The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-08-11

M tho whole that somc OF the most suc-
cc,siul applicants for conMlship have
como from the ranks Of journalists In
the old days the Seryicc had strong at
fractions Tor young men OF literary
hcnd who dcsi,rd TO polish their style
il Europe, Hawthorne, Howclls and
lret llarte were In the service for
while, and during their terms found
abundant time TO follow their literary
Probably the most dis
tinguished literary consul OF today is
James Jeffrey Roche, the poet and his
torian who occupies one OF the ltallah
posts
Times, in many ways have changed
since the consular service was conducted
on the principle 40 boldly ennnciated By
President JAekson---"To the yietors bc'
long the spoils." In the early days OF
the republic, the only consals under sal'
AIRY were those assigned to the several
posts in the parbary States on the nor
thcrn coast OF Africa Such other con-
suls IL the President saw III TO appoint
with the advice aud consent OF the Sem
ate, received ices or commissions. As
late as 1883 there were only ten posts
in the consular service whose occupants
received annual salaricsI namely, tho
three In the Barbary States, three moo
In China. and the consulates at London,
Alexandria. Beirut and Symrna, The
fees, however, received at other posts
we're sometimes substantial aud attiae'
tive, The consular post at Liverpool,
ior example, to which Nathaniel Haw-
thornc was appointed BY President Pierce
IN 1858, was estimated to be worth Sso.'
900 year Nowadays all OF the sever
al positions in the service have fixed
salariot
The first attempt 10 systematirc the
service was made by Congress In 1855,
Blaine WAS a conspicuous champion OF
consular reform. The practice oI ex'
aiming candidates for posts OF any Inn
portanoe began under President Cleye'
hnd. Later, largely through the ei-
forts OF Secretary Hay, this practice
was still further extended during the
first administration Of President Roose.
welt. Today. under Secretary Root, the
purpose OF the state department. which
since the beginhing has controlled the
consular service, II TO make the exam-
nations more searching than ever and
in thi. way to enhance the effective.
ness %. the service.
At first the examination or proba'
tionary period vas supposed to last from
two weeks 10 month. The candidate
reported ut the office Of one Of the a..
si-taHt secretaries OF state, showed his
notice OF appointment, received copy
OF the Service Manual, and, II the man IN
charge happened not to be in good hu'
nor, was asked lot OF grammar school
questions, Sometimes the appointec went
straight to his post without bothering
about these iormali;ics. paying his own
way, OF course, as all con.uls do Thus
| II came about that good many unfit
men still 20 into the service. But
nowadays there is no escape from the ex'
aminations, during which the appearance
and character OF the candidate are studied
as carefully as hi. intellectual capacity,
Consequently the tone Of the service Is
being raised rapidly.
Although the consular and diplomatic
service IL not yet on permanent basis,
the organized school OF diplomacy under
the auspices OF the George Washington
University has been in existence since
1903. 1t was opened In the presence OF
President Mckinley, and large gath
cring OF American and foreign diplo.
mats under the name OF The School Of
Comparative Jurisprudence and Diplo.
macy This was the first school OF
political science in the new world. Since
1893 this preparatory school ior diplo,
mats has been greatly enlarged and
strengthened, 80 that today, under its
new name OF the College Of Political
Sciences, it IL to all intents and purpo.
scs recognized adjunct of the State
Department,
This national training ground for dip.
lomats of high and low degree seems, 50
far as its faculty i, concerned, like a
government institution. Two members
oi the United States Supreme Court,
John NJ. Harlan and David ]. Brewer,
conduct courses. the former on Ameri.
can constitutional law and the latter on
ernational law. Hon. John W. Fos.
ter former Secretary OF State, and pro-
bobly the most experienced diplomat now
in private life, has the course in Ameri-
can diplomacy, James Brown Scott,
one Of the solicitors in the State Depart
mcnt, and recently one of the legal ex.
| perts OF the American delegation to the
Peace Conference at the Hague, Is pro.
fcasor Of international law and dipIo.
macy. Oscar Phelps Austin, for many
years Chief Of The United States Bu.
reau Of statistics, and a recognized mas.
ter o. the subjects of commerce, coloni-
zation and transportation, occupies the
chair Of commerce and finance. Mr..
Austin, who is also secretary of the Ma
| tjOnal GeOgranhic Society. wos recantly