The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-12-03

| near eastern, anu WtsltTH EuIOptdH
affairs To these divisions we're called
from the foreign service diplomatic
and consular officers possessing expe
rience and knowledge gained by act
ual service In different parts OF the
world and thus familiar with political
and commercial conditions in the re-
gions concerned The work was high
ly specialized The result is that
where previously this government
| from time TO time would emphasize in
its foreign relations one or another
/ policy, now American interests in ev-
| cry quarter OF the globe are being
cultivated with equal assiduity,
Merit System In Consular and Dlplo-
mato Corps.
Expert knowledge and professional
training must evidently be the essence
| Of this reorganization. Without
trained foreign service there would
not be men available for the work in
the reorganized department OF state.
| President Cleveland has taken the
first step toward introducing the
lll'llA bg oltlll III NAlp OitlSil p'A i~'f
That had been followed by the appli.
cation of the merit principle, with ex-
cellent results, to the entire consular
branch Almost nothing, however, had
been done In this direction with regard
to the diplomatic service. In this age
Of commercial diplomacy It was evil
IDENTIFY OF the first Importance to train
an adequate personnel in that branch
Of the service Therefore, on Novem-
Der 26, 1909. by an executive order I
placed the diplomatic service up TO
the grade of secretary OF embassy, IN
elusive. upon exactly the same strict
non-partisan basis OF the merit sys-
tenn rigid examination for appoint
ment and promotion only for eff
cheney, as had been maintained without
exception in the consular service.
Statistics as to Merit and Nonpartlsan
Character of Appointments.
How faithful to the merit system
and how nonpartisan has been the con
duct of the diplomatic and consular
services in the last four years may be
judged from the following: Three
ambassadors now serving held their
present rank at the beginning OF the
administration. OF the ten ambassa-
doris whom have appointed, five were
by promotion from the rank Of min
lister. Nine ministers now serving
held their present rank at the begin
ming of the administration. or the
thirty ministers whom have appoint
ed eleven were promoted from the
lower grades OF the foreign service or
from the department OF state. or the
nineteen missions in Latin America,
where our relations are close and our
Interest is great. fifteen chiefs Of mis-
sion are service men, three having
entered the service during this admin
istration. The thrtyseven secreta-
rles Of embassy or legation who have
received their initial appointments
after passing successfully the required
examination were chosen for ascer
tained fitness, without regard to po-
| itical affiliations. dearth of candi
| dates from southern and western
states has alone made 1t impossible
thus far completely to equalize all
| the states representations in the for
| eign service. In the effort to equallze
the representation OF the various
states in the consular service I have
made sixteen OF the twenty-nine new
| appointments as consul which have
occurred during my administration
| from the southern states This Is 55
! per cent. Every other consular ap-
pointment made, including the promo
| ton OF eleven young men from the
consular assistant and student inter
prefer corps. has been by promotion or
transfer, based solely upon efficiency
| shown In the service.
In order to assure to the business
| and other interests of the United
! states continuance of the resulting
! benefits OF this reform. I earnestly re-
new my previous recommendation OF
legislation making It permanent along
some such lines as those of the meas.
ure now pending in congress.
Larger Provision for Embassies and
IcSdtOHS anu lot OtneT expenses
of Our Foreign Representa-
tiVes Recommended.
In connection with legislation for
/ tho amelioration of the foreign serv.
| ice, | wish to invite attention to the
| advisability of placing the salary APP
propriations upon a better basais,
| believe that the best results would
| be obtained by moderate scale of
salaries, with adequate funds for the
| expenses of proper representation
based in each case upon the scale and
cost of living at each post. controlled
! by system OF accounting, and un-
der the general direction of the de-
! partment of state.
In line with the object which have
sought of placing our foreign service
on a basis of permanency, | have at
various times advocated provision by
congress for the acquisition of govern
ment-owned buildings for the resi-
| dence and offices Of our diplomatic Of
ticers. so as to place them more near,
| ly on an equality with similar officers