The San Francisco call., 1897-12-18
NOT THE MAN
FOR MINISTER
Charles Page Bryan of
Chicago Criticized
by Senators.
A Diplomat of a High Order
of Merit Needed for the
Chinese Mission.
Owing to Germany's Inroads There
VIII Be Some Compl Gated
Questions to Be Met.
Special Dispatch 10 THE CALL
CALL OFFICE, RIGGs House. !
WASHINGTON. Dec. IL.

CALL OFFICE, RIGGS HoUsE,l
WASHINGTON, Dec. II.
There is hitch in the appoint tment of
Hon. Charles Page Bryan of Chicago to be
United States Minister to China. He was
selected for this important mission during
the recess OF Congress, and it was ex-
pected that his nomina ton would be ssnt
to the Senate along with the other recess
appoln ments which have been pouring
upon Senators during the past few days.
MIR. Bryan came to Washington with the
assembling OF Congress, and proceeded to
cultivate in his srtless way friendly rela-
;lons with Senators, especially members
OF the Com mittee on Foreign Relations.
The more Senators have seen of Mr..
Charles Page Bryan the more impressed
are they that he uoes not measure up to
the standard of Mr. DENLY, the present
Minister to China, who has served through
several dmlnistrstions. The friends of
Mr.. Bryan say the President may decide
to withhold his nomination on account of
the great diplomatic exactions OF the
place just now, and which difficult and
delicate duties are rather to increase than
diminish
The inroads of Germany into China,
which are being to all appearances vinked
at by the European powers, rave suggest
ed that in time Germany may strike al
more interests, including the American,
than those she has now secured. China
Is power eminently and consistently
friendly to America, and there is hint
In the air that she has already turned to
this country for prospective assistance.
In other words, a strong man, a man of
affairs and diplomatic experience, is now
needed, they say, both by America and Chi
ma atthe American Legation in h ma. The
information given to-day is that the NOM
ination might be withheld by he Presi-
dent. Application for a confirmation of
this report was made at the White House
this morning. Mr.. Porter. secretary to the
President |, said hat he had heard that cer-
tain Senators are protesting against the
continuation OF Mr.. Bryan, but he was not
aware that they had announced their OPP
position TO the President. Mr.. Porter did
not discuss the matter iurther.
Investigation into the reasons for the
delays shows that many leading Repub-
licans have urged the President to recon-
slider his action. In the Bryan case it is
strongly hinted, If not openly CHARGED,
that ne has neither brains nor ability
Bryan Is a dilettante club man of Chicago.
He is not exactly q chappy, but there are
some so unklnd Is TO put him in the
chappy class.
He IS long on club mem bers hip and ap-
parently short Oil such other qualifica-
lions as NAV be deemed necessary TO the
diplomatic service. ne is the son of
very sensible father, man of affairs out
IN Chicago. This would be Minister was
educated abroad and spent much of his
time travelling on the otner side. He met
Ministers and diplomats OF various grades
out there and became convinced that as
lie of ease nothing else could compare
with that game.
He came here some days ago and has
been devoting his time TO the cheerful oc-
Cupation. of Logging for his own confirma-
uon, very unusual proceeding, it is
hardly necessary to add, in one IA ed for
SO high an office. As he would call one
Senator after another to the Senate room
and go through his introductions of him.
self and his requests that his nomination
be voted for, look of pained surprise
would steal over senatorial untenances
and in private the Senators began asking
what sort of a fellow this man Bryan was
anyway.
The climax was reached when he went
up against Frye of Maine. There are
no frills on Frye. He Is man all over,
and from his position on the Committee
on Foreign Affairs in the Senate he has
received ideas of his own about what our
foreign service should be. He had heard
that the missionary element in China
and those who were in touch with them
in this country were strongly opposed 10
Bryan and told him so.
"Oh, that is all right" said the would
be Minister to Frye. II want you to un-
derstand, Senator that l Will go TO China
with the flag of commerce in one hand
and the flag of Christ in the other"