The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-26
CONCERNING MIR. MACRUM.
He Treats with Contempt State De-
partment and Old Friends.
Washington Letter in New York Mail and
Express. |

Washington Letter in New York Mail and
Express.
Before the Macrum case drops entirely
cut of public consideration, as il now bids
fair to do. il may be well to review its re-
cent phases. When ex-Consul Macrum pre-
scented his statement to the press a resolu-
ton was passed by the House calling on
the secretary of state for Information as to
the alleged opening of dispatches and the
yelled charge that a secret alliance existed
between the United States and Great Brit
ain. The secretary answered that no COM
plant of the opening of dispatches had
been made by Mr.. Macrum: that the de-
rartment had no information of such an act
committed by British authority, and that
there was no secret alliance between this
country and Great Britain. There the case
seems to have ended so far as Congress is
concerned. Representative Wheeler Dem..
Ky.). who introduced the resolution asking
for information, has made no further move
i'm the matter. and seems inclined to let it
stand as IL is.
What has become of Macrum nobody
seems to know. but it is rumored that he
has returned to his home in East Liver
pool, o. His conduct in leaving his post
Of duty was remarkable. but not more so
the day of his arrival in Washington 1t
was arranged that he should visit the
state Department and make his report to
Secretary Hay or Assistant Secretary Hill.
He arrived at the department after Secre-
tary Hay had gone home and saw DR.. Hill.
At that interview nothing was said which
could properly hurt Macrum's feelings.
DIR. Hill is a model of courtesy and tact,
and he greeted Macrum kindly and made
every effort TO put him at his ease. The
only unpleasant thing in connection with
their chat occurred when Macrum, after
the preliminary small talk, asked whether
he was still in the consular service. DR..
Hill did not give him a blunt reply, but
frankly recalled the circumstances of his
quitting his post and their sequel. OF At
terbury, whom he left in charge, the State
Department knew enough to convince it
that he was wholly unfit for the RESPONSE
bility, and 1t had promptly relieved him
and put Mr.. Hollis, consul at LourenZO
Marques, in his place. But Mr.. Hollis had
all he could do to attend to his work at
his own consulate, and it was deemed best
to send a new man-Adelbert layout to
Pretoria. Hence Macrum was informed
that as he had left his post and another
man had been appointed to it be must
necessarily be himself unconnected with
the service. Macrum was evidently an
gered by this and said that he did not
think he had been treated right by the
department.
Nothing further passed on the subject.
hut Macrum remarked that he was tired,
and that he would not be ready to make his
report until he had gone to his home in
Ohio for a brief rest. 1t was agreed that
nothing should be said publicly of the inter-
view beyond the fact that he had visited
the department and made arrangements to
call and make his final report on his return
from Ohio, and Macrum, on his part, as
SuIcu III. Hi lIldts ulll III ndO mus re-
turned and reported, he would make no
public utterance. With that understand
ing they parted. Macrum's pledge was
broken a few days afterward, when, having
come back to Washington, but not having
visited the department or seen anyone con-
nected with 1t. he put forth his character
istic address to the people. 1t Is
said to have been the discovery of this
chain of facts which has caused Mr..
Wheeler TO desist from further inquiry
into the departments treatment of the err
ratio Ohioan. No confidence is placed in
him any longer at the department, for If il
Is true that he came all the way from
South Africa 10 inform this government
that his mail had been tempered with, II Is
singular that he has so far failed to lay his
proofs before any of his late official supe-
riors. The only reason they can see for
his attack on the department is the fact
that he has been dismissed from the serv-
ice.
Macrum has not only treated the State
Department with contempt. but also his old
friends. He did not tell his story even TO
Representative Tayler, of Ohio. his political
sponsor, when the two met met for a talk
on the day of his call on DR.. HILL. And
since his return to Washington he has
made no effort to see Mr.. Tayler or any OF
his former Republican associates from
Ohio. For a man with a big International
grievance and nothing In his record to be
ashamed Of, this Is queer conduct, to say
the least