Taft's New Secretary Busy.

New York Times 100 years ago today, July 18, 1912:
He Favors Reciprocal Square Deal with Newspaper Correspondents.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON. July 17.— Carmi Thompson, the new secretary to the President, was at his desk early to-day, and through the long sweltering hours of a White House day, which is twice the length of any other laboring day, dug into the status quo ante where Mr. Hilles left it before the Chicago Convention.
    At the close of the day he gave a "seance" to the newspaper men, and in a brief speech announced that he desired to adopt a new deal by which the White House offices would be less exclusive, and the newspaper men might feel that they could get at him any time during the day to get the news,
    "I'm for the reciprocal square deal," said Carmi. "I will treat you fairly, and you must treat me fairly. I realize that what you want is the news. Any one can come in here any time and get it, but it will not always be exclusive. We must tote fair with all. How's that?"
    Inasmuch as during the last three years the correspondents have never heard such encouraging talk about their work at the White House they replied in concert: "That surely is the square deal."