The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-20
UAYAQUIL. ECUADOR, Feb.
Sit would seem that Quay
aquil deserves to be nick

UAYAQUIL, ECUADOR, Feb.
Sit would seem that Quay
81 aquil deserves to be nick
u VI named "the fever port" On
81 account of the ravages Of this
disease, the United States
government has had three
different consular Representative here in
side OF twelve months.
Mast died of fever. Sawter gave up the
place on account of being afraid Of it,
and now Dietrich, a Missouri editor, Is
holding down the job. Along with his
consular duties, he is posting himself on
the science of escaping fever, or of getting
off easy if he has it.
sawter's Quick Retreat.
The natives thought 1t was good joke
when Sawter backed out, but there are
other people who think it was the smart
est thing he ever did in his life. Quay
aquil is not inviting at its best and Saw
ter struck 1t at 81 particularly bad time.
4 1t was not long after the last big fire,
and ono popularity of these CONGREGATIONS
is that an epidemic Of fever always fol-
lows them. Every week for months there
had been from forty to ninety deaths in
the town That fact was not comforting,
to say the least. Jones. the vice consul,
arranged the reception for the new con-
sui He greeted him warmly and took him
at once to his quarters-the place where
Mast had died. The deceased consuls
empty hammock was swinging across the
room his coat hung upon the wall, and
his slippers were in the corner.
Sawter knew when he started that, fig
urativeIy speaking, he was to take dead
+ mans boots, but all this gruesome detail
was too much for him. 1t is not to be
wondered that a shiver ran up his spine.
Jones, the vice CONSUL draws the regular
consular salary when there is no one In
office, and, with an eye to business, he
O. olya,, ioor nd q
gan to talk gloomily. The new incumbent
was soon inquiring about a return ticket
to New York. He held down the job just
one half day Guayaquil poet has writ
ten some verses telling how cute Jones
was in soaring Sawter out. The latter
may console himself with the thought
that it is always best to make good
retreat rather than a bad stand.
Uncle Sans consus.
In connection with this incident it will
be timely to say that the average Amer
lean consul does not have an easy or de-
srable job. The service has had a pc
culiar history In the time of Jefferson it
was practically an honorary work. Well
TODD landholders or lawyers of promise
went abroad in the service merely to &C
ouire the experience and the travel prac-
tically paying their way out Of their own
pockets. The business was not looked
upon as a career. In those days Ameri-
can commercial interests We're not I'M
portant enough to warrant a trained con-
sular corps, and the whole effort OF our
government was expended in organizing a
diplomatic service. Our diplomats have
always given a good account OF them
selves When the time came for organic
ing a consular service 1T was created out
OF nothing. Men were sent to places on
the theory that some one should be sta
toned there, bYt with no thought to the
qualifications Of the incumbents. 1t was
all a matter of political patronage. Prior
y to 1895 no examination was necessary
at all.
AS a result of this carelessness, the fit
ness of the men in our service. when COM
4 pared to those of other nations, suffers by
comparison. A young man in the Eu
ropean consular service first serves as Of
flee clerk then vice consul, and finally
consul. Before he comes to the helm he
will have served on several stations, and
know several languages and will be fam
tliar with all shipping laws and the books
of the consulate. Our representatives are
given thirty days instruction in the state
+ department at Washington, and dis