderson, the special White House postman,
who handles all mail to and from Ihe executive mansion, signs j
for all registered pieces, and is. in short, as unique is his du- j
ties as are any of the White House officials. President Taft ;
has brought to the White House as his personal messenger, |
Arthur Brooks, the colored man who served him In a similar
capacity when lie was secretary of war, and who accompanied
him around the world. Likewise he has transferred to the J
White Houpe as doorkeeper William Pennell, who long held
a corresponding position in the offices of (he secretary
Lion Shooting Record
Three-fine lions, shot by ('apt. Geof-
frey Buxton In East Africa, have just
been placed in the Castle museum.
All three beasts were shot within fif-
teen minutes, and when Mrs. Bux-
ton arrived nt the spot 20 minutes af-
ter her husband's setting out sho
found him regarding the three bodies.
—London Dally Mail.
Sneezing Superstitions
The Germans say: "Good health"*
because they maintain, and not with-
out reason, that tho sneeze is a warn-
ing of the approach of a. cold, and
also marks the movement when a.
charm, a wish, or a suggestion may
drive it away. The Persians go fur-
ther in this direction, inasmuch as
they exclaim, "God ho thanked!" its
being held thnt the sneeze has actual-
ly put to flight somo evil spirit that
was about to gain entrance to a man *
oody in order to feed upon his sacred
3res. The Sunday Magazine.
Never trust a husband with your
diamonds. He may lose them or the
pawn tickets.
Stramoline
A Specific for Asthma. A certain rem-
edy for Rheumatism, Bright's Disease,
Consumption and all Coughs, La Grippe
and Croup. Cures all Lung and Bron-
chial Diseases. Tho greatest restora-
tive agent known. Makes pale, weak,
thin people healthy, fat and strong.
Ask us about it. Write or call. Kills
the Cough, that is certain.
The Stramoline Co.
3 N. Harvey St. Oklahoma City. Okla.
FOR SALE BY ALL DRUGGISTS.
OKLAHOMA DIRECTORY
New York Star Clean-
ing & Dye Works
OSTRIC H f-LATHLR DycinK aii'l Cleaning a
•penalty, Mail and express orders solicited.
JOSLYN ENG. CO.
L IH Writ (>rand Avenue, Oklahnmi
FOR SALE.
Cuts of
all kinds
City, Okla.
BEST BUS. BAGGAGE
AND CARRIAGE LINE
IN OKLAHOMA. Address all rommunicatiors to Livery
No. 109 W. California Ave.. Oklahoma City. Okla
DURHAM MUSIC GO. - -
ima.von. TAi.kixo mai iii.mim. Write for catalog
of 310 N. BR0A0WAY OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.
Notary or ( orv.oriition Spain, 62 <0
'Nulary Public Itcconl Bnok,#l .V)
100 Stork OrliIlealpb a I, $.' 00
Corporation Itrcnril Book, $,'J <;U
tii-r. Silver Hat or Coat Ha«lp\ *1
Write for Rubber Stamp Cataioc
0 K.ST AMP & P TG Co. Okla. City.
AUTOMOBILES'
rry full
i :ak >
AWNINGS, TENTS,
Cover* *11 Itiit<1 m of CAM AS UOOIIS. TIM«
ELAZES STARTED IN STRANGE WAYS
Outbreaks or fire are often most mysterious in their origin.
We are frequently confronted with problems concerning tho
cause of fires in houses, factories and fields that are utterly
baffling and insoluble. Yet in what simple ways we may be
victimized the examples given in (his article.afford most strik-
ing proof.
It is the simplest natural operation when lighting a candle [
to place the box of matches close at hand in the vicinity
of the candlestick. The doing of this trifling act nearly result-
n J uuiru.Mur ncm ,-Nrna lor rautlug tJAIKS MMJ. UU , _'J
ed one summer time in a catastrophe. Every one must have w California m . oklahoma en*
seen how limp and helpless a candle will become on a warm (>niinni nn nuiinnn riininrn
summer's evening; and it was on account of this weakness in 0 C11U U L AND CHURCH FURNITURE
the candle that the danger ai^ise. Little by little It drooped J «>>"' < HAiiisAN!> sctiooi, sum.iKs. ju;„. (j, r...
toward the slightly opened box of safely matches, into which for prices and l«rui JASPER SII'LS. Oklahoma Cltv.
