The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-20
SwisS Mission Will Go
To Author and Scholar
Pleasant A. StovaA, Georgia Democrat, Who Is
to Represent the United States in the Little
European Republic, Knew the Presi-
dent in Boyhood


Savannah. and the city has prospered as
the paper has grown.
It is as a writer of pure English, as
an author Of rare ability to tell. in de-
lightful form a narrative that would fall
fiat and stale from less gifted pens that
Mr.. Stovall excels. He has written
/ sketches. political. historical. and senti-
mental. that have been reprinted from
States end to States end. And always
he has struck the higher note that speaks
for the uplift of his fellow-man and his
| community. 1t is this optimistic spirit.
| coupled with the gift to inspire others
with the same feeling, that has made
! him one of the brightest Of the South's
journalists.
An Author and Lecturer.
Mr.. stovalrs literary efforts have not
been confined to the work on the edi-
toriaI page of the Augusta Chronicle and
the Savannah Press. He has published
I The Life of Robert Toombs." that
! stands today in Georgia as an authority.
| 1t is written in that free flowing, we'll
| rounded style that makes it more the
fascinating novel than the bare biog-
raphy. The new Minister has also ap-
peared upon the lecture platform with
marked success. and has written extern
sively for magazines. He contributed.
among other things. a chapter on Colo
NAL Times in the South" in volume
published by Putnam Sons. and here, as
in everything that he does, he showed ,
that careful attention to detail and that
thoughtfulness of his task that marks
everything he has ever attempted
After trip through Mexico with the
late Gov. Atkinson and a party of
friends, he came home and prepared n
lecture, entitled THE Land of the Man
ana" that has been delivered in many
cities and towns in Georgia and neigh
boring States.
Three years ago he went abroad, Wis
| iting the most prominent points in Eu-
rope. 1T was during this trip that he
first visited Geneva, Switzerland. which
city Is to be his home for the next few
years. He became very much attached
! to the place at that time, and has often
wanted to go back there. When he came
home after this trip abroad he wrote a
series OF sketches on travel that were
illuminating and instructive. and which
showed him to be a close observer and
one gifted with the rare talent to ex-
press his thoughts in such way as to
give the clearest mental picture of what
had been seen in other lands
Bryan's Election Supported.
Politically. Mr.. StovaII is a lifelong
Democrat. He has never chased political
! rainbows, nor been led away from the
paths of Democracy to follow strange
gods With him it has been party-right
or wrong-but always party He sup
ported William Jennings Bryan in his
| three campaigns sturdily and as
stanchly as he had supported Grover
Cleveland and later Woodrow Wilson
His was the first daily newspaper in the
United States to declare editorially for
Woodrow Wilson for President and from
F., that long ago date he has consistently
kept the faith.
There mas never been any question as
| to where the Savannah press stood po-
litically. Its editor was one of the prin-
cipal organizers of the Woodrow Wilson
Club, which carried the county Of Chat
ham for the New Jersey Governor by a
very large majority in the Presidential
primary Of a year ago. In State politics
| as in national, Mr.. StovaIl, through the
Press, has never hesitated about declar-
ing himself for his choice.
The Press has gone down in defeat with
! Its friends in State campaigns and has
! shouted with the victors In the ten or
| more campaigns which have been waged
through the State since Ii was first pub
| hshed the paper has not always been on
| the winning side, but ii has fought a
clean fight for its man and has never
| permitted political rancor or personals
| ties to enter into it's editorial discussions
| 1t is one of the cardinal principles of Mr..
Stovalrs life that the other fellow is
entitled to his opinion and that he should
be respected for having one. There is
none OF the little politician in him.
Served In Legislature. :
Mr.. Stovall has served two terms in the
Georgia Legislature as a representative
from Chatham County. and in the last
general election was chosen to that office
again. It is expected he will soon tender
his resignation, as his duties abroad will .
demand his attention before the ap-
preaching session of the Georgia Legis-
lature convenes. In 1891 the late John
B. Gordon, at that time Governor of |
Georgia, appointed him member of the
board of trustees Of the State University.
He has served several years as a men,
Der of the Board of Education OF Chat
ham County through appointment by the |
Mayor, and also has held other positions
of trust and responsibility in his home
community. He is now a member OF the
board of managers of the Public Library.
a member of the board of trustees of the !
Georgia Infrmary, and a member OF the
board of directors of the Savannah
Chamber of Commerce. In 1892 he was
elected chairman of the Democratic State
Convention in Atlanta, and two years ago
was a member from the State at large OF
the State Democratic executive COM
mittee.
In fraternal orders Mr.. StovalPs actfv-
ity has been confined to the Masons, and
he is member of most of the higher
branches of that organization.
The family life of the new diplomat is
a most happy one. On January Z. 1885.
in Augusta, he was married to Miss
Mary Ganahl. the daughter of Col. and
Mrs. Joseph Ganahl. 1t is expected that
Mr.. Stovall and his two younger chill
dren, Miss Pleasant and Master Joseph
Ganahl Stovall, as well as his married
daughter, Mrs. Bert c. Mason, of Ashe-
vile and Savannah. will accompany him
to his new post.
'.Press'' Will Be Retained.
The departure of Mr. Stovall from
Georgia upon this mission for his govern
ment will make no difference in the own
ership or the policy Of the Savannah
Press. Men who have been trained by
him almost from the day the paper was
organized will continue to carry out the
policies he has outlined, and the paper
will be found in future as progressive and
as alert in the interest of what is best
for Savannah and for Georgia as in the
past.
Mr.. Stovall is one of several Savan-
nahians who have been sent upon diplo-
matte missions. Such men as the late
Henry r. jackson and A. R. Lawton