The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1909-01-19
AT NATIONS
CAPITAL
(By Guy w. Finney)

forward to a career in the diplomatic
service may take cheer in the thought
that during the coming Taft admins
tration merit alone will open door t.
appointment. This announcemen may
strike with particular force that class
Of young men who have achieved uni
versity bonors. Aside from Mr.. Taft
himself, the best friend of this merit
system will be his secretary of stat,
Philandor Knox. In taking these con-
sulchips, which mark the road to high
er diplomatic preferment, out of the
political grabbing" Mr.. Knox viii
follow the course of the present Sec
rotary of State, Elihu Root, who can
rightfully lay claim to being "the
father of consular REFORM
A few years ago it could be said,
and was said in truth, that the aver
age American consul was "a joker
that he had no right to represent this
or any other country in an important
diplomatic capacity, and that his
presence as such was entirely due t.
a bad political system. Except in ex-
ceptional cases, these assertions would
be without foundation now, and when
Mr.. Taft and his Secretary OF
State get through with their pruning
these exceptions, too, will be of the
past.
Changed commercial conditions, as
well as the embarrassments brought
about by incompetent representatives
abroad, have made this concular re-
form imperative. 1t was either a
question of divorcing the concular
berths from politics or be discredited
in the eyes of foreign governments.
Though the change wrought has not
beer without opposition, and Mr.. Taft
when he becomes Chief Executive
probably will be urged to return to
the old "spoils' system, the results
attained have proven the wisdom of
the reform.
To the average American this field
offers varied attractions. 1t may not
have been so in former years, when
most of these jobs were properly lab
elled "sinecure," because the con
cul's chief duties consisted of killing
time and drawing his pay. The ser
vice is now Kidding itself of the few
incumbents who follow this exciting
~ AN -, II 49, 1851
routine. While it is true that some
consular Offices offer a wider field of
opportunity thar others, none Of them
are without their offerings to the am
Ditious man. Many of those stationed
in the various countries of South
America, which countries are nov
marching to the tune of a quick step
to capture some of this country $
trade, have found ample opportunit. 7
to develop lines Of trade for home
merchants, and thus benefit indirect
ly. Others have been offered alluring
inducements to enter the service Of
corporations having a large shipping
headquarters at the port where they
were stationed, and stin others have
left the consular service to develop
opportunities they learned of while
acting as their country's representa-
tive. Taken all in all, this field
would seem a vastly more inviting one
than formerly, and more SO because,
instead of being closed to all except
a class of hungry politicians, it is nov
within the reach of all-if they only
show their fitness.
WashingPn's diplomatic family "A
ways causes a stir of interest. This
is particularly 50 if the new member
halls from the Orient, for the Orient.
ais, taken as a class, are picturesque;
they are never without their touch OF
color.
Therefore, the coming of Husseim
KAHN Bey, recently appointed Turk
ish Ambassador to the United States,
is worth noting. 1t will be remember
ed that since the hurried departure II
Chekib Bey, the former Ottoman rep
resentative to this country, the Sultan
has been transacting his business with
the State Department through Mund,
il Bey, Turkish Consul General ut
New York. 1t was not because of the
insistance of this government that
Chekib Bey packed up his belongings
one morning anr fled toward London.
just about that time Turkey, through
the "Young Turks" had gained a
constitution, and matters got a little
warm for all the Sultan's representa-
tives of the old regime. Understand
ing the volatile character of Turkish
politics, Nundji Bey seized this OPP
portunity of humbling his old arch
enemy, Chekib Bey. He came over
from New York on 0 fast train,
sought out Chekib Bey at the en-