The Washington times., 1908-12-26
w. |. Buchanan Has Rapid
Rise Settling Interna-
tiOnal Disputes.
SOUTH AMERICA
HIS SPECIALITY
Goes to Venezuela as United States
Special Commissioner 10
Adjust Trouble.

" ItlLIIl l. buchanan WHO IDS Ju7t
b,eu sent away 10 Venezuela as spe-
cial commissioner Of this Government
to adjust the relations OF the diplomatic
world with the new government Z Vene-
zueIa, was a dealer in crOckery twenty
years ago in Sioux City. Since then he
has become the foremost expert in prac-
tin.I diplomacy IN the United States
Il may be said that he has founded
new profession, so FAR as concerns
Anerica-that Of practical business d.
pIOmacy. He has settled more rows
prevented more wars, made friends OF
nations that were disposed to be enc
miles, than any man, perhaps, OF his
time. His career IS really one OF the
finest Illustrations Of the possibilities Of
the public service In this country, for
the man who has brains and the cour-
a. 10 use them.
Unique Career.
Mr.. Buchanan has had a career en-
tirely unique. He became a public
! character as general manager OF the
Corn Palace exposiJions. some twenty
| years ago, in Sioux City. In that ca
pacity he demonstrated a large meas
| ure OF. executive ability. and the exU0st-
! JiOus became nationally, and even inter
! nationally. famous As a result Gov
| eIuor Boise, Of Iowa. made hiTh com
/ missioner from that State to the
/ Worlds Fair in Chicago in 1885; and
! presently ne was placed ia charge Of
| the department OF agriculture and for
/ estry of the exposition. He grew up 10
/ the new position. Grover Cleveland be
/ came President, and Buchanan, a life
/ long Democrat, was named by him 10
/ be minister TO Argentina
/ Mr. Buchanan, from booming the bust
ness of a Western city through an ex-
[ position, developed the idea Of pushing
/ commercial relations: he became a gen
/ eraI agent for American enterprise in
/ South America He sought TO extend
/ American commerce in South America,
/ and presently had become the most
popular diplomat in Latin-AmeTica-
Argentina and Chile were on the verge
Of war over a boundary question Bu-
( chanau was made the umpire in an ef-
! fort to arbftrate their differences Each
side named five judges, and the two
II agrt ed on him as umpire Il was his
I work which steereG that difficult and
complicated arbitration 70 a successful
conclusion IT was the first great tri-
I uuph Of arbitration as means TO setti-
ing vital international difficulties with
I out resort 10 arms; and in South Amer
lea. and among the powers Of Europe
ft is still one Of the great recognized
/ achievements Of its kind
Rescues South America.
At Santiago and at Buenes Ayres
alike. they look upon Buchanan today
as the man who contributed most large
" 20 rescue South America from the
chaos OF petty conflict which had SC
long arrested its development As q
direct result OF that arbitration, there
. exists today between Argentina and
Chile the worlds model disarmament
treaty. Under It the two governments
once bitter rivals. have reduced thell
military and naval establishments. and
tbeir people have come 20 look upor
War as being as impossible as It is un'
desirable.
That was eleven years ago While
minister to the Argentine, Buchanan
NEGOTIATED one Of the best reciprocity
treaties ever forr.cIated for this coun
trv. but il went the way Of the Othe'
treaties of its character-sTnothered Il
the Senate Committees
Appointed minister as Democrat
he was retained under a Republican Ad'
! .uinistration, finally retiring voluntarily
| TO become a sort Of diplomatic agent
for the New York Life Insurance Com
pany in its big business relations witt
/ the South American countries The New
York Life had q great case pending II
the Argentine. which required skiilfu
and diplomatic management Buchanan
took it, and won for his client TheI
he was sent 20 Brazil by the sam'
} Company, and did some more equal!
effective work Later the WestinghOus
Interests international in scope. wante'
his services: and for time he serves