The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-08-09
Examinations viii be Held for
These Positions.
THIRTEEN WERE SUCCESSFUL
Government Will Have Educated Men to
Represent 1t Abroad and Look After
the Country's Interest--Will Be Free
From Ward Politics.

| WASdlNUlpN, aug o'ShN'e S""'
lis much in the position of the maantae'
turer whose factory is running smooth
Ily, but whose selling force Is not ade'
lo,rste to keep the warehouse floors
lclean In other words. there is danger
OF oyer.ppduction, The mills and fac
ltories of the country are working at
thigh pressure have been working at such
high pressure for several years now.
Once let the production overtake and
exceed the demand, and there will be a
relaxation of activity, a Tightening OF
money and "hard times" will ensue.
The administration is cognixant of all
this. and it is causing some uneasiness'
Steps are being taken to avoid such d
commercial crisis by the Strengthening
of the consular service, ior the coun-
try's representatives abroad are the real
upbuilders OF foreign trade. The pro
gramme contemplates the removal OF
the service entirely from the realm oil
party politics and the placing OF edu'
Gated and carefully selected men in posi-
tions OF trust.
This is not so easy as it would seem'
however The examination held at the
State Department a few days ago prov
ed this conclusiyely, for although tifty'
four men were designated for the ex:
animation, only thirty-eight presented
themselves, and OF these only thirteen
passed. These thirteen are now being
coached in their duties by John Ball o.
borne chief OF the Bureau OF Trade Re'
lations of the State Department and
lecturer on the consular service at the
George Washington University.
A noticeable feature OF the examlna'
ton was found in the fact that two OF
the successful candidates prepared them
selves for the service at the George
Washington University, taking the
displomatic course in the College OF the
Political Sciences. All OF the Others
are college men, alumni OF the Cniver-
sites OF Pennsylvania, Virginia, Cornell,
California, Minnesota, Columbia, Iowa
and Yale. Under the new ruling, can
didates for the service have to under
stand at least one foreign language and
to be well versed in the commerce and re-
sources Of this courtry; they must al
so have good understanding OF the com
mercial and political history OF the
world and be grounded in international
maritime and commercial law.
Thus it will be seen that the consul
lar service is to be transformed into
keen, educated body OF me1r who will be
an honor to the United States and will
uphold the dignity Of the nation abroad.
The politician and party worker will be
eliminated, and foreign commerce made
independent of ward politics,
Mr.. Osborne only recently was given
permission by the State Department to
join the faculty of the College of the
Political Sciences of the George Wash
ington University. The permission was
Forthcoming when the administration
saw what decided aid such an insti-
tuition would be in its reorganization
policy, by supplying trained men who
would be educated at the seat Of govern
ment and under government experts.
The "lucky thirteen" who are to be
given positions in the foreign service
average in age 34-1-2 years; sever have
had some experience in government SER
vice; five have had business experience;
four have served their time in journal
ism and three have done some education.
al work.
There are plenty more vacancies An
other examination is to be held at the
State Department on November 20, 81
and % to fill such vacancies, while a |
special examination is scheduled for next
week for the corps of student interpre
ters in China and Japan.