The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-01
HI Inc GAPIlHLa
Kansas Wants More Places in
Consular Service.
Representation Is Probably
Smaller Than Amy State.
NOW HAS BUT EIGHT.
Only One Consul General in
This Number.
Some of the Good Places Held
In Past Years.
NOW HAS BUT EIGHT.

Washington, Dec. lone OF the things
that the Kansas delegation will likely
attempt to do the coming session, par
ticularly as March and the new ad-
mfnistration approach, will be to secure
additional Kansans in the consular ser
vice.
For a state of Kansas size, import
ance, and power, it has probably the
least representation in the consular ser
vice OF any state of the union. There
are only a few places accredited to the
state, and only one of these is at all
worth while.
Kansas has only one place in the di-
plomatic service proper. 1t has only
seven places in the consular service.
These seven are divided as follows: One
consul general; two consuls; one vice
consul; two consular agents; one con-
sular clerk.
The one lone consul general, which
position is in the highest class of the
consular service. is William r. Bigham
OF White City, Morris county, who rep
resents the United States at Capetown.
South Africa His salary is $500 per
annum. He was appointed in 1901, upon
the recommendation of Senator Burton,
Mr.. Bigham was member of the legis-
Iature which elected Mr.. Burton sena-
tor, and had been in the preceding leg
islature. A year or so ago he threaten
ed to give up his place because of the
low salary and the high rate of living
in CapetowE. The department of state
increased his salary, and he has since
held the place. He was visiting in his
Kansas home recently for about 80
days
The two Kansas consuls are:
John c. Caldwell, at San Jose, Costa
Rica; appointed July p, 1897; salary,
John B. Richardson. Utilla, Honduras.
Central America; appointed August 2,
1902 salary 81, 600.
tn lone vice consul from Kansas is
Walter c. Bishop. at Durango, Mexico,
appointed December 19. 1902. His salary
consists of certain fees up to particu-
lar figure. The office by itself is worth
less. These places are usually filled by
some American in business in the town
where appointed, and have no political
significance, as a rule.
The two Kansas consular agents are:
Philip S. Elliott, Tela, Honduras; ap-
pointed June II, 1908; no salary
Gustav c. Kothe, Cassel, Germany;
appointed March Is, 1894; salary, 1898.
There is one Kansas consular clerk.
His name is Roy H. Medley. He is in
the Havana consular office, and was
appointed March 81, 1904. His salary
is 81, 600 per annum- la 81
This is not a very large and credit
able showing for a state like Kansas,
but il is likely that on and after
showing in the diplomatic and con-
sular field.
George w Ellis, a Lawrence negro,
Is secretary of legation at Monrovia,
Liberia, the African negro republic. He
was appointed December 10, 1902, and
his salary is $500 per annum.
The above small showing for Kansas
In the foreign field calls attention to
past days when good places were had
by the state For instance, under
President Harrison, Thomas Ryan,
then a member of congress, now assist
ant secretary of the interior, was made
ambassador to the republic of Mexico,
and served four years. He the
drst ambassador from this country to
the republic on the south. His salary
was St7.5O0.
Under Presidents Hayes, Garfield and
Arthur. Thomas A. Osborn, who retired
from the governors office in 1877, was
IN the foreign field, as minister to Chile
and Brazil. He remained eight years
IN that capacity.
Under President Cleveland, Thomas
Moonlight of Leavenworth. the lieu
tenant colonel Of Senator Plumb's
Eleventh Kansas regiment was min
lister to a leading South American
country.
In the consular service in the past
Kansas had had places at various good
points. John A. Anderson of Manhat-
tan was consul at Cairo. Egypt, from
1891 to 1892. when he died Then he
was succeeded by E. c. Little of Abb
1ene.
r. W. Turner of Manl1a to was con-
sui under Harrison to Cadiz, Spain, an
excellent post.
Under the last Cleveland term. Chas.
Schafer of Harvey county was consul
TO Vera Cruz. Mexico, which was re-
garded as being highly desirable
Charles K Holiday of Topeka held
an important diplomatic post in South
America in the first Cleveland admin
istration. being at one time, during an
interregnum, charge d'affaires in Ven
ezuela.
So.though Kansas fares badly enough
at present, it was not always so.