The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-05-11
FuI'niSS
Resigns
MINISTERSHIP TO HAITI AFTER
SIN YEARS SERVICE. EF-
FECTIVE JULY 1ST.
Candidates Galore
Being Groomed For Highest Salaricd
Diplomatic Position Now Held by
Member Of the Race, as $4,000
Per Annum Looks Good to All.

(Thompson's National News Bureau}
Washington, d. c., May 1O.-Dr.
Henry w. Furniss, of indianapolis,
Ind, since 1905 the United States
Minister at Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on
last Friday cabled to the State De-
partment his resignation, to become
effective about July l. The State
Department gives out no reasons
and no intimation can be had as to
who will be Dr.. Furniss' successor.
|The place pays a salary Of $4,000
per annum, and out Of this. it Is csti-
| mated that a Minister will have to
pay living expenses amounting any
where from $500 to $4,000. accord
ing to the social obligations he
wishes to assume. The salaries Of
the two clerks at the American Le-
cation are paid by the United States.
There is no secretary Of legation,
proper, at Port-au-Princc.
A Career of Usefulness.
Before being assigned to the Hal
tian post Dr.. Furniss had served
with rare credit and distinction as
lconsul at Bahia, Brazil, and won the
highest diplomatic seat usually ac-
corded to a colored man by the ex~
pert manner in which he had handled
the commercial affairs Of the United
States in South America. His skill
as a diplomat is Best attested by the
fact that he withstood revolution af-
ter revolution in Haiti, without be-
coming persona non grata to either
| side in any Of the nerve-racking
crises through which he was COM
PEELED to pass. In the last notable
change Of executives, DR.. FurnisS en-
| jOyed the fullest confidence Of NOrd
| Alexis, and after the deposition of
| that unique parsonage, he was none
the less acceptable to President
Simon, who succeeded him. BY vir-
| tue Of seniority in point Of service,
! Minister FurnisS was Dean Of the
| Diplomatic Corps. While at Bahia
| he was married to an accomplished
young lady of German extraction.
He was educated in the schools Of
Indianapolis, graduated from tho In
diana Medical College and took n
postgraduate course at Howard
Medical School, Washington, serving
/ later as an inferno in Freedme s
Hospital. For q number of years he
was connected with the departments
here, leaving in the early 90's to take
UP the practice Of medicine at his
cid home in indianapolis. 1t was
from this work in 1897 he was called
to the consulate at Bahia.
| Though the resignation Of Minis
ter Furniss was not expected at this
time, his action comes as no surprise
to those Of his friends who knew Of
certain plans he had in mind for the
future 1t was quietly understood
upon the occasion Of his last visit to
Washington in the summer Of 1908
Mat he wOulS retire at the conclus-
ion OF number Of important nego-
GatiOns. the settlement Of which
would require about two years. 1t IS
Dr. Furniss' desire to re-establiSh
himself in the practice Of bis profess
sion while yet a young man, and to
pursue some scientific Investigations
not possible in q country so limited
lin resources as Haiti. Hence his re-
turn to America. Whether he will
make his l@6me at indianapolis o,
seek location in the East has moi
yet been determined upon. Wher.
CONTINUED ON PAGE FoUB)