Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-30
FOSTER is PREMIER
The Indiana Diplomat Takes
Blaine's Resigned Portfolio.
QUICKEST OPERATION ON RECORD.

appointment, Confirmation and Commits
son All Pu. Through in Two and a Half
Hours-A Notable Com pliment by the
Senate-Sketch of the New Secretary's
Public Career-A Bill to Retaliate on
Canada Introduced-Republ Fill
buster Against Free Tin Platoon ciaI
Notes.
WASHINGTON, June 30.-It took two
hours and thirty five minutes only to trans
form private citizen into secretary of
state of the United States yesterday At
l:4O p. m. the president sent to the senate
the nomination of Colonel J. w. Foster;
at 2:O3 the senate confirmed the nominal
ton; at 2:30 his commission was sent to
the president and he signed it; at Pas it
was countersigned by Wharton as acting
secretary of state, and at 4:l5 Foster took
the oath of office of secretary of state be-
fore Lewelion Brown, chief clerk and no
cary public of the state department.. 1t
was the quickest work ever known at the
state department.
The Appointee's Diplomatic Career.
John W. Foster has Lad diplomatic
tareer probably unequaled in American
history. Born in Indiana fifty five years
Ego, he was educated in the public schools
and graduated from the state university.
He was admitted to the bar, and in con-
nection with his practice of the law en-
gagged in newspaper work, being connected
with the Evansville Journal. He served
in the war of the rebellion, and after its
close took prominent part in the politics
of the state. In 1872 he served as chairman
of the Republican state central committee,
and in the next year he was appointed by
| President Grant minister to Mexico. He
served successfully as minister to Russia
| and Spain, acquitting himself with great
credit, and winning for his country higher
! regard than it had previously enjoyed at
| these courts.
One of His Treaties Rejected.
In March, 1885, he resigned the Spanish
| mission and returned to the United States,
having negotiated an important CONNER
cial treaty with the Spanish government.
This treaty ELECTED general discussion and
was strongly opposed in the senate. That
body failed to confirm it, and it was after
ward withdrawn by President Cleveland
for reconsideration. Some weeks after
| Colonel Foster was instructed to return TO
Spain to reopen negotiations for modi-
| fled treaty. This mission, however, was
| unsuccessful and Colonel Foster remained
abroad but few months
His Work for Reciprocity.
When the Mckinley bill made it incum-
bent upon the department to consummate
| the reciprocal trade arrangements pro-
| vided for by section of that act Foster
| was placed i'll charge of the negotiations.
His selection was vindicatdd By the facil-
| ity and success with which these arrange
ments We're perfected. Recently he has
had charge of the Behring sea negotiations
and was agent of the United States to pre-
| pare the case for presentation to the arbi-
traitors. Since his retirement from regular
| diplomatic service of the government
| Foster has acted as counsellor for the
Chinese, Spanish and Mexican legations
| in Washington, and his acceptance of the
| office, it is understood, involved consid-
cradle personal financial sacrifice
Complimented by the Senate.
Col Foster is an elder in Dr. Bartlett's
! Presbyterian church. His family at home
consists only of wife, his two daughters,
both married, being residents of Water
town, n. Y. Foster has his legal resi-.
| dence in Evansville, Ind. His immediate
| confirmation by the senate is an unusual
| compliment to the nominee, one which
has heretofore been extended only to sena.
tors sitting in the body when nominated
to office by the president.