The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-22
Our State
Contemporaries
John Barrett.

So Mr.. Taft has seleced John Bar
rett to preside at the opening cere-
monies of the new home of the bu-
reau of South American republics,
soon to take place In Washington.
Well, it Is certain that no one Is bet
ter qualified FOR the Job than Is this
person, Barrett He has spent several
years of life studying South American
problems, likewise how to make dip
lomats from the sun-kissed republics
feel that he had their dearest inter
ests at heart when ne really meant TO
administer a diplomatic spanking. Mr..
Barrett's arrangements for the APP
preaching celebration give much at
tention to the banquet to be held in
connection Herewith. Now, 1t just
takes a man like Barrett to attempt
to reach the South American heart
through the North American kitchen.
He has eaten his way through several
South American republics, not to
speak of biting acquaintance with
most Oriental menus. No chance for
him to tangle the oyster spoon with
the ice cream fork.
There must be some good in this
culinary course ne has adopted, for
II certainly aided him in his career
along with a little judicious advertis-
ing, very fair portion of ability and
lots of hard work He worked his way
through college and paid cash divi
dend on graduation day. Then he
worked for various newspapers, until
he finally landed in Portland, Ore.
and listened to the call OF the East
between editions.
Then he decided that he wanted to
enter the diplomatic service. and got
what ne wanted, his first appoint
ment being Minister to Slam.
They do say that he confessed to
Mr.. Cleveland that all he knew OF
Siam was that the twins come from
there, but he made good. Then he
served as Minister to Panama and
Columbia and the Argentine. became
"a delegate TO the International Con-
ference of American States, served as
an agent of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition. and is now director of
the Bureau of South American Re
publics. is strong point is his COM
plete familiarity with the trade needs
of the South American countries and
the Orient, and the manner in which
ne has boosted the merchants of the
United States into getting some OF the
berries of commerce other nations
have been plucking. His second
strong point is being always on the
job He knows the value of a news
paper headline and II the Ahkoond
of Swat should bite tn Mahanajah
OF Ping Pong on the lip, Mr.. Barrett
would he there with series of let
ters, showing that he opposed this
ill-advised action from the start And
Ii Is only forty-four years since he
was seen in Grafton. VT.
No offense mcant,-Suffolk Herald,
Taft's Courage.
An act Of courage and originality
on the part of President Taft Is very
refreshing, In the past his official
actions have been marked by the de-
sire to please both sides. and he has
endeayored tn straddle every import
ant question.
A few days ago he addressed in
Washington a large number of wo-
men suffragettes, and some OF his re,
marks did not please the dear ladies,
and the President was loudly Kissed
We call this an act of true cour-
age on the part of the President, al
though he probably thought that wo-
men dbl not nave political influence,
and for that reason he would fog'
once speak his Observation-Disclosures
Star.