The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-19
BRIGHT FOR KANSANS.
VIII Be More of Them in Consular
Service Soon.

Washington, Feb lettings are
beginning to look up a little for Kan
eas in the consular line. For many
years, about all that Kansas had in
this position was General John O.
Caldwell, noted soldier, lawyer. ora
tor and friend of James G. Blaine's,
who was holding down a little place
In Central America where there was
more chance of getting yellow fever
than glory or renown. Gradually the
state accumulated one or two other
places. notably Capetown, South Afr1-
c., where w. r. Bigham of White
City, friend of the late Senator Bur-
tons, held the place at a great sac
rtf1ce of capital because of the h1gh
cost of living during the Boer war
Recently the consular service was
placed on a decent basis. State Sena-
tor F. D. Smith in his Blue Waters
and Green complains bitterly OF the
department of states policy in respect
of consular service in the Orient. he
says it is dumping-place for broken
down politicians and insists. Such
will not be the case when the new
consular act gets into good working
order. This new system is based on
merit, and in preparation for lie
work It dignifies the consular service
by making it a profession, like other
countries make 1t.
In order to become a consul under
the new law, 1t takes training. one
must have education, to begin with.
Then the candidate must be able to
read, write and speak at least one Tor
eign language. He must have recon-
mendations as to character and aplI-
ity. Then he may be designated for
examination by the secretary OF state
II he gets thus far, he then comes 10
washington and "bones up for the
Ea1v1 7frao fTAr 10 goes
into a school of training. This is
conducted by an expert in the depart
ment of state He gets the prospective
consuls trained in the language OF the
country in which each may go, IN
business, in the temperament OF the
people of that particular country, etc.
Then will probably come, in time, APP
pointment to some small place where,
after a year, if he makes good, he Is
taken away and given a better berth
Kansas has two or three excellent
men now in the consular service,
trained, young, active. One of these
is William Heimke of Leavenworth.
He has been in service II years, and
has been vfce-consul, consul, secretary
of legation, charge d'affairs; He is
now trying to get a European assign
ment.
George a. Bucklin, jr., of Medicine
Lodge, a graduate of two or three uni
versities, including Yale, and prof.
at q post in Germany, but will short
" get a better place.
Bertrand Yost, clerk of the district
court of ELS county, recently passed
high in the exaTninationand Represen-
tative Reeder is trying to get him
place He will have one in the near
future.
Fred Slater of Topeka recently
passed the examination. He is
lawyer, and German.
Paul Wilkinson of Seneca, who has
been in Mexico some years, is well
educated and proficient in Spanish.
will take the next examinations; and
so will Theodore C. Afford of Law
renee, just at present on the Coffey-
vile Journal, and a brother of the
Lieutenant Afford who was killed in
the Philippine Islands with the Twen-
tieth Kansas These two will take the
examination at the suggestion of Sem
ator Long.
There are other bright, aspiring
Kansans who are figuring on making
the consular service their life profess
sion