The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-05-18

w W w W w w w
foot, the buckeye, ETC.! Worse still,
this gravedlgger hasn't drawn a rein
over horse in thirteen years-fatal
number! No gravedigger since the one
who figures in Hamlet" will compare
with Governor Shaw's gravedigger In
| Wilderness of fame. He will get scot
free enough advertising to make him
rich beyond the dreams Of avarice il
he has sense enough to turn 1t to some
useful purpose. But what must be the
secretary's emotions as he gazes upon
that gravedigger seated ON his box and
thinks Of 1908 and of what might have
beenf We all have to die, and we all
know 1t, but we do not like to be COM
PEELED to think always Of our exit.
| Secretary Shaw will never set eyes on
that gravedigger without thinking of
two things-death and the presidency.
And how Secretary Taft, Senator For
| aker and the rest who have their eyes
| on the White House will chuckie when
| they think of the Iowan's sad plight!
| It's an Ill wind that blows nobody
| good, and this gravedigger whom Mr..
Secretary Shaw will come to loathe
will make happy divers and sundry
| other statesmen.
Haec fabula docet that the civil serv-
Ice reform fad has been run into the
ground. The sole function of coach
| man for the secretary Of the treasury
is to know how to drive horses in q
populous city, fact which can be as
, certained In fifteen minutes by a man
who knows how to drive horses as Sec
retary Shaw knows and which could
not be ascertained by an examination
indoors with paper and pencil In three
weeks. A man might know all the sci
ences, all history, all poetry, all the
| things in all the college curriculums In
the land, and then break your neck be-
fore he could drive from the capitol to
the treasury building.
| "What About the Hon. John esrrett7"
In these letters frequent quotations
have been made from the columns of
the Washington Post and many refer
ences made to the brilliaRcy with
which that paper is edited. d fine IL
! lustration of its lighter vein rs found
! In the following editorial under the
above caption:
We have waited long and patiently for
! an official intimation of the fate of the
| Hon. John Barrett. minister to Panama.
| 1t has not come. Announcement has been
, made OF the reorganization of the 18TH
milan canal commission which will super
| sede the present arrangement. 1t Is dimly
| understood that the Hon. Charles Il. Ma
| goon will become the diplomatic head of
| the new canal regime. Mr.. Barrett. 1t Is
| said, will be provided with something
equally good
But what? And how? What is to be-
come OF him2 Patience is a lovely thing,
! but 1t ceases to be a virtue when the fate
! of the Hon. John Barrett hangs in the
| balance. We want to know what will be-
! come of Mr.. Barrett, and we want to
| know It now. VIII he be rewarded with
| an ambassadorship? VIII he become as
sistant secretary of state when the Hon.
| Francis b. Joomis Is promoted? These
are questions that should be answered.
| and the president has no right 10 hide In
| the wilds of Texas while such matters
| arc pending.
| John Barrett, in the language OF one of
| our esteemed contemporaries, has few
| peers and no equals" He has worked
early and latc for the glory Of tho admin
| istratlon. In the handling OF delicate
| diplomatic situations he is unrivaled. His
! industry of voice and pen is unflagging.
| His pulchritude Is unquestioned. He has
| earned the admiration of the administra-
| tien and needs its gratitude.
In the distribution of diplomatic plums
Immediately after March Mr.. Barrett
| was cruelty overlooked But that is the
| way with the American people-they work
a good thing to death. He stuck manfuily
| to his post and saw the plums go to the
| others. There must be something good in
| store, however. for the minister to Pana-
ma. The administration must realize that,
| however neglectful the people may be.
| they get around to the point at last.
| They will rise as one man. II required. to
| demand the proper disposal OF the Hon.
| John Barrett. He must not be permitted
| to retire TO private life. II he was ever
there. II nothing better offers. let him
! have n rowing commission among the
| South American republics, charged with
| the distribution of protectorates. A good
opportunity is now open In this limo for an
energetic, capable man with persuasive
tongue and winning personality. and the
| Hon. John Barrett would fill the bill.
| With the proper stimulus from Washing
| ton there is no reason why MY. Barrett
| should not pave the way for the estab
/ lishment OF protectorates over most of
| the feeble South American countries, thus
| putting an end to revolutions and adding
| immensuraby TO the foreign activities OF
| the United States.