Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-02-22

lions, but President Roosevelt backed
them up by an executive order which
gave them additional standing and
authority.
When Secretary Knox came into OF
fee he extended the civil service reg
ulations Of his predecessor and Sc
cured from President Taft another ex,
ecutiye order to help lin enforce his
rules. AS things are at present in the
state department young men are given
an opportunity TO enter the consular
service without the necessity of secur
ing political influence Examinations
are held frequently and the successful
candidates are put on the waiting list,
later TO be given subordinate positions
ln the service abroad with the under
standing that if they show their worth
they can secure promotion.
AS the law stands the president can
still appoint consuls directly. and occa.
sionally he does 1t under pressure. but
he does not like to do 1t and has said
so on many occasions.
Amusing sIur on Newspaper Men.
Recently the attention of several
Washington officials was attracted by
an interview with fourth deputy
official" of one of the New York de-
partments In which he said that news
paper reporters were thick skulled
and thick skinned or else they would
not be reporters"
II is not probable that men engaged
in the newspaper profession will
worry over this characterization by a
fourth deputy Official" but It has
caused some comment and consider
able amusement in the capital
President Taft once on a time was
newspaper reporter. and so were
several dozens of high Washington of.
iicials. Mr.. Taft has remarked time
and again that his newspaper expert
ence was valuable to him and, as he
put 1t with extreme modesty, IF had
ability enough / might hGYe made a
success at it. but as it was l conclud.
ed that had better go Into the law"
In both houses OF congress there
are many newspaper men and II one
looks through the cabinet ONCE rec
ords he will find that several report.
ers have made good In presidential
official family" positions.
John h. Wilkie, chief OF the United
States secret service, man of broad
education and fine culture, was once
upon time police reporter for Chi
cago paper. He became in succession
pitv adifnr ronporcta1 aaFtor nnd
Sunday editor and then at the solici-
tation of Frank A. Vanderlip. now the
president Of the National City Bank
of New York City, and of former Sec
rotary of the Treasury Gage, Mr..
Wilkie came to Washington TO take
the position of chief of the secret serv.
ice. position which abroad carries
with it at least a knights rank and
where. as also In America, II is cor.
sidered one Of the most honorable
positions which a man can be called
upon to I'LL.
May Erect Statue Of Meade.
Before long congress probably will
sanction an appropriation to be used
in erecting In Washington an eques.
trian statue In memory of General
George b. Meade The bill for the ap.
preparation already has been introduce
ed in the senate by Senator Warner
of Missouri. 1t has been referred to
the committee on library, which has
charge OF such matters. and II is un.
derstood that It will be reported favor.
ably within n short time
1t was General George b. Meade
who was in command of the Federal
army at the battle of Gettysburg He
won the three days battle, one which
marked the turning of the tide OF the
civil war in favor Of .he North. II
always has been remarked upon as
curious that no memorial of General
Meade is to be found in the national
capital, where nearly all the other
officers of high rank and achievement
have their services recognized by
statues, In fact. there are statues in
Washington Of some army officers
whose deeds almost have been forgot
ten, but a memorial to Meade is not
In evidence.
Reason for Past Neglect.
There is reason for past neglect to
honor the commander OF the Army OF
the Potomac--for Meade bore that
title from the date of the battle Of
Gettysburg up to the very close Of the
war. although of course General Grant
was in chief command of the armies
tn. A