The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-12
WORD FOR GoODNOW
r. van Bergen Says He's the Best
Consul General U. S. Has
Had at Shanghai.
An Interview With Oriental CORES.
pondent on His Way to the
ii s.S3 Far East.

~ 81 ;. 4 + 5.E
Il s:is Far East.
u What is the matter with John Good
new?" repeated r. van Bergen, the ORR
entail correspondent passing through ON
hissways to the far. east, in response to
query from a Journal reporter. Mr.. van
Bergen, by the way, has passed most OF
his time for.the past thirty years i'll China
and Japan, and has only recently returned
from an: extensive trip covering the
Straits: Settlements and Netherlands IN
.dia.s He spent, however, four months IN
Shanghai and is well acquainted with the
much discussed Minneapolitan.
II say ernphatically that John Goodnow
is;athe4 best consul general we have had
at Shanghai SO long as can remember
that port" Mr.. van Bergen went on.
Nov let me tell you something: When
Mr.. Goodnow arrived at his post, he was
placed in an exceedingly disagreeable and
difficult position. His predecessor, r. L.
Jernigan, had file dthe office to the salts
faction Of Americans and other foreigners
alike, and was popular, so much so that
the American community petitioned
unanimously for his retention. No atten-
ton was paid to this, and the petitioners
felt sore, so that his successor. was re-
sceived with exceedingly little enthusiasm.
perhaps you remember that of all of
President McKinley's appointments, none
was discussed with greater acerbity than
that of Mr.. Goodnow. He was decried as
a ward politician with perhaps more sins
than that term usually implies. Well
American papers are read in China, and
what was said from partizanship, with
perhaps little Of personal animosity, was
taken for gospel truth at Shanghai These
reports did not serve to make John Good
now's introduction any more pleasant, and
let me tell you that it took more than
strong man-it took a man Of good pur-
poses-to live them down, and that is ex-'
actly what John Goodnow did.
when. I first met him, I was very
strongly prejudiced against him, I am
sorry to say. But am glad to add that 1
told him so frankly. What did he do?
Oh, he said: Come up to my office and I
will show you what I have done since I
have been here. I went, of course, and
| he opened my eyes.
The Boxer Complications:
IT will pass over many minor matters
in which John Goodnow appeared as the
champion Of American interests, working
quietly but vigorously and pertinaciousy.
It was at the time of the Boxer troubles
that John Goodnow showed the stuff that
was in him, and if you have any more Of
that breed, trot them out, for we shall
need, them in China before long. It was
just touch and go if the Yang-tsz' val
| ley would join the Boxers or not. That
does not mean much to you, but let me
explain that to the foreigners at Shang
hal and the river ports, it meant that they
would have $50, 100000 Infatuated Chineses
on their backs, and not all the armies in
the world could have prevented the mas
sacre of these foreigners If the Chinese
had begun, as they were itching to do 1t
all depended upon the action of Chang
Chih-tung and Liu K'un-yi, the two most
1,rf,, xys4 vi T@L, I~~r
thought that time for action had come
He started for Marking, and had an, in
| terview with the ,viceroy at the time when
Geographic orders came from Picking tc
root, out the foreign devils. BY his per-
sonal magnetism John Goodnow induced
the ,viceroy to disregard these orders-ne
|trihinga matter, for he was putting his
neck in the moose. An agreement was
drawn up and the Yang-tsz' valley was
kept in order by the very vigorous meas
ures Of the two viceroys, neither of whom
has either sympathy or affection for u.s..
/. II could fill a good many columns with
the record of what John Goodnow has
Edone for Americans first and for foreign
ers in general. , But you know him, don
|you? Well, Goodnow is not a man wht
Ecarries his heart on his sleeve; but now
lthat you made me talk, will say some
Ithing. My little boy fell sick of scarle
fever in that Chinese permeated filth hol,
demic of that disease as well as Of diph
liberia and smallpox, and foreign children
died like cats and dogs. My little fellow
struggled for twenty days and then sue
cumbcd. There was not a day when Mr.
and Mrs. Goodnow did not call at the pest
ridden hospital, and when they stood will
me at the grave they proved their rea
character. So say, God bless John Good
:. now for a more true and bigger hearted
American it would be difficult to find.
What is the present trouble? I dom
l. know the particulars, of course, but
know this, as consul general, GOOdnOW ha
jurisdiction over American citizens ant
know Of one instance where, in a civi
case, pronouncing according to law AM
equity in favor Of an absent firm agains
a local house, he gave offense.' Now yol
know very well how easy it is for an in
, f1uential man in a small community to &c
up petition of some kind, and I dar
say that this is the whole affair.". If an.
i Americans at Shanghai desire the remova
of John Goodnow, it is not or account o
his errors or omissions, but because he i
, consul general and no mere figurehead.
Nov I will give you a quiet piece Q
advice. If you ever go into politics, neve
apply for a plum in the shape of con
sulate in the far east; better turn to boo
canvassing here in Gods own country,
you can't get anything better. Why?
> will tell you. Goodnow is consul genera
and receives $4,000, with perhaps anothe
$1,000 in fees. He must on that salar
support the dignity Of this great republic
and does it. But dare say that there j
not a Uniteds States consul in China VIII
| does not regret the day when he made hi
application.sSThe salaries of our consul
, have remained stationary while price
4 have gone up at an absurd rate. Sieve
2 years ago paid. 500 Mexican a month fo
4 myself and son in the best hotel at Shang
e hal. Now the same hotel charges for tn
: same accommodations for one person 5
> Mexican a day and UP. At Hongkong
: paid $12 Mexican day and the food wa
6 not fit for a2dog. There are hundreds {
r chances for hotels in China and the Strait
V settlements, for the only tling.sin goo
e style is the bill. But. as to- consulship!
e upon my word, would not take that a
Hongkongsm Singapore at a decent salar!
: say of $4,000 a year, and an adequat
Z pension after four years service. Th
= British governor at Singapore receive
$4,000 or about $25, 900 year, and til
great republic pays it's consul genera
49, 900 per year, I think. Why, Little Be
: GUM pays better salaries than Uncle San
Z came here with exactly $685. said or
United States consul to me, and shall
glad if get home with $780, tell 70
VI that he was sorry he left hoosierdom an
: his celery farm.
t Goodbye. If you ever hear anythin
= l;disreputable of John GoodnoW put