Smyrna times., 1905-07-12
SHORT, SHARP AND SNAHPY
ITEMS FROM WASHINGTON
GLeANIN0S FROM AL PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY TOLD IN A SPICY STYLE.
The Latest News Of the Day Touched Upon
ln Bright and Interesting Manner by
Our Washington Correspondent.

IN Dtikot dnu interesting manner by
Our Washington Correspondent.
In the death of John Hay, Secre-
tarY of State, one of the great states
men of the present age has passed
away and the nation has lost a man re-
garded by many, not only in this
country, but abroad, as the greatest
minister of foreign affairs of the day.
His training had been especially for
tuitous. He practically began life as
the private secretary of Abraham Lin
coin when but 90 years of age and re.
ceived his first training in statesmen
ship in the strenuous days of the ma
tion's greatest president. Following
President Lincoln's death, Mr.. Hay
served his country abroad in various
minor diplomatic capacities for five
years, period which was followed by
five years spent as leading editorial
writer on the New York Tribune. He
had meanwhile contracted a marriage
which brought him great wealth and
after retiring from active newspaper
work, he devoted himself to the study
of diplomacy, literature and the
bronder questions of politics. Under
President Hayes he served as Assis-
tant Secretary of State and in 1897 he
became ambassador to Great Britain
and the following year was recalled to
take the important Office of Secretary
of State.
With such training he could hardly
have been other than a Republican,
although he was a moderate protec-
ZIONIST and, it is generally believed,
hesitated at the precipitancy with
which President Roosevelt determined
to recognize the Republic of Panama.
If that was true, however, he was too
loyal ever to permit his views to be-
come known.
His greatest triumph in the field of
diplomacy was the enunciation of the
so.called ''opendoor" policy in the
East, a prescient step which subse-
quently made not only logical but pos
sible his appeal to the nations of
Europe to delimit the field of the pres
ent hostilities between China and ia
pan, and to preserve China's admins
trative entity, besides paving the way
for the exercise of those 'good offices"
by which President Roosevelt has
done so much to promote the cause of
peace between the Oriental belliger-
ents. In fact, Mr.. Hay long ago
worked out the method which the
President has followed within the last
few months with much signal success.
Mr.. Hay was lovable man, possessed
of charming personality, and had en-
deared himself to a host of warm
friends. But friends and strangers
will alike mourn the loss which has
come to President Roosevelt's cabinet
and to the nation.
Those who have the best interests of
their country at heart will commend
the stand taken by the President with
regard to the admission of educated
Cinnamon to this country, a stand
which has already resulted in an abo-
lition of the boycott of American
goods which threatened materially to
curtail the markets of American pro-
ducers. The Chinese exclusion law is
all sufficient when properly enforced
to accomplish its purpose, and the
Presidents admonitions to diplomatic
and consular agents that they perform
their duties thoroughly, is no more
than should long ago have been in
sisted upon.
The conduct of Chief Engineer Wal
lace should serve as an example to al
men who undertake great works, ant
the verbal castigation which was ad
ministered to the retiring Engineer b.
Secretary Taft will serve as a model o.
a carefully expressed rebuke to a re
Mr.. Wallace drew salary and expense
from the Government while he mas
tered the details of the canal problems
Then, at time when he was prepare
to render some return to the Govern
ment he not only declined to pursu
his duties on the isthmus, but even t.
remain there long enough to permi
another to 80 familiaize himself wit
the work as to cause no hiatus in il
prosecution?
The most striking feature of Secrt
tary Taft's rebuke to Chief Enginee
Wallace is the evidence of She hig
ideals which Mr.. Taft entertains wit
regard to the duties and obligations {
public official.