Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-03-03


standing that II they show their worth
they can secure promotion.
Direct Appointments Obnoxious.
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 it and has said
so on many occasions. When q man
Is given consular position of impor-
tance directly by the president, the
young men who have worked hard and
have passed examinations get discour-
aged because they had every right to
expect that one of their number would
be promoted to the vacant position. 1t
is probable that within a few years d.
rect consular and consular agent ap-
pointments no longer will be made, but
merit alone will rule throughout the
entire service.
1t is the dream of the department of
state that one day ambassadors and
ministers will be appointed, according
to civil service regulations. In other
words, it is the dream that young men
may enter the consular service and
work themselves up to the highest
posts in foreign representative work.
The day of this, however. never wiz
come until the government increases
the pay Of its chief representatives
abroad, for ministers and ambassadors
are obliged to spend huge sums OF
money to maintain their positions in
accordance with the ministerial and
amhassadorial customs which prevail.
at foreign courts. In other words a
poor man cannot be appointed to a
chief position.
Amusing sIur or Newspaper Men.
Recently the attention Of several
Washington officials was attracted by
an interview with a fourth deputy
official" of one of the New York de-
partments in which he said that news
paper reporters we're thick skulled
and thick skinned or else they would
not be reporters"
1t is not probable that men engaged
In the newspaper profession viii
worry over this Characterization by
fourth deputy Official" but 1t has
caused some comment and consider
able amusement in the capital
President Taft once on time was
a newspaper reporter, and so were
several dozens Of high Washington of
ficials. Mr.. Taft has remarked time
and again that his newspaper expert
ence was valuable to him and, as he
put it with extreme modesty, IF / had
ability enough / might have made a.
success at it, but as 1t 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 office rec
ords he win find that several report
ers have made good in presidential
official family" positions.
John E. Wilkie, chief of the United
States secret service, a man Of broad
education and fine culture. was once
upon a time police reporter for Chi
cago paper. He became In succession
city editor, commercial editor and
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
retary of the Treasury Gage, Mr..
Wilkie came to Washington to take
the position of chief of the secret serv-
ice, a position which abroad carries
with it at least a knights rank and
where, as also in America. it is con-
sidered one Of the most honorable
positions which man can be called
upon to FILL
May Erect Statue Of Meade.
Before long congress probably win
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 introduc-
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 1t Is un-
derstood that It will be reported favor
ably within a 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 the 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 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
which pressed on to Richmond. A
great many military authorities hold
that Meade ought to have followed up
his Gettysburg victory by the pursuit
of General Lee. 1t has been held that
he could have crushed Lees army II
he had made a vigorous pursuit and
successive assaults.