The Washington times., 1905-06-30
CONGER NOT TOLD
JOB WAS LIMITED
Ambassador Must Get Out
Nevertheless.
THOMPSON WAITING ON HIM
Iowan Was Given Mexican Berth on
Agreement With Allison That He
Could Not Stay.
THOMPSON WAITING ON HIM


Could Not Stay.
The exact status OF Edwin H Conger,
American Ambassador to Mexico. Is Ike
ly to become political issue In
Iowa. and an occasion of concern to
the Federal administration.
When Mr. Conger was transferred
from the Pehin ministry to the Mexi-
co Embassy il was done with distinct
understanding that he was not to re-
main permanently at Mexico. but would
in short time retire. There was spe-
cific agreement on this point between
the President and the senior Senator
from Iowa. Mr.. Allison.
Conger Not Told
Whether this understanding was made
known to Ambassador Conger as def
niteiy as it was entertained by the Presi-
dent and Senator Allison, there is room
to doubt. Indeed, there is good authori-
ty for the belief that Mr.. Conger was
not informed specifically of the limited
tenure to which he was destined at
Mexico. But there is just as good
ground for saying that it is not the plan
of the Administration to keep him in
his present post for any considerable
time.
Mr. Conger has been occasion CT much
embarrassment to the State Department.
During the Boxer rebellion in China.
when he was minister to Pekin, he was
made something of a popular hero by
reason. of the trials and sufferings which
he and his family sustained Irior to
that. he had made himself great fav-i
~ xx-ifI, ~ ir,fo
this country and England. looking after
their concerns with a zeal and enthu-=
siasm that won him warm place in
the affections of the different missionary
boards.
Neglected Commerce.
1t was charged by commercial i7n.er-
ests. indeed. that Minister Cenger per-
mitted his missionary works to absorb
more of his energies than they were
entitled to, and that commercial tif-
fairs were not looked after as efiAc-
lively as they ought to have been.
But it happened that the missionary
backing was good deal more powerful
than the commercial, for every mission
AIRY in the East represents hundreds or
even thousands of church people at
home, to all of whom Mr.. Conger has
been represented as the ideal Christian
diplomat.
After the Boxer troubles, while Mr.
Conger was at the height of his popu-
larity, he failed entirely to commend
himself to the State Department by his
conduct during the negotiations for
settlement of the international claims
against China, growing out of the up
rising. 1t was charged that on more
than one occasion Minister Conger
;fC1 I1x- n he
of the Secretary of State. and that it
finally became necessary sharply to
restrict his powers in the consideration
of matters coming before him in his
official capacity.
Backing to the Fore
But as soon as intimations began to
get abroad of the departments lack of
confidence in him, the minister's mis-
sionary friends busted themselves in
his behalf. They fairly swamped the
President and the department with let
ters and resolutions demanding con-
sideration for tll- diplomat who had
endeareds himself to the missionary In
terests. The result was mere en-
barrassment and complications.
The Administration reached the con-
cIusion that matters in the East were
IN such condition that it could not af-
lord longer to retain Mr. Conger there.
: and by way of letting him down as
comfortably IS possible gave him a
promotion 70 the Meztcan embassy.
When this promotion was. given him it
was with the positive understanding !,e-
tween the President and Senator 4 lii
son, Conger's patron of many yeas..
that Ii should not be understood te, k,e
permanent appointment But whether
these restrictions were ever explained
to Mr.. Conger Is uncertain.
Correr yUopJd Co..
Recently, In statement at Mexico.
Mr.. Conger is quoted as saying that
he didn't expect TO resign his position
this fall or at any other time In par
ticuIar; he liked it In Mexico and
guessed he'd stay there. This state
rnent caused embarrassment In two di-
rections. 1t made the State Department
wonder whether Senator Allison had
failed to explain 10 the amba ssa dor the
exact circumstances of his appointment
and it caused woe out in Nebraska
where David E. Thompson. of Lin
coin, has been standing first on one foot
and then on the other. waiting for the
Mexican embassy to be turned over &c
him.
Mr.. Thompson would really rather be
United States Senator than anything
else. But, though he is millionaire
and the owner of big newspaper in
Lincoln, as well as one OF the chief
bosses of the State the toga has al.
ways been denied 10 him The Brazilian
ministry was given him a consola
ton prize, and latterly he has wanted
To be transferred 10 Mexico. There II
no doubt that this was promised him
with the understanding that he shoult
be given the more desirable position as
soon as Conger could be decently re
tired.
Kept in the Dark.
But all this wasn't understood by Mr.
Conger. When he was sent TO Mexico
nobody was exactly anxious to make
the embarrassing explanation about how
the department would expect him TO re-
sign in few months. There was
misunderstanding somewhere: Congo!
thought he was permanently located IL
Mexico. and short time ago. in order
10 set at rest certain impertipeBt re
ports that Thompson was coming to sue
coed him. gave OFT ne statement thai
he fully intended 10 stay n Mexico.
This announcement. goi to Lincoln. anf
Il stirred up Nebraska politics. Senator
Eurketi Of that State. a feiloT-toHTis
man of Thompson. was accused ..