The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-07-12

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and venture to say that 1t Is q mighty
step not only in the diplomatic history
or all the American continent. but also
in the history Of civilization, and In the
history Of the welfare Of mankind.
BE sure. Mr.. Secretary Of State, that
you and your family will meet In Bra
ell the very heart Of the 100000 OF
my cOuntrymen.
'They appreciate the full significance
OF your going there. They realize that
your mission is one of cordially and
'of broad-minded policy. They recipro-
cate in your presence the confident
friendship of the United States based
upon the mutual respect which binds
together the great family of nations.
They know also your value as a states
man and your iflustrious personality.
Il feel, myself. particularly happy
on this occasion. / must say with great
satisfaction that this moment is the
best Of my diplomatic life since it's be-
ginning IL years ago. 1t Is indeed a
great honor for me to say Farewell
to you on your departure for my eoun-
try, seeing from now that the ties of
the ancient and never disturbed friend
ship between the United States Of
America and the United States of Bra
zn will become closer for the benefit
Of both countries and for the benefit Of
all Nations that are interested In CIV
tlization. progress, greatness, power and
peace"
Attorney-General Lebbeus r.. Whitley,
Of the Philippine Islands, has been ap-
pointed to the new Judgeshfp of the
United States Court in China, which is
to replace In large measure the pres
ent Consular Courts. Judge Whitley IS
a native Of st. Louis, Mo-. and In 1901
was appointed Judge of the Court of
First Instances of the Philippines. A
few months later he was advanced to
the Attorney -Generalship Of the Is
lands. The new post Is one Of great
importance. and is well salaried, the
yearly compensation being fixed at $18.-
990, with liberal allowance for tray
cling expenses.
The Court was created by Congress
at the Instance of Secretary Root for
the purpose of correcting many OF the
abuses which have grown up In the
administration of justice In the Orient
through tn. Consular Courts. In those
Courts tn. American Consul presided,
enough often not a lawyer and without
legal knowledge. The evils Of the old
system were exposed through special
reports to the State Department. and
1t was decided that to try the cases of
Americans in China q regular United
States Court should be established. with
provision for appeal to the Supreme
Court of the United States. The Con-
suls are not to be deprived altogether
Of their judicial functions. hut are to
be limited in their practice to small
cases. and even in those the parties in
interest may appeal to the United
States Judge Of the Chinese Court.
Headquarters for the new Court will
be in Shanghai, but there will be a
circuit including the principal Chinese
cities.
Orders issued at the War Department
assign Brig. Gen. Jesse NJ. Lee to the
command of the Department OF the
Visayas. p. l.. with headquarters at
Iloilo. and Brighten. Walter T. Dug
gan. recently promoted from Colonel Of
brigade camp established at Camp
Stotsenberg, I'm Luzon. Both Of the
officers named are now in the Philip
pines.
AS assessed by the general public,
the value Of President Roosevelt's auto
graph is 81. That price is higher than
ever before was paid by collectors for
living Presidents signature. 1t Is re-
garded as odd, too, that the price
should be 50 much, because compare
lively little difficulty Is experienced by
anyone who proceeds In the right way
to get his autograph.
Since Mr.. Roosevelt became Presi-
dent it has been his practice to grant
proper requests for his autograph. In
deed, Secretary Loeb has had prepared
white bristol, cards. bearing the insig-
MIA Of the White House, on which,
practically every day. the President
places his signature on request from
somebody. During the Presidential
campaign he autographed Thousands Of
photographs OF himself for friends or
acquaintance and for people connected
with the campaign in various capacities
throughout the country. Since his cleo
ton to the Presidency the demand for
his autograph and for autographed
photographs has diminished somewhat,
but II still Is active. Strangely enough,
it has increased during the past two or
three months In an almost phenomenal
way. Scarcely a single mail passes over
the desk Of Secretary Loeb that does
the Presidents autograph and many re-
quests for his photograph also are re-
ceived.
Almost the last thing President
Roosevelt did before he left the White
HOUSE week ago I'd 80 TO OYSTER b<1y
for the Summer was to autograph a
pictorial postal card on the request OF
a young woman visiting in Washington.
The letter from the young woman was
received by Secretary Loeb late Satur-
day night. 1t was prettily written
and beautifully worded appeal that the
President should sign his name to a
post card. which was inclosed with the
note. The picture on the card was q
representation Of the White House. The
writer said she desired to send the
card to her sister. who was too III to
make the trip to Washington with her
She 'fnclosed In the note q 81 bill To
pay for the trouble the securing Of the
autograph Of the President might &C.
eAsion to the Secretary. . Although the
President had been signing his name
almost constantly during the day Ia
laws. to commissions, to appointments
and to other forms Of official and state
documents and his hand was cramped
from holding a pen. he said that young
woman should not be disappointed.
He wrote his name on the post card
and with It q pretty little sentiment
that the recipient, in her sick bed some.
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