Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-08-08
The Yankee Consul
Needs Schooling
Positions


| loulu dUuuudhl lIne 10 IOllOW their
literary proclivities. Probably the
most distinguished literary consul OF
today is James Jeffery Roche, the
poet and historian, who occupies one
of the. Italian posts.
Times in many ways, have changed
since the consular service was con-
Quoted on the principle so boldly enun-
| ciated by President Jackson-"To the
victors belong the spoils.' In the
early days of the republic, the only
consuls under salary were those as,
signed to the several posts in the
barbary states on the northern coast
president saw fit to appoint, with the
advice and consent of the senate, re-
eived annual salaries; namely, the
three in the Barbary states, three
more in China and the consulates at
London, Alexandria. Beirut ana
Smyrna. The fees, however, received
at other posts We're sometimes sub
stantial and attractive. The consular
post at Liverpool for example, to
which Nathaniel Hawthorne was lp-
pointed by President Pierce in 1858,
was estimated to be worth $40 900 a
year. Nowadays, all of the several
positions in the service have fixed
salaries.
The first attempt to systematic
the service was made by Congress in
1899 Blaine was a conspicuous cham
plon of consular reform. The practice
OF examining candidates for posts of
any Importance began under Presi-
dent Cleveland Later, largely
through the efforts of Secretary Hay,
this practice was still further extend.
ed during the first administration OF
President Roosevelt. Today. under
Secretary Root the purpose of the
state department which since the
beginning has controlled the consular
service, is to make the examinations
more searching than ever, and in
this way enhance the effectiveness Of
the service.
AT first the examination or proba.
| tionary period was was supposed to
| last from two weeks to a month The
candidate reported at the office of
state, showed his notice of appoint.
ment, received copy of the Service
Manual, and, if the man in charge
| happened to be in good humor, was
asked lot of grammar school uues-
TONS. Sometimes the appointee went
straight to his post without bothering
! aDout these formalties, paving his
own way. of course, as all consuls do.
Thus 1t came about that good many
unfit men still got into the service.
But nowadays there is no escape
from the examinations. during which
the appearance and character OF the
candidate are studied as carefully as
MS intellectual capacity. Conse-
quently the tone OF the service is be.
ing raised rapidly.
Although the consular and diplo-
matte service is not yet on a perman.
ent basis. the organized school of
diplomacy under the auspices of the
George Washington University has
been in existence since 1898. II was
opened in Che presence of President
Mckinley, and a large gathering of
american and foreign diplomats I'M
der the name of the school OF com.
parative Jurisprudence and diplomacy
This was the first school of political
science in the new world. Since 1898
TINS preparatory school for diplomats
has been greatly enlarged and
strengthened. so mat today, under its
new name of the college of political
sciences, 1t Is to all lntents and pur
poses recognized adjunct of the
state department.
This national training ground for
diplomats of high and low degree
seems, so far as its faculty Is con.
cerned, like a government institu.
tloh. Two members of the United
States supreme court, John NJ Harlan
and David j. Brewer, conduct courses
the former on American constitution.
al law and the latter on international
law. Hon. John w. Foster former
secretary of state and probably the
most experienced diplomat now IN
private life has the course in AnerI-
cTn diplomacy. rs James Brown Scott
one of the solicitors in the state de.
partment, and recently one of the lie.
gal experts Of the American deIega,
tion OF the peace conference at the
Hague. is professor Of international
law and diplomacy Oscar Phelps
Austin for many years ch!ef Of the
United States bureau OF statistics.
and a recognized master of the SUB
ects OF commerce, colonization and
transportation. couples the chair OF
commerce and finance. Mr.. Austin,
who is also sercetary of the national
geographic society, was recently
elected a member OF The royal COM
mission OF statistics OF Belgium,
| signal honor rarely conferred upon
/ foreigner. Such faculty illustrates
wat has often been said about Wash.
ington as an educational center, that
It's greatest asset is in the men who
are available at teachers.
A Pair Of Truths.
a widow and bn. f,,o.ra..az .--.---.-.