The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-06-06
A Foreign Embassadorstip
Cannot Be Held by Any Per-
sons Save Wealthy Aneri-
cans.
AN oHIOAN
WHO WENT BROKE
Spent Fortune Trying 10 Keep Up
the Style BETTING the
Office.
Special to the Eve.i.x rine..

Special 10 the EveninK Tines.
Washington, D. c., June 6.-Nicholas
Longworth, the son-in-law of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, and representative
IN congress from the Cincinnati, Ohio.
district, is plain. straight forward
American citizen, with good many of
the traits OF his ancestors. He is not
rich. as riches go these days, but has
sufficient to keep the wolf from eating
on the door hinges. He is sensible.
normal man. who has seen much of the
world. through intensely American
eyes and Is not afraid to voice his
judgment.
Mr. Longworth, with keen knowl-
edge of the needs of the diplomatic
and consular service, and with en-.
thuslasm OF young manhood. has un.
dertaken to put the United States on
similar footing with European coun-
tries in the way of the ownership of
legation buildings. Recently he Of
fered an amendment to the diplomatic
and consular bill appropriating one
million dollars for the purchase Of
residences for legation purposes at
the important capitals of the world.
VI course the amendment failed on a
point of order. but there is no doubt
that If the house ever gets a chance
to vote for Mr.. Longworth's bill, it
will pass by large majority.
Ii we owned the residences occupied
py our ambassadors and ministers, q
comparative poor man could live on
his salary of $17,5OO, but as it is now.
being compelled to lease his official
residence, the man of small means
cannot hope to represent this coun-
try abroad. and the place goes to some
millionaire.
1t is notorious fact, men have i'm
poverished themselves in an effort to
Keep up the traditions attaching to
ambassadorships and ministerships.
Take the case of General Noyes, of
Ohio, who was appointed as minister
to France by President Hayes. Cen
eral Noyes was a man of the highest
ability and learning. He served gall
laatly through the civil war and re-
tired with the rank of general, and
afterwards served with distinction as
governor of Ohio.
At the time Of his appointment he
was reputed to be worth about $i50.-
900. That was before he went to
Paris. When he retired, and went
back to Cincinnati. he was nothing:
his fortune had evaporated as a re-
suit of his experience there. He had
lived in Paris for four years in the
simplest possible way, consistent with
the dignity of his position, and vet.
when he retired. he had spent prac-
tically his last cent in the service of
his country He was, according to
Mr.. Longworth, almost an object of
charity for the remainder of his days.
1t was too late for him to build up a
law practice. He was compelled to
make bare living out of the fees of
small cases turned over to him by
other lawyers and he died a broken
man.
In speaking of his bill, Mr.. Long
worth said: II venture to say that
the judicious expenditure of five mill
lion dollars In buying or leasing upon
long terms property in these capitals
at the end of twenty years, would pro-
duce an investment at least double
the original cost. But whether this be
true, or not. it certainly would bring
about this result; that at every i'm
portant capital there would be an Of
tic1al residence; building over which
the American flag would always float.
Then the men appointed by the presi-
dent to represent this country, would
not have to decide how much rent he
could afford to pay. He would not
have to be q house-hunter for part
of his term. It would not be neces-
sary' then to move the archives and
important papers of the government
from one place to another, whenever
new ambassador or minister arrived
at the capital. Then the man of mod
crate means, the man who most truly
represents the bone and sinew of this
republic would not be placed at dis
advantage, as compared with another
ma who had more monev. Then,
from all external appearance, the
wealth or poverty of the particular in
cumbent would not be apparent. Then
we would not hear of cases of men
impoverishing themselves, as did
Governor Noyes, nor on the other
hand, would we see vulgar display
of lavishness in living which we have
in some instances seen in the past
No longer then would condition ex-
ist under which these offices of the
highest responsibility and dignity
could be given only to rich men, and
no longer would there be a single Of
flee in the gift of the American people,
which would not be within the reach
of any American citizen"
The hope for an early adjournment
of congress evaporated into thin air
long ago. When this session was con-
vened last December, the announce