The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-07-25
SECRETARY ROOT is LAYING
PLANS FOR LIVELY CONTEST
WORK WAY UP LADDER
Would Take Appointments Entirely
Out Of Politics and Require All
Entering Service to Begin at
Bottom and Work Up.

Washington. July 24.-Secretary
Of state Root is laying plans for
lively cont st with the politicians in
both houses OF congress. II the
secretary has the backing of Presi-
dent Roosevelt in the battle it will
be fight worth Witnessing 1t will
be over the extension Of the principle
of civil service to the entire diplo-
matte and consular service.
In the last congress Secretary Root
carried his point in having the con
sular reorganization law adopted. with
provisions for making appointments
from the lower grades to fill the
higher posts He hopes, thereby, t.
have. IN short time. only experienced
officials in the important consular po'
sitions. and to make the appointment
10 the minor positions from the list
Of those who have passed creditable
examinations and moving the ap-
pointees up In the service as they
shall demonstrate their special fitness
and qualifications for the service.
Now Secretary Root is determined
to carry the principle into the dipio-
matte service. He gained the point
/ recently by obiecting to the selection
by President Roosevelt Of Or. Egan,
/ the celebrated Catholic Instructor Ci
| the Georgetown institution. to be am
/ bassador TO Japan, and successor OF
Luke Wright in that position. Dr.
1 Egan is scholar and linguist, but
/ he had absolutely no experience as
diplomat. He had to be content with
a small ministerial place in South
America.
II Is not unlikely that Secretary
Root determined, as a result of his
experience with Luke Wright in the
American embassy at Toxic, that no
more untried men shall be sent ont
TO a post of such importance. Luke
Wright Is an able man, but he is not
a success in position dcmandino
skin In diplomacy He VAS not a
success at the head of the Philip
pine commission which was vacated
by Secretary Taft on the return ot
the later from the islands.
Wright was next in line, but he
managed the interests OF the United
States and our relations with the
Philippine natives so that II is claim
ed that Secretary Taft insisted upon
his recall He was given the Jap.
anese ambassadorship to let him down
easy. He has not been successful II
that trying post, where, # al that Is
said about our relations with Japan
OF any considerable part Of H., bc
true. We are much in need of the
highest type of efficiency in diplo-
macy
The transfer Of Wright from the
Philippines 10 Japan was specimen
of political appointment without any
other redeeming feature, Secretary
Root probably protested against u,
hut he would not stand for the send
ing of an entirely new man to the
post in these times.
1 II IS asserted. in connection with
these changes in the diplomatic ser
| vice. that Secretary Root Is TO ask
congress az the next session 10 in
corporate the idea into statute law,
that man entering the diplomatic
corps must begin down at the bottom
and work mp. The secretary hopes
/ 10 have a chance to test the merits
Of the idea in connection with pros
,pectiye changes in ambassadorships
for Great Britain and several Of tn"
leading European countries within the
next few months.
The only question is whether Pres
idcnt Roosevelt will stand by him In
carving ont the plan, or whethe"
the executive will weaken under the
. pressure Of the political leaders, es-
pccially I'm tho face Of the coming
presidential campaign.