It at length plunged its flame, causing a sudden burst of fire, |
accentuated by the presence of warm wax which had fallen i
from the inverted extremity. The table carried several odds !
and ends of the character generally tn i)t. found on a workman's !
kitchen table; and had the outbreak not been immediately ex '
tinguished the whole place might soon have been alight to the |
marvel of the inhabitants.
A scullery maid, or any one else, for I hat matter, would not j
think twice about placing a box of matches on the ledge of j
a sink, even in the event of a lamp being situated at a lower j
level on a stool near by. Now, in the following case the com- !
bination of circumstances was indeed remarkable. The waste- j
pipe was-stopped up. so that the water dripping from the tap
slowly filled up the sink. When the water had risen to the I
level of ihe ledge it gracefully lilted the matchbox, which fell j
straight on to ihe lop of the lamp chimney, shedding its j
fiery contents into thr flare, and, of eoui>", considerably endan-
gering the surrounding articles, fortunately matters went no '
further, but I am justified in supposing that, had they done so, j
all concerned would soon have been asking: "How did it j
start?" without having the remotest chance of the truth dawn-
ing upon their minds.
Moths and Humes are universally connected, yet few people |
suspect that danger could arise therefrom. The insects are of I
such frail structure that generally they are destroyed before
it is possible for them to inflict injury; and it is hardly cred-
ible that the wings would ignite and retain the flame long '
enough to enable the moth to fly to its surroundings. That, I
however, is what occurred on the following occasion. The I
moth was a large one, and its wings must, have been very !
dry, so that when it floundered through the flame it set lire j
to one wing and darted on to a curtain, near by, which at
once flared up. If is possible that many summer evening fires |
in the country could be attributed to a source of this kind. I
It is notorious *1 hat mysterious tires often arise at sunset in j
the hot months. In this case Ihe adherent wax may have helped i
tlie wings to keep alight
ROOFING
an<i fr«« aonveo
_____ J"ur hdw I lurnl—r
FREE <l«Al" Rrit I —
pared roofing iuaU«
THE OKLAHOMA SASH & DOOR COMPANY
N. 5. Darlinc. President Oklahoma City. U.S.A
TANKS
CORNICE*. SKYLIGHTS
SI.ATK ROW INtf (
MKTAL WOHK Wr.Lo
KING SHEET METAL WORKS
500 Main Street Oklahoma City
KEYSTONE TAILORS
lAl.'l niF.K Mui
KKYSTONB TAILORS
TSNWARE.WOODENWARE
Stat* rfiatriiit'for for QUICK A«TIO\ AND SNOW BALI
>1 i l. i" * MILI.KR JA< h>uN 1|\ A HOOItKNW
"THI llnrst. WITH A I.AltUK VARIETY II.' 114 El
Equals9 DEERE IMPLEMENTS
a n d V E LIE V E HIC L E S y' ur dealer
OR JOHN OEEBE PLOW CO., OKLAHOMA CITY
FOR BEST RESULTS USE
They ara the
best that grow.
ASK YOUR DEALER FOR THEM
BARTELDES SEED CO.
Oklahoma Seed House OKLAHOMA CITY
0. K, SEEDS
The last, of our examples is eer
of them all. A box of lueifers
mantel shelf, and an ordinary Hi
them at a later period, so close
Eventually the keydrop on
had managed effectually
lightly between itself and ihe
and friction on the heads resu
extended to I heir companion.-,
a performance successfully u
one has seen or heard of haj:
never be repeated, however i
sticks in comical position
undergoes peculiar maneuvers
occur, either by accident or design.
ainly the most extraordinary
had been thrown upon the
(. lock evidently put in front of
os« as to be in actual contact,
buck, during its slow revolutions,
pinch hi and hold the mncbei
shelf, and ihe continual pressure
Iterl in their ignition, which soon
One might vainly try to repeat
iccornplished by chance. Every
ihazard occurrences which could
carefully attempted. Something
when thrown—something else
but never aga^i is it likely to
ROOFING
MALTHOID
AND
"C. & G."
BEST EVER
Curtis & Gartside Co., Oklahoma City
Wholesale Manufacturers of Sash and
Doors, Hardwood Finish Office and Bank
Fixtures. your Lumber Dealer.
EVERY GOOD COOK
and observing housewife knows that
it's economy to use the beat. In
RHOCTflW FLOsE
you have the best and cheapest. Ask
your grocer for it.
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Fox, J. O. Lexington Leader. (Lexington, Okla.), Vol. 18, No. 31, Ed. 1 Friday, April 23, 1909, newspaper, April 23, 1909; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc110360/m1/3/: accessed April 18, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.