Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-03

trations, but the changes We're made more
rapidly under Mr.. Quincy and the sudden
ness with which the service was turned up
side down directed particular attention to
the matter. The consular service under all
administrations has been the p1aything of
politics. No attempt has been made to de-
termine the fitness of candidate for a
consular office.
consideration has been given only to the
political influence behind the applicant.
Our consuls go abroad under great disad-
vantai ses-ignorant often of the language
OF the country to which they are assigned,
without knowledge of business conditions
and usually with no interest in their work.
They look on their appointments as the re-
ward of political services, they don't ex-
pect to stay more than four years and they
go merely for the salary and the fees. l
have a private secretary who was consul
at Magdeburg until this administra ton
came in. He went there with knowledge
of the Germ an language, and he was be-
coming a valuable representative of our
government, when he was called back, for
no other reason than that another political
party had come into power.
Now We want 20 give certain perma-
hence to office holding in the consular
service. We want men to be encouraged
to make this their life work. That Is why
Senator Morgan and I, working together,
got up the bill which he introduced in the
Senate. 1t was introduced too late in the
short session of Congress to be considered
before adjournment but we hope to bring
1t up in the next Congress and push 1t
through.
Mr.. Reed for President.
"And what is your idea of the presiden-
tial nominee?" 1 asked
"NIr Reed will be undoubtedly the cam
didate of the entire New England delega-
ton in the republican convention. There
is not the least doubt that as the time
for the convention approaches the whole
interest of New England will be conferred
on the New England candidate"
For the complimentary first vote?'"
mo; with the hope of bringing about his
est support of the New England dele
gates"
"And who do you think will be the nom
inee of the convention?
Il would not care to make a predictions
80 far ahead. Mr.. Reed will be Speaker of
the House. OF that there is no doubt.
With his election to this, the highest office
In the gift Of the republican party, he will
come before the whole country conspicu-
ously as a presidential candidate. Much
may depend on his acts as Speaker. They
may affect his interests favorably or they
hazard prediction"
asked Mr.. Lodge If he was engaged on
any literary work now.
q have not the time for It," he said.
II cannot attend to that and to my public
duties, too. When a man is engaged
on historical work of any magnitude.
ne ne must concentrate sentu. his thoughts
at intervals to attend to other things. I
have been in public life ten years and
since have been in the Senate my public
duties have demanded all Of my attention.
] have written some articles from time to
time. but always public topics which
i have been studying in connection with
my duties as a Senator"
The Immigration Problem.
I'm what particular direction do. your
Senatorial energies tend?" I asked.
ITO the study of legislative questions
chiefly" said the Senator. II am inter-
ested deeply interested, in the immigra ton
problem Nothing is Of more public inter-
est just now. I think, than the question of
regulating the flood of Immigrants con-
stantly coming to America. 1t Is only
within few years that We have shut out
the criminal and pauper classes. Now we
have to consider how we will prevent the
coming CT other undesirable people. The
Slavic race is coming to America in great
NUMBERS and we are receiving a great
many immigrants from Italy and Bohemia
Many of these men are willing to work in
this country for almost as little as they
received at home. They come in COMPETE
ton with American workmen, and cheaper
American labor. This is not true of the
better class of immigrants-the skilled la
borers. These men when they come to
America soon demand as good wages as
American laborers of the same grade re-
ceve.
Sometimes these skilled laborers demand
more, as the original diamond cutters did
The first diamond cutters were brought
from Holland to Boston by man named
Morse. who paid them their own price for
their labor. In Holland these men kept the
methods of their trade a secret. Morse, who
had dabbled in diamond cutting, soon learn
ed all that they knew. and in secret i'm
parted 1t to some American apprentices.
After a time the Dutch diamond cutters de-
manded an Increase Of pay, and stopped
work when they did not get it. Then the
American apprentices were put to work at
less wages than the Dutchmen had been re-
ceiving, and since that time diamond cut
ting has been a leading American trade.
The diamond cutting business in America
you'd be even larger than 1t Is if the
Treasury Department had not interpreted