El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-04-26
THE new building of the Inter
Il

HNHE new building of the Inter
national Bureau of the Amer
lean republics will be dedicated
in Washington today. This building
will be the home of the bureau which
represents a union of twenty-one re-
publican nations of the new world,
bound together by common consent,
without treaty obligation, to work for
the advancement of peace, friendship
and commerce in the new world. The
building itself is one of the most beau
tfful structures of the national capital
and IS. worthy TO rank among the high
est achievements of architectural art
in the 10th century 1t is thoroughly
American expressing in white marble
the highest artistic ideals of the Amer
lean peoples, both north and south, and
acknowledging no debt to Europe ex-
cept that it claims a Legitimate share
OF the common heritage of Greek and
Roman building art. 1t is situated in
commanding position in the superb
new Potomac park. not far from the
white house, under the actual shadow
of the Washington monument, and Is
in sight of classic Arlington on the 9TH
er side of the Potomac.
Opened by Orators.
The president of the United States,
the secretary of state. the Mexican am
Root Ond Andrew Carnegie will de-
liver the formal addresses of the ded-
icatory exercises, and John Barrett,
the director of the bureau, will be
master of ceremonies. The Interna-
tional union of American republics is
voluntary organization composed of
the 81 self governing nations of the
western world II is represented in
the bureau at Washington by, the gov
erning board made UP of the secretary
of state of the United States of America
and the diplomatic representatives oil
the other 20 republics accredited to
Washington.
Director Westerner
Under this governing board, the af-
fairs of the bureau are managed by
John Barrett, who has the official I'll
tie of director. Mr.. Barrett is a typ
ica1 American. Born in Vermont, he
made his way through college, went
to the Pacific coast as a newspaper
man and then to Portland, Oregon,
where he became sufficiently prominent
in democratic politics to undertake a
mission to Washington to advise with
president Cleveland concerning the ap-
pointment OF postmaster at Portland
Mr. Cleveland was nightly impressed
with the force, energy and common sense
possessed by young Barrett, and he Of
fered the young Oregonian. then but
IS years old, the position Of minister
to Siam. Barrett accepted the commits
sion. Since that time he has served
as minister in Argentina, Panama, and
Columbia, besides his service as Amer
lean plenipotentiary TO the Pan-Amer-
lean conference in Mexico, and as COM
missioner general of foreign affairs for
the St Louis exposition. Three years
ago, on the nomination of several South
American governments and the recon-
mendation of the then secretary of
state, Mr.. Root. he was made director
of the International Bureau of Amer
lean republics.
Organized by Blaine.
This Bureau was organized in 1890
as a result Of the first Pan-American
conference held in Washington upon the
motion and call of James G. Blaine
William E. Curtis. the renowned cor
respondent. was the first director The
bureau worked in a modest fashion to
promote friendship among the family
of American republics, but IL was re-
garded as purely sentimental concern
and received but poor support from the
nations It assumed to represent
Notwithstanding the great obstacles in
its path. and despite the Indifference
of the various governments, the bureau
cradle and monumental work
Cemented by Root.
When Mr.. Root. representing the
United States, made his visit to the
Latin American republics in 1905, he
found the time ripe for bringing about
a closer union of all the American ma
tions for the conservation of mutual
interests Upon his return TO Wash
ington Mr.. Barrett was placed in charge
of the bureau as director, and, without
reflection upon the ability or industry
of any of his predecessors. the day when
Barrett took up his duties truthfully
may be said to be the day on which
the bureau took its place as factor in
the International life of the western
world.
Influence Increasing
Three years ago the Bureau found
difficulty in disposing of $4,000 pieces of
literature in the space of a year, and
thousands of copies of the monthly
bulletin were destroyed because no one
could be found TO read them Now
$4,000 pieces of literature are dis
tributed annually, and not one piece
is sent out except fin response to a def
mite request.
The monthly bulletin. which was then
a duh and gloomy volume of statis-
tics printed in four languages, now
has developed into one of the most
and artistic monthly mag
voted to doing good has left its seal ,
rha r.ff int