Mower County transcript., 1904-01-20


check to further aggressions has been
recognized to be OF first Importance
and special bill is now before con-
gress for immediate consideration to
provide for these three important posts.
One Of these will be at Dalny, which is
near the Russian viceroy's capital, Port
Arthur. The latter is the most i'm
portant military and naval station and
undoubtedly the first scene of war if
Russia and Japan come to actual fight
ing. The other two posts are at the
new treaty ports of Moukden and
Antung.
The position to which Mr.. Davidson
has been assigned is considered by the
administration to be at the present
time one of the most important in the
whole foreign service, and the salary
attached to the office is corresponding
ly large. For all the positions mention
ed the Washington Times says: "The
president has selected after careful
consideration experienced men known
to be we'll informed on the situation in
the east and politics has not entered
into the appointments" Mr.. David
sons extensive trip recently Through
Manchuria doubtless attracted the at
tention of the administration and his
book on Formosa which has been so
favorably reviewed by the press gives
abundant evidence that he is a keen
observer and student of men and
things.
MIR. Davidson left Formosa last Aug
ust and after making careful study
of conditions in Korea reached Port
Arthur via Peking. At Port Arthur,
the Russian government provided him
with special Pullman car and with
Interpreters, servants, etc. and for near
ly four months he travelled through the
country stopping at all the important
stations, making trips off the railway
line to distant cities and covering the
whole of MaRchuria. He collected a
mass of information which he will use
in bringing out two new books, one on
Manchuria and the second guide book
to the Siberian railway.
After completing the work in Man
churia, Mr.. Davidson made the trip to
Moscow over the Siberian railway. At
St. Petersburg he was the guest of
Ambassador Mccormick for a week,
and in London he was for two days
with Ambassador Choate. Washing.
ton papers state that on Thursday, Mr.
Davidson was received by president
Roosevelt to discuss the eastern situa.
| tion.
Mr.. Davidson is an Austin boy, born
and reared here, the son of Mr.. and Mrs
G. H. Davidson. He is 81 years old
! He first became known outside of this
city for his work with the Peary Arctic
exposition in 1884. On returning from
north Greenland, he left almost i'm.
mediately for the far east to act as wal
correspondent for a syndicate OF
/ IAuOA4C1A AOVopnPCAos 1o WdS zlO1
three months with the Chinese Army
and two years with the Japanese forces
and for services rendered to the latter
by which much property and many
lives were saved, Mr. Davidson was
decorated by the Emperor Of Japan.
He was appointed consul agent il
Formosa by President Cleveland ir
1897, was appointed consul by president
Mckinley in 1898, and his new appoint
ment as special agent in Russias Asi
attic possessions will be signed by presi
dent Roosevelt. He will leave almos
Immediately to occupy his new post.
Since the above was in type, news
came yesterday that president Roose
velt had decided to appoint Mr.. David.
son consul general at Antung, one O
the new treaty ports in Manch churia
near the & Korean boundary. sc th,
mouth Of the Y alu river. at present
this position is consid dered especial,