The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-12-18
MINISTER TO PANAMA.
y. li.Buehanan 4 Former Resident ..
Sioux City, Is Named by Roose-
Welt for The place.

welt for the Place. +
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE president
q 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 also9l
ina OF Thomas ]. Atkins Of st. Louis
as assistant treasurer of the UnitedI
States.
VT. selection was brought1
ABOUT by the desire Of the president toSI
secure. during the capitalization OIL
relations between the United States \
n Panama, the services of a trained
And experienced diplomat, having spe-41
Glal reference to his knowledge of the
iLatin-tAmerican races. BY reason OF
long service as minister to Argentine
Mr.. Buchanan fills that description. IT
IS understood his assumption of the
duties Is not to be permanent, for he
sacrlf1ces large business interests to-
undertake the work. &
Selected as the Best Man.
Hon. w. /. Buchanan's selection as
minister to Panama Is another evidences
that President Roosevelt is looking for
the best men for the places. Mr..
Buchanan Is a lifelong democrat. but
he is acknowledged to be the greatest
living expert in politics, affairs and ms,
tricacies of South American diplomacy.
lie is the most popular diplomat who
ever held q diplomatic post In South
America.
He was appointed first by Mr.. Cleve-S
land as minister to 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;
hGc9 1,n RI rn,tr, cA4,oxaJEon a. 1,.cc = ,t
exposition n madesa an immense suc-s
cess or 1t 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, cons
corning the absolute exclusion of po-
litical favoritism, could not be made
Then he became foreign diplomatic
agent of the New York Life Insurance
company. 47lss
Recently in Europe.
A great Insurance company Is almost
as big a concern as a national govern-sa
nent, and in his position with the New
York Life, Mi. buchanan has been a
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 conti-
mental capitals, and also in the South
Anlerican countries. ES N3 III
Mr.. Buchanan is an Iowa man and q
Sioux City Born in Ohio-a fact
that his ofice-holding career eminently'
testifies-he came to Sioux City with
his brottler-in-law, J.. K. Prugh, in 1892,
and was a partner in the crockery and
glassware business of J.. K. Prugh &
Co. In the twelve years he lived in
Sioux City, without realizing it, he was
laying the foundations for his later
career, for he was one Of the leaders in
making Sioux City's corn palaces. He
was director general Of more than 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. j.. 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-h he accomplished wonders in aid
Ing Introduction Of American agricul-
tural implements in other countries. AS
a. result of this work he was taken up
by the agricultural implement makers
Who wanted just such q man In South
America to help extend their business
there. Their backing was chiefly In
strumental In getting him appointed
minister. to 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 40 years old.