The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-07-31
HARD TO LOSE coNGER.
Two Presidents and Several :,spirants
Have Tried 1t and Failed.

Have Tried 1t and Failed. ,
I! Washington. July 20. - For about
Ehree years two presidents, a number
pr senator's, and several anxious as
pirants have been trying to make a
change OF ministers at Pekin, China,
but without avail. OF course it would
be an easy matter to intimate to Min
lister Conger that his resignation would
be acceptable, but such is not the case.
Back In 1900 it was thought that Min
lister Conger would relinquish his post
at the close OF his first foul years. John
Barrett was anxious for the place, and
President Mckinley had promised 1t to
him. The Oregon senator's. being close
to Mckinley, had clinched the prom
Use. But then came up the siege OF
Pekin, and the conduct of Minister
Conger was such as to cause praise
from every quarter. It would have been
a cruel thing to dismiss him after all
he had gone through, n consequently
he stayed. Minister Conger then took
a leave OF absence n came to the
United States. 1t leaked OUT that he
would not return, and upon his arrival
here he received a collection OF news
paper paragraphs specializing upon his
successor. But Conger was not born
yesterday, and the flrst thing he did
was to consult the Iowa delegation,
and he found hat every membe was
for him.. Then he walked into the
Wnlte House., and Wnen the greetings
were over he said:
'Mr. President, has my course in
China been satisfactorily
"Oh, most satisfactory replied Nc
Kinley.
Gaining Mckinley's Promise.
Then. MI. President, continued Con.
ger, can I count on remaining in my
position and make my arrangements
'accordingly?"
What co,,J12 4Lo ,ra.;aaa4 a.. 1~-4 -.
ihis assent? And SO he told Mr.. Barrett
that The China promise would have to
be postponed. n meanwhile I'VE will
try to find something equally as
good"
When Roosevelt became president,
he effort to secure a change in the
China mission was renewed. Again the
Iowa delegation made it plain tina
such a change would be very disagree
able, and when your Uncle William b.
Allison takes the trouble to make
plain talks on such subjects, he is gen
orally in earnest, and it Is not We'll to
disregard his views.
Soon after a vacancy occurred OPP
portunely in h Japan mission, and
Mr.. Barrett was at once selected for
thai place. But he didn't just fit. Ja-
pan did not want Mr.. Barrett, and an
other man was selected. Meanwhile
it was found that ever should a change
occur in the China mission that Orien-
tai country had the same objections to
Mr.. Barrett as Japan, and so it was ar
ranged that when a change did oc-
cur, Mr.. w. w. Rockhill would be
sent as Conger's successor. Rockhil.
knows more about China than 9TH
er American. He has Travelled extern
sively in that country and has kept
fully Informed regarding every political
development. He is recognized as the
very best man that could be found for
the important post.
Something Always Happens.
But just as it seems an opportune
time to make a change, something of
a diplomatic nature happens in China
and Minister Conger handles it with
entire satisfaction. First, briefly by
cable, he tells the state department
what he has done, and his course is
approved. Then by mail comes his dis
patches, and it is found he has done
even better than was expected. You
can't relieve a minister who is working
like that, especially whec a great
many questions are asked. Probahlr
at the end of eight years service -
change can be made without offense to
him or his powerful friends in Iowa.
He may be sent to Europe as an am
bassador, and then Mr.. Rockhill will
Be made minister to China. Meanwhile
John Barrett, who was promised the
place by two presidents, becomes minis
ter to Argentina n will study South
American affairs.
But for real interesting diplomacy
the Orient is the place. The eastern
game" as Joe Chamberlain remarked
to Senator Hale and Tom Reed, is the
most interesting in the world today and
promises to continue to be for many
ears to come.