Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-29
Especial Correspondence

pies that can be found anywhere OF the
possibilities of the public service in
this country, for the man who has
brains and courage to use them.
Mr.. Buchanan has had career en-
tirely unique. ! He became a public
character as general manager of the
corn palace exposition, some twenty
years ago, in Sioux City. In that ca
pacity he demonstrated a large meas
ure OF executive ability, and the ex-
positions became nationally and even
internationally famous. AS a result.
Governor Boies of Iowa, made him COM
missioner from that state to the
worlds fair in 1898; and presently he
was placed in charge of the department
Of agriculture and forestry Of the ex-
position. He grew up to the new po-
sition. Grover Cleveland became pres
ident, and Buchanan, lifelong DEM
ocrat, was named by him to be min
lister to Argentina.
Developed an Idea.
Mr.. Buchanan, from booming tho
business Of western city thru an ex-
position, developed the idea Of push
ing commercial relations; he became
general agent for American enter
prise in South America. He sought
to extend American commerce in
South America, and presently had be-
come the most popular diplomat In
Latin America Argentina and Chile
were on the verge of war over a
boundary question. Buchanan was
made the umpire in an effort to ttrbt-
trate their differences. Each side
named five Judges. and the two agreed
on him as umpire. 1t was Ibis work
which steered that difficult and COM
.spiicated arbitration to a succe ssfnl
conclusion Il was 1.-THE first great
triumph of arbitration as a mears to
settling vital International difficl tiles
without resort to arms; and in South
America. and among the powers OF
Europe, 1t is still one Of the great rec
ognized achievements of its kind. AT
Santiago, and at Buenos Aires alike,
they look upon Buchanan today as the
man who contributed most largely to
rescue South America from the chaos
of petty conflict, which had so long
arrested it's development. AS direct
result Of that arbitration, there exists
today between Argentina and Chile, the
worlds model disarmament treaty. I'm
der it the two governments, once Bit
ter rivals, have reduced their mil tary
and naval establishments, and heir
people have come to look upon war
as being as impossible as 1t Is unde-
Ssirable.
Goes Into Insurance.
That was eleven years ago. While
minister to the Argentine Buch anan
negotiated one Of the best reciIlroc-
ity treaties ever. formulated for this
country; but it went the way Oh the
other treaties Of its character nloth-
cred in the senate committees
Appointed minister as a democrat, he
was retained under a republican. adj
aninistration, finally retiring vaolun-
tacily to become a sort OF diplomatic
agent for the New York Life Insurance
company in it's big business relations
with the South American countries.
The New York Life had a great case
pending in the Argentine, which re-
CURED skillful and diplomatic manage
1nent. Buchanan took it, and worl for
his client. Then he was sent to Brazil
by the same company and did some
more equally effective work. Later the
Westinghouse interests, international
in scope, wanted his services; and for
a time he served both the Westing-
house and the New York Life people in
their Latin American affairs.
The Pan American exposition at
Buffalo came on, and Buchanan, as' the
foremost American authority OF bust
ness relations OF the three Americas,
was selected to be director general
Once more his executive abilities stood
him in good stead, and his work for
the exposition marked him as a man
for great affairs.
Made Peace in Panama.
Next came the Panama revolution In
1908, and the development of that maze
of complications of Colombia, Panama,
France, the canal. and the Washington
government. Buchanan had meanwhile
come to be the most widely and fav-
orally known American diplomatic bus
mess agent in all the Americas. He
has won the confidence of the minor
republics. They believed in him; they
believed that the United States, how
ever much they might fear its general
attitude toward them, would not in
lure them when Buchanan condu cted
the negotiations 1t was a very practical
question, this of the canal; and P-esi-
dent Roosevelt turned to Buchanan
with the request that he give the gov
eminent the benefit of his experience.
He did so, and became minister to the
republic Of Panama. From that time
till the present he has divided his time
between the big business enterprises
with which he is associated, and the
special service Of the department.
Whenever he is needed the state de-
partment borrows him, and he always
produces the results.
Secret Mission to Mexico.
/. Two years or 50 ago he went IN