Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-02-05

WOrlQ. "A row is Oh winch QWarIS INTO
pitiable insignificance the threatened
war between the Russians and the
Japs. 1t is the supreme court Of the
United States versus the diplomatic
corps-the silk gowns against the gold
collars. Leading the feudists on one
side is Mr.. Justice John Marshall Har-
Ian, who, properly enough, is a Ken
tuckian. The trouble grows out of q
question of precedence and came about
in this wise: At the recent White House
reception to the judiciary Major Nc
Cawley, superintendent of public build
ings and grounds, who is described by
a local Jenkins as 1.-The presidents So
cial aid" arranged the programme, ac-
cording to which the diplomats. with
all their swords, epau!ets, cooked hats,
belts, gold lace, fiounces. etc. We're pre-
sented to the president before the SUI
preme court judges. The latter were
much enraged and went away toward
midnight in high dudgeon ard are, to
use slang expression 'rcdheaded' at
being made to play second fiddle. And
at their own reception, too-only think
of that! The judiciary reception! Now,
for the learned and august judges to
be compelled in executing their part in
that particular function to walk be-
hind the diplomats-eyen behind such
a 1ledgeling as the French minister from
Panama-w more than human ma
ture, especially supreme court human
nature, could bear; hence the judicial
roar. Ii those reverend judicial seign-
Tors cannot play the bellwether role at
reception given especially in their
honor what the deuce is the good of
giving them a reception ac all? They
may differ about constitutional ques-
tons, but on the question of walking
ahead of the diplomatic corps they are
a unit The papers say that Mr.. Chief
Justice Fuller Democrat and MIR.
Justice Harlan (RepublicaD called on
tile president and read the riot act to
him, intimating that unless this great
sin against judicial dignity is atoned
for they will take their doll rags, go
home and refuse to play at the White
House receptions any more.
II is too bad. almost as bud state of
affairs as when Il certain Mr.. Merry,
English minister to this country, threat
ened to precipitate war between Great
Britain and the United States because
President Jefferson took Mrs. Madison,
the famous Dolly. wife of the secretary
of state, to dinner instead of taking
Mrs. Merry. That performance has
had remote and curious consequence
in our day. 1t so happened that shortly
after that famous dinner Tom Moore.
the Irish poet, was guest Of Minister
and Mrs. Merry. He took up their
quarrel and wrote some dreadful ar
ticles about Jefferson to some English
papers.
Jefferson on Tom Moore.
So when our great and glorious Con-
gressional library building was in proc
ess of erection it was determined to or
nament the walls with busts of distin-
guished men of letters. Nearly every
one generally known is there except
Tom Moore and he. one of the best be-
loved of all poets. is missing because
he wrote those hot and peppery epistles
about Thomas Jefferson.
| The latter never harbored malice
against Tom for flaying him. In his
old days his daughter, Martha Ran
dolph, was reading him a poem which
pleased him greatly. who wrote
that?' he asked. TON Moore" she re.
piled. Why" said he, "that is the lit
tie man who took me so severely to
task about Mrs. Merry. He was very
young then and is great poet now"
1t is to be hoped that the wrangle be.
twiXt the diplomats and the judges
will not have any permanent bad eff.
feet or involve us in war with all for.
eign nations. OF course all the tribe
Of Jenkins are demanding that we have
sort Of garter king at arms or official
master Of ceremonies who shall arrange
and superintend m official programme
fixing each ones place In the procession
according to frank" in order to avoid
complications in the future, but we
have done fairly well without such q
funct!onary so far and can perhaps sur
vive without him In the days to come.
| First and last. President Roosevelt
has tried his hand at many things
| Perhaps he may succeed, if he tries, II
quiotlng the stormy waters with OF
and in smoothing the ruffled feathers
Of the Justices of the supreme court
Gkey are shining ornaments, and Wash
ington would be disconsolate withou
their inspiring and august presence.
Men are forever poking fun at tn,
women for squabbling about question!
of precedence. but the foregoing In
cident, together with two or three 9th
ers, goes to show that the men ar,
about as sensitive on the subject as tn,
women are.
1t will be remembered that at tn
congressional funeral exercises in mem
DRY of President Mckinley the sho
/ was on the other foot. The manager Of
that occasion put the supreme cour
ahead Of the diplomats, and the latte
protested, more or less courteously AM
more or less yehemently.
i Also that the late Lord Pauncefote
the British ambassador, would par
ticipate In no function in which til
diplomats appeared unless he was pc
mitted to head the diplomatic column
Otherwise he refused to play.
Also that General David Bremne
Henderson, one of the most Democrat
of mortals in habit and taste, got int
a towering gage because willie be wa
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