Evening journal., 1900-10-08
DRLAW ARRANN
MAY BID CHOSEN
By President Mckinley as
EnVOyS to China
General Wilson And John BaSSett
Moore May be Sent on Com
mission TO Orient

llllNNlOU w VIltnU
Although President Mckinley has
not announced that he will appoint a
commission to represent this govern
ment in negotiations with the Chinese
Government, says a Washington corre-
pendent, Cabinet officers believe that
he viii do so shortly and that Minis
er Conger. President Seth Low and
General j. II. Wilson will be his choice
Tor this work. II he thinks there
should be five men in the commission,
Judge Day and Professor John Bassett
/ Moore are mentioned as likely to be
asked to go, although it is admitted
that Judge Day may be excused from
lsuch service
Minister Congcr and General Wilson
who are both in Pekin, would un-
ioubtodly serve. Ii is not so certain
lhat President Seth Low would be able
% go, and II he should be asked and
had to decline, Professor John Bassett
Moore would probably be appointed in
hs stead SO that Columbia University
is almost certain to furnish one of the
commissioners In the person either Of
her president or of her professor of in
crnational law.
General James II. Wilson, second in
command at Pekin, where he has been
designated to remain with the "lega-
don guard" is, in the estimation of
his friends. a man Of genius, who, with
Ill his reputation, is not appreciated
by his countrymen generally. They say
he is one of the greatest soldiers and
lne of the greatest engineers this
country has produced. Although he
has lacked opportunity to show that
.his is so. they point proudly to his
brilliant record in the civil war and in
he Spanish war and to the work he
has done In China and TO his achieve
ments as civil engineer, railroad man
iger and author during the thirty
years Of peace.
VIGOROUS AT 68.
General Wilson has had a most in
.eresting life. and is still, at 6S, in the
full vigor of all his powers, and keen
n the pursuits Of his ends. His grand
father, a splendid pioneer, left old Vir-
ginia. crossed the Alleghenies and be-
came one Of the founders OF Illinois
and his father was an ensign in the
var OF 1912 and a captain in the Black
Hawk war. 1t was most natural
that his son was sent to West Point
where he was graduated in 1860 JUS
time to take an important part in
the civil war. distinguishing himself
= and winning rapid promotion. He die
not care to remain in the army in the
piping times of peace, and so resigned
i'm 1870 to practice as a civil engineer
II lie became q railroad manager and
! for a time a flnancier going to Europe
10 negotiate a loan for Japan. Then
Tor years he was employed by the War
e Department on the engineering work
n of the Delaware Breakwater, making
d his residence In Delaware, and coming
2. to be known as a Delawarean. He was
n SO when the Spanish war broke out
S but he promptly volunteered and was
+ as promptly accepted for service in the
army
g MOORE's RAPID RISE.
e Professor John Bassett Moore Is one
e Of the remarkable young men OF the
e day. He came to Washington from hi.
e home in Delaware when Mr.. Bayard
was secretary o. cato ~~d der President
Z Cleve'and's hrst administration, a
n youthful lawyer, and obtaining a small
e position in the State Department, rose
g steadily by ability and hard work to
d be one of the assistant secretaries OF
b state Staiwart in body and mind, he
e had a tremendous appetite for work
). and, in addition to performing all his
a official duties he read enormously the
p history Of dlo,9macy in the archives
y and manuscriI ls and in the library OF
a the State Depa mcrt. He also began
to write ON the subject, and, under the
r. auspices and guidance of Professor
u Francis Wharton. Of PHILADELPHIA
y whom Secretary Bayard had brought
(. to the State Department, began to be
n known as an authority on internation-
o al law and diplomacy His writings
{ soon made him a reputation in this
country and abroad. This led to his
selection as Hamilton Fish professor
OF International Jaw and diplomacy I'M
+ Columbia University. Professor Moore
IS has spent his vacations in research and
y IN writing on his special subjects, ex-
h cept When he came, at the urgent re-
quest OF President Mckinley and Secre-
lary Day to be first assistant secretary
OF state.and then to go to Paris as sec
e rotary of the Peace Commission.
e RELUCTANT TO TAKE OFFICE.
II Professor Moore has been reiuctani
TO take Office. but he could not resist
The invitation of President McKin.ey
and Secretary Day. Professor Moore
has spent the most Of the Summer IN
h Washington preparing a new work
n His monumental production thus far i.
the History and Digest of the Inter.
national Arbitrations TO Which tn,
United States Has Been a Party, To
, gether With Appendices Containing
y the Treaties Relating to Such Arbitra
e tions and Historical and Legal Note.
on Other International Arbitrations
Ancient and Modern. and on the Do