Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-12-19
MINISTER TO PANAMA.
". !. Buchanan, a Former Resident OF
Sioux City, 10 Named by Roose-
welt for the Place.


Washington, Dec. 14.-The president
has selected w. l. buchanan of New
York to be the first United States min
lister to Panama.
Later the president sent to the senate
Mr.. Buchanan's nomination, and also
that of Thomas j. Atkins of st. Louis
as assistant treasurer of the United
States.
Mr.. Buchanan's selection was brought
about by the desire of the president to
secure, during the capitalization OF
relations between the United States
and Panama, the services of a trained
and experienced diplomat, having spe-
cial reference to his knowledge OF the
Latin-American races. BY reason of
long service as minister to Argentina
Mr.. Buchanan fills that description. 1t
is understood his assumption Of the
duties is not 10 be permanent, for he
sacrifices large business interests to
undertake the work.
Selected as the Best Man.
Hon. w. L. B~uchanan's selection as
minister to Panama is another evidence
that President Roosevelt is looking for
the best men for the places. Mr..
Buchanan is q lifelong democrat, but
he is acknowledged to be the greatest
living expert in politics, affairs and in
~ Vi DOdNil ftDAOIllttNJ VI
He is the most popular diplomat who
ever held a diplomatic post in South
America.
lie was appointed first by Mr.. Cleve-
land as minister 10 Argentine: then re-
appointed by President Mckinley be-
Cause American business Interests and
the South American people alike de-
sired it; resigned to return to America
because of Mrs. Buchanan's health:
became director general of the Buffalo
exposition and made an immense sue
cess of ii so far as concerned his re-
sponsibilitieS; was invited and urged
to become director general of the St.
Louis exposition, and declined because
some of the conditions he made, con
2erning the absolute exclusion of po-
litical favoritism, could not be made.
Then he became foreign diplomatic
agent Of the New York Life Insurance
company.
Recently in Europe.
y great insurance company is almost
9s big q concern as a national govern
ment, and in his position with the New
York Life, Mr.. buchanan has been q
sort of ambassador to the insurance
bureaus of foreign countries. He has
spent much time the last year in Lon
don, Berlin, Paris and other CONT
mental capitals, II also in the South
American countries.
Mr.. Buchanan is an Iowa man and n
Sioux City man. Born in Ohio-a fact
that his office-holding career eminently
testifies-he came to Sioux City with
his brother-in-law, j. X. Prugh, in 1882,
and was a partner in the crockcry and
glassware business of j. *. Prugh &
Co.. In the twelve years he lived in
Sioux City, without realizing it, he was
laying the foundations for his later
"a TGaI for he NyDC mo of tho loo dare in
making Sioux City's corn palaces. He
was director general of more thar one
Of those unique and unparalleled expo
sitions, and IN that capacity proved
himself a wonderful executive.
Beginning Of His Career.
In 1892 he was appointed worlds fair
commissioner for Iowa by Governor
Boies, through the efforts, especially
Of Hon. ]. S. Lawrence. then senator
from Woodbury. county. This opened
the straight path of opportunity. Di-
rector General Davis, Potter Palmer
and other managers of the Chicago ex-
position liked him from the start. He
was made chief of the department of
agriculture. and forestry. In that ca
pacity he accomplished wonders in aid
ing Introduction of American agriCul-
tural implements in other countries. AS
d result of this work he was taken up
by the agricultural implement makers
who wanted Just such a man in South
America to help extend their business
there. Their backing was chiefly in
strumental in getting him appointed
minister &c Argentina.
In Argentina he did more than any
body had expected Of him. He learned
French and Snanish at once, becom-
ing an accomplished scholar in both,
He is 80 years old: