New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-18
H4CRUH At PRETORIA.
AN AMERICAN VISITOR TELLS HOW THE
Beers HOODWINKED HIM

Beers HOODWINKED HIM
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Your articles on c. E. Macrum late
American Consul at Pretoria have been read by
me with great interest 7 called on Mr. Macrum
In pretoria short time before the war. and
received every courtesy from him. Later was
fellow passenger with him for month on the
East Coast OF Africa. While Mr.. sevmour's let
ter in your issue Of the nth inst is largely cor
rect there ara few points little too strong
and out Of common justice I think should give
you the position know It.
Mr. Macrum the first representative sent
from the United States to Pretoria; our inter
ests before that were looked after by an agent,
who also had his own business 70 attend to-
This being the first time man had come direct
frcm the United States Government the Boer
officials thought it their best policy to make him
at home and show up everything to him from
their side, SO that he would report favorably to
the United States Government. They worked
the game to perfection, "a far as Macrum was
concerned, and Won him over to the pro-Boer
side from the very first
It was surprising that an American could have
the wool" pulled over his eyes in such way.
but Macrum mixed with few English, and saw
few Americans except on quick visits to johann
nesburg
Mr.. Seymour is wrong in regard to Macrum's
not visiting Johannesburg; he certainly went
over there many times during his stay in the
Transvaal, especially after the began The
American consular agent at Johannesburg was
kept after Macrum arrived. and since he had
looked after the entire American interests in the
Transvaal alone for years there wasn't SO much
need of Macrum's going to Johannesburg in the
first part OF his stay
A point that wish to bring out is that Amer
lean consuls abroad q rule. underpaid-
In Macrum's case know that he spent $500 a
year more than his salary and L. J. Seymour
(brother of J. S. Seymour, I think subscribed
several hundred dollars toward cable expenses,
eminent fully informed
Well informed people are all surprised that a
young man of Macrums intelligence should have
been hoodwinked by the Boer Government, but
they fool their own people and are past masters
at the game
While in his official capacity Macrum did
everything in his power for any American or
Enghshman that applied With the helP OF
Consul General stowe he arranged for money 10
be supplied 10 the English prisoners that they
might buy things not supplied by the BOer Gov
eminent. and did everything he could that the
prisoners asked him TO do.
Mr.. Seymour's letter conveys the idea that
Mr. Macrurn left the Office at Pretoria unat-
tended. But this he did not do. The Consul from
Lourenco Marques took his place, and since
Consul Hollis has been some ten years in the
service he should be able to look after the work
for the short time before the new Consul ar
rived.
IF the United States Government would only
send a competent man TO visit all the American
COnsuls abroad and report to our Government
the exact position OF each and what salary IS
necessary TO uphold the honor Of our Govern
ment at each particular place. and arrange sal
aries accordingly, We should be proud OF our
representatives and get a higher class OF men TO
go out.
Macrum lived in a quiet way, but could not
keep within the limit Of the small salary given
him so II is no wonder that he wanted 70 come
home aside from political reasons.
WILSON D. LYON.
Boston, Feb. II, 1900.