Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-06
OUR CONSULAR SERVICE
AS GOOD AS ANY, BUT THERE'S ROOM
FOR IMPROVEMENT.
System of Selecting Officers Should BE
Changed-Secret of eGermany's
Commercial Progress.

Mr.. Geo Sawter, United States consul at
Giauchau, Germany, is in Washington on
leave of absence.
Since ! entered the consular SERVICE" he
said to Star reporter, Il have studied its
practical operations closely and have avail
ed myself of such opportunities as present
ed themselves to compare it with that of
other countries. While | am free to confess
that our consular service is not in all
spects what it ought to be, and that there
is great room for improvement, it is stifl
my opinion that it is al least the equal of
any other consular service in the world.
The duties imposed upon cur consuls are
more arduous and more varied than those
exacted of the consuls of other countries.
Any person who will take the trouble to
examine the consular reports published by
the bureau of foreign commerce during
single year will be impressed by the vari
ETY. of subjects treated and the value of
the information they contain.
system Needs Changing.
THE present system of selecting consular
officers should be changed. l would not go
so far as to advocate a life tenure of any
post in the service, because 1t would not
conduce to the public interests Our coun-
try selects it's consuls at haphazard, and
when a crisis calls for man Of real ca
how the hitherto unheard of consul will
meet the emergency. That such failures as
Macrum do not turn up oftener may be
credited to the native ability, patriotism
and good sense of Americans generally, but
the system is wrong that invites, even at
rare intervals, the modification and en-
barrassment that such a consul may bring
upon his government
Importation of Factories.
ut Is a recognized fact" Mr.. Sawter
said. that the largest and most successful
importers in our country are Germans. They
have contributed enormously to the pros
perity OF our country. 1t is also true that
the high duties are drawing foreign manu-
facturers, as well as foreign artisans. to the
United States Every transatlantic factory
that is transferred strengthens US by just
omuch in the great competition for the
markets of the world. All these things
America gains. while Europe loses. 1t re-
minds me Of the American youth. who said
in his enthusiasm, America for Americans!
Hoop hoop, bur.
''Hushr says felowworkman.
What's the matter? All the other men
in this factory are Americans, amt they?
Yes. But the owners are foreigners
Germany's Commercial Progress.
Germans have long understood that the
best way to command situation is to quail
ify for it. Man for man. contend that the
American is as good as the German, but
surely the educated German is more than a
match for the uneducated American. The
great commercial progress of Germany is
undoubtedly due to the excellent system of
technical and art schools. where young men
are given the highest artistic and scientific
training that can be given by the most emil
nent professors. Germany is compelling US
to put forth our best efforts The competi-
ton is noble and honorable one, for In it
nnr1 4niv ha DC xxv1t n oil nat3 fhn
surest means whereby the arts Of peace
may be cultivated and the material prosper
ity. not of America alone, but of the world.
may be secured"