Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-29
CASE OF CONSUL MACRUM
Possibly Bringing Proposition for Media
ton in the War.
His Friends and State Department Of
Desire to Relinquish His Post.

The case of Consul Charles E. Macrum
the United States representative at Pre-
toria, who insisted being relieved at the
time the South African crisis became most
acute, is assuming additional importance as
Mr.. Macrum nears home The understand
ing at the State Department is that he IS
not coming by way of the English ports,
but is on a German ship which comes
through the Mediterranean and thence
direct to this country. the trip taking about
six weeks from December Is last, the date
of his departure from Lorenzo Marquee. IN
the present aspect of the case there is lit
tie doubt that unless the consul presents
some explanation Of his unusual course. he
will not continue in the consular service
1t has been reported that the mystery sur
rounding his departure had been cleared up
by a letter from him to Representative
Tayler of Ohio, who represents the district
from which Macrum comes; and who OBJ
tafned his appointment as consul. But Mr.
Tayler said today that he had heard Moth
ing from Macrum, except indirectly through
his letters to relatives. These gave no in
timation of the cause of his return. but
speak of the excitement Incident to the
war-the hurried preparations of both
sides. There was nothing, however. to show
a pro-Boer or an anti-BrStish inclination.
nor is there any discussion of the political
aspects of the war.
Consul Macrum's Recommends
Mr. Tayler takes much interest in the
Macrum case, and has called at the State
Department several times In reference to
it. He has long known the family, which is
prominent and influential at East Liver
rcol, Ohio, and this account Mr.. Tayler
asked for no Endorsements for Macrum, ex-
cept to satisfy himself that the appoint
ment would be agreeable to the townspeo-
pie The elder Macrun1 is cashier of the
First National Bank at East Liverpool
ana young MacrIm, the consul, was
plcyed in the bank for some time. Later
he became secretary Of a. glass company
having large factories In the town. and
mained with it up to about two years ago.
These business connections assured Mr.
Tayler that Macrum was well equipped for
consular post, in which the work was
largely commercial. At the time of his op
pointment, Macrum was about thirty-three
years old, and is described as a person Of
good address and evident business ability.
His grandfather was William Everson, one
of the pioneer iron and steel men of Pitts
burg, and all his antecedents. as presented
to Mr.. Tayler, showed reliability and good
character. Mr.. Tayer was sufficiently ac-
quainted with the young man himself to
feel assured that he would not desert post
under fire He feels satisfied, therefore, that
Macrum's return is due to one of two
causes. either a desire to get his wife and
children away from the danger Of an I'M
pending bombardment, or else that he
brings important official communications
to this government which could not be
safely transmitted by mail cable.
Alleged Proposition for Mediation.
There have been intimations that Macrum
was the bearer of a proposition for Ameri-
can mediation in the British Boer conflict,
but to this Mr.. Tayler has no informa-
ton, and none of Macrum's letters to rela-
tves has suggested such mission. He
has a wife and several small children and
it is felt that under the circumstances of
excitement md danger al ha ncrbt
consider it necessary to seek safety for his
family Mr. Tayler is satisfied that Ma
crum's fears for his own personal safety
had nothing to do with his departure
The records of the State Department
snow that Macrum was the first consul sent
to Pretoria. Prior to that the United States
was represented by a consular agent at
Pretoria, as our interests In that part of
the word were not large. But with the
Jameson raid and the subsequent arrest of
John Hays Hammond, the American civil
engineer, and many others for alleged COM
pnclty IN the raid, 1t was determined to
establish consulates there. ACCORDINGLY
Macrum was appointed May 81, 1898, at a
salary of 5000.
No Bias in Macrum's Reports.
lie made occasional reports, quite brief
and formal, on the mining industry, dia-
mond output, dynamite monopoly, and To-
cal trade, but none of these reports has
any reference to the British-Boer troubles.
These reports have been scanned by off,
claIs TO see II they disclosed any bias which
might account for his withdrawal. but
nothing of that kind has been found. One
theory has been that he was brought into
such close personal and business relations
with the Boer officials at Pretoria that II
was repugnant to him to assume charge of
British interests, as directed by the State
Department. at time when the Boer senti-
ment was intensely hostile to the British.
1t is understood that aside from his con-
sular connection Macrum has been the rep
resentatlve in South Africa of a large
American company, manufacturing mining
equipments The consuls and consular
agents al these remote points freouent'v as
sist American concerns in that way, and
the United States consular agent at kim
perley is the general manager of the great