New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-17

ION. II is a career imagined by noVellStS
of the dashing school Mr.. Straight be-
ing a large, blond. handsome young man
Of extreme energy, fits the role which
fortune has assigned to him. He has sue
oessfully bucked the line in war, dipio-
macy, business and love.
His father was a professor in the STATE
normal and training school at OsWeeo'
where Willard Dickerman Straight was
born in 1880 Professor Straight went 10
the Orient as a missionary. and the child
was taken along Both parents died IN
China. The boy returned TO this coun-
try. and his prospects were seemingly
poor. but in the knowledge Of the chi
nese and Japanese languages which he had
acquired lay the foundation OF future sue
cess. He took course in the Borden
town, y. j.. Military Institute, entered
Cornell and was graduated from the uni
versity in 1901. "Izzy'' Straight they
called him questioningly at college, but II
did not take him long TO show them that
he was year lateE the mystic orient
Of his boyhood summoned him. He spent
two years at Nanking and Peking as
clerk in the Chinese imperial customs SER
vice under Sir Robert Hart. He learned
Chinese finance. which was useful in
way he did not foresee The Russian
japanese War, in 1904. challenged his spirit
OF action and sent him from a clerks stool
TO a wide field of adventure
lie went TO the front as a war corre-
spendent for Reuters and The Associated
Iress The next year. taken down with
typhoid fever he was ordered home and
l,.- ~ ha Rail
way II he had gone home some other way
ne would not have met at St Petersburg,
George Won L. Never. American Ambas-
sador. now Secretary Of the Navy, and his
career might have been considerably diff
fCrent For Mr.. Meyer took a liking to
the young war correspondent and, It is
said. diverted his path into diplomacy.
Mr. Straight was appointed vice-consul
general at Seoul in 1905, went TO
Havana. Cuba, the. next year. and was
promoted a year later to the consul gen
eralship AT Moukden, which post he held
Until 1908 There occurred an incident at
MOuk1en which got on the cables and
showed some American financiers and
others the sort OF representative Uncle
sam had in that section Of the world. In
itself the incident was small, but II was
significant group Of japanese, who
naturally felt that they owned everything
in Manchurla after whipping the Russians
chased a Chinese servant into the consul S
bedroom and were beating him up. when
Mir Straight took notice OF the proceed
ings. He used his fists and a gun to de-
fend the integrity Of American soil and
equal rights al the open door. lie locked
"a IHn9npsp
policeman. and when that functionary failed
TO respond put his prisoners on cart anu
personally delivered them 20 the japanese
Consulate Japan tried TO make out that
the American Consul was in the wrong.
Washington supported Mr. Sralght anu
the offending japanese were punished.
The romance Of the other helress oc-
cured it Is said when President tart theh
Secretary OF War, and his round the "oflu
PARTY stopped at Moukden and were taken
sightseeing By the athletic young cohsu'
general The heiress had as many MN
ions as Miss Whitney. An obdurate parent
interferred
Returning sto this country In the 'ah VI
1908, Mr.. Straight was detailed at Nashlhs-
ton for some six months as acting chiel
OF the Bureau OF Far Eastern Ahairs OIL
the State Department. Here was more eA'
perience a larger grasp OF world analrS
and chance to get in touch with inter
national fnanciers who were SEEKING
young man Of Mr.. straights precise
knowledge and calibre. The diplomat re,
signed from the service in June, lSS' anu
sailed for China to represent an American
group Of hranciers. J. +. Morgan huhn
Loeb * co. and others, in the erort ~
obtain a share OF the $300O,M Chihes'
railroad loan I'm competition with the cap'
fsllsts Of England, France and Germany
hr. Morgan himself. It IL said. selected
hr Straight and fiYed his salary at s'O'"''
year. There were long and tedious ne
tctiations. The young man went to ChiIia
returned TO this country 10 confer with M
employers and proceeded TO Europe u
company with a member Of the srm OF .
r. Morgan co. in order to close the pls
International deal and start new ones &c
obtain tb~ nriEi~SA for American capita