The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-28

ject didn't worry him. 81 am letting the
other fellows" said he. with a chuckle.
The Illinois statesman will confer with his
lieutenants some time in October, when
the question of committees will be dis
cussed. 1t is expected that Mr.. Cannon
will practice what ne has preached. He
believes in the customs and traditions of
the House, and is an advocate of the rule
that men should be advanced as fast az
vacancies occur on committees. For this
reason the opinion is freely expressed in
Washington that there will be no radical
changes in the committees OF the House
except those arising from the retirement
of members.
Herbert w. Bowen, United States min
lister to Venezuela, and who represented
the South American republic in the trou-
bles with the allied powers, wants to be
an ambassador. Mr.. Bowen made a splen-
did record in the negotiations incident
to the settlement of the Venezuelan trou-
bles He met such men as Baron Speck
Won Sternberg and Sir Michael Herbert, and
with the simple methods of "shirt-sleeve"
diplomacy more than matched the repre-
sentatives of Germany and Great Britain.
Bowen's manner of doing business was per-
picking to the foreign diplomats They were
familiar with the directness of American
diplomacy, but not as practiced by the
good-natured Mr.. Bowen, who called
spade a spade, and made his wishes known
in plain English, without any attempt at
evasion or deceit. President Roosevelt has
high regard for the ability of Minister
Bowen, and would be glad TO promote him
in recognition OF his valuable services In
connection with the Venezuelan difficulty.
The mission TO Mexico is suggested as the
one which Mr.. Bowen may ultimately re-
ceive There is one obstacle in the way
of sending hin. to Mexico Powell Clayton
is the present ambassador to that coun-
try, and he shows no disposition to re-
tire 1t is the intention of the President
to give Minister Bowen substantial pro-
motion at the first opportunity.
XXX
A. w Cooley, of Westchester N. Y, is
the only true-blue Republican member of
the United States Civil-service Commits
sion. Henry F. Green, of Duluth, a recent
appointee. is a gold Democrat. John r.
| Proctor. of Kentucky, who served on the
| commission with President Roosevelt ten
| years ago. is also Democrat. The Demo-
Gratis, therefore, are in the majority on
| the commission as recently reorganiZed.
Mr.. Greene fell heir TO the place vacated
| by James r. Garfield. He is said to be a
| good civil-service man, having made the
| fight in Duluth 10 incorporate the merit
| principle in the new city charter. But
| he was not known to the President or
considered for the Office until Representa-
| tive j. Adam Bere became active in his
| behalf a few weeks ago. President Roose-
| welt offered a place on the Civil-service
| Commission to Fudge Heffelfnger, the
| famous football guard of the early nine
| ties. President Roosevelt was a great ad-
| mirer of the football giant, and hoped
| to get him in the government service to
| block the political place grabbers as he
had blocked opponents on the gridiron.
Heffelfinger Is running a shoe factory up
in Minnesota and, after coming on to
| Washington and looking the place over,
decided that he woule prefer to remain
| in business. j. E. NJ.