Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-10-14
SOMETHING OF THE REPUBLICAN
SECRETARY or STATE.

Government.
II has been said that three Of Mr. Har-
risons cabinet appointments were scan
dalous. The facts in support of that
statement are not difficult to produce.
The three more positively scandalous
appointments are those of John Wanna
maker, John w. Foster and Stephen b.
Elleins.
Wanamaker's case has been sufficiently
dealt with already His appointment
was made in fulhllment Of a bargain.
II was bought with money. IL was de.
livered at the demand Of the men who
had furnished the corruption fund with
which Mr.. Harrison's election was pur
chased.
John w. Foster was made secretary
Of state, to the amazement of everybody
who knew aught of the career of the
man or of the dignity of the office, as a
part of Mr.. Harrison's plan to secure re-
election. Ii helped or was expected to
help in Indiana, where disaffection was
rife in spite of the efforts of Consul
General New. who had been called home
from hfs post OF duty TO repay the presi-
dent for his appointment by fixing the
Hoosier State
Mr.. Fosters unfitness for the position
was obvious. IL was not so much intel
lectual as moral and historical. It's evil
dence lay in the history of his official
and unofficial dealings with the govern.
ment in which he was thus called upoI
10 take one of the most exalted places.
Mr.. Foster had large ability. II had
been rendered conspicuous by his skill
In combining the dignity of diplomatic
station with the thrift of the claim
agent. He had experience in dealing
with foreign affairs. Ii had been gained
at the expense of the government, when
Mr.. Foster turned to account as lobby
list, attorney and claim agent the in
formation he had gained as a govern
ment representative. AS The World said
pt the time of his appointment. his
record had been "a curious tumble Of
diplomatic engagements for and against
the United States" He had rarely held
post in the service of his country with
out making it the stepping stone to EN-
ployment by foreign nation in opposi
ton TO his country or without utilizing
the information gained in his official
position for the advantage of some client
with claims against the United States.
His first important post was that Of
minister 10 Mexico, from 1878 TO 1880.
There he so far commended himself TO
the Mexican authorities that they made
il profitable for him 10 give mp represent.
ing the United States and accept re
tainer to represent Mexico as attorney
against the United States.
The matter was notorious at the time.
The government of the United States.
acting on behalf of its citizens, had
pressed against Mexico certain claims
for damages sustained by Americans.
known as the We'll La Abra claims
After long negotiation the matter had
been passed upon by commission and
Judgment had been given for the claim
ants. The Mexican government had ac-
cepted the decision and paid over the
money TO our government for distribu-
ton.
Then came Mr.. Foster. late minister
of the United States TO Mexico. in the
new character of attorney for Mexico,
with the allegation that fraud had been
employed in securing the award. He
fled protest against the distribution of
the money. which resulted in the stop
page of proceedings at that point. The
money has never been paid over 10 the
men to whom it belongs. The ex-min-
lister of the United States has thus man
aged as attorney for the foreign power
TO unsettle matter of which settlement
had been secured at great cost and by
long negotiation. He has made it again
asubject of dispute between the two gov
ernments.
AS attorney he has done more to create
differences between the two countries
than he ever did as minister 10 allay
them. Both sides Paid him for his serv-
ices, and now that he is at the head of
the state department he may fairly be
regarded as the counsel on both sides in
any further negotiations that may I've
had concerning this matter. He is set
TO prosecute u claim which he has been
paid by the defendant to declare wrong
ful and fraudulent. He must as score
tary of state oppose his own contentious
made in his capacity of attorney for
Mexico He must as secretary deny to
his clients all that they have paid him
as lawyer TO secure for them, or else
be must betray his trust as secretary in
the interest of his business as attorney
This is what comes of selecting for
the head of the state department an at
torney who has combined the profess
sions of diplomat and foreign claim
agent, with greater regard for the profits
TO be made in the one business than for
the honorable service 10 be rendered to
his country in the other.
But this is not the worst of the mat
Ter. Mr.. Foster has not hesitated to
serve his two masters at one and the
same time. II is not case Of public
officer called upon 10 deal officially with
questions with which he was long ago
concerned as attorney. Mr. Foster has
acted in behalf of his Mexican clients
and in opposition TO the state depart
ment since he entered that department
~ active capacity, He did - 81 s time