The San Francisco call., 1904-07-16
Assistant Secretary of
State Peirce
Arrives.

a tour of inspection of the United
States Consulates in the Far East
This eliminated, on the return trip, in
probably the most disa greeable expert
ence the Washington official has had
during his career as a public charac-
ter.
Peirce's troubles began aboard the
Mongolia shortly after the big new YES
sci had started from the Orient and
continued until the Golden Gate was
sighted AS was due his position as
a national representative whom the
Emperor of Japan saw fit to recognize
during the visit of the Secretary in
Toxic, Captain Kinder of the Mongolia
properly made the distinguished trav-
eler and his wife a guest at his table
in the dining hall and endeavored to
afford them every possible comfort
aboard ship.
Apparently, however, nothing on the
Mongolia was satisfactory to Peirce.
who, ii is said, showed no hesitancy in
evincing his displeasure regarding any
thing that seemingly pleased the other
passengers. Eventually the Secretary's
unpleasant manner became a matter
of general comment and not a few of
the passengers, who had tolerated his
Kicking to a degree which seemed
unbearable, turned their wits to
schemes for "joshing" the official and
making him the butt of all kinds of
jokes.
When Honolulu was reached Secre-
tary Peirce, after complaining of
everything in the larder of the ship.
conceived the idea of laying in a sup
ply of provisions of his own and
promptly carried out his plan. Next
morning at breakfast he called the
steward and requested that he deliver
to him one of a number of eggs
which had been personally selected for
the Secretary in Honolulu the day be-
fore The order was served and Sec
retary Peirce was congratulating him
self over the fact that he had some
thing fresh, when the cracking of
the egg shell revealed a yelk that was
rapidly disappearing under a covering
Of pin feathers. OF course every one
that is every one but the Secretary
laughed, while he stormed loudly. The
incident ended in Captain Rinder say
ing some rather stern things to his
guest. He reminded Peirce that while.
as a Government official, he was en-
titled to every courtesy, there were
other passengers whose comforts and
peace of mind had TO be considered
and that as commander Of the Mon
golia il was his own duty to insist
that the Secretary deport himself in
a manner not quite so offensive to his
fellow travellers.
Secretary Peirce and his wife
promptly left the captains table and
for time it was expected that they
would not reappear in the dining hall.
The following day, however, they were
there, but occupied a separate table,
which they continued to use during the
remainder of the trip. AS the Mon
golia neared the harbor the cabin pas
sengers went into caucus with the idea
of anticipating any possible action that
Secretary Peirce might take against
Captain Rinder when the ship docked,
for it had been reported that Peirce
had been making threats. At the meet
ing a resolution, cleverly worded so
that its real purport could not be mis-
taken, was adopted.
This commended the officers Of the
Mongolia for their attentions to the
passengers during the trip and paid
deserved compliment to the stewards
department. When Pierce heard of the
resolution, it is said that he endeavored
to have it suppressed, but failed Yes
terday. when the Mongolia docked. the
story of Pierce's experiences aboard
the vessel was quickly told on the
wharf. where he was kept waiting for
r-I,;I1 IL
passed.
Later in the day, after he had reached
the Palace Hotel, several Americans
who had crossed the ocean with him
and keenly appreciated the need of pro-
tecting his official dignity made an at
tempt to have the story and resolutions
quashed, but their efforts were fruit
less.
When seen last evening Secretary
Pierce denied that he had had any un-
pleasantness on the Mongolia and de-
clared that Captain Rinder was one of
his best friends He referred his inter
viewers TO the manager of the steam
ship company for further Endorsement
Of his statements and then entered
upon a discussion of his official trip.
Pierce reports that the consular SER
vice is in very good shape, but he is
in favor of Government ownership of
its own legation quarters. 1t now owns
the legation property at Peking. Seoul
and Toxic. He also said that the
diplomatic and consular service is in
adequately paid, fact which prevents
the Government from getting better
material for it's foreign representation.
Regarding trade conditions in the
| Orient, Secretary Pierce said:
1t seems TO that our opportunities for
trade in China and Japan are enormous The
dHhculty is in getting Americans to invest
their capital so far away from home The
officials in the Eastern countries are favorable
TO American enterprises. There are endless
opportunities for American young men in the
Far East especially in China although there
also many in japan
The transfer Of the Canton Haukow Rail-
road from Americans TO Belgians has had a
bad effect on American trade in that country
This transfer was contrary to the desires Of
the Chinese. who We're anxious to have n l.,
American control. They are suspicious of any
ether control than American for they have
confidence that the United States will NOT at :
tempt to grab anything.