Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-06
SILK STOCKINGS
GIVING WAY To
SHIRT SLEEVES
State Departments Frock Coat
Diplomacy Passing With Exit
of Huntington Wilson.
PETTY F0RMALITIES BARRED
Four O'clock Tea Parties Find No
Place in Secretary Bryan's
Organization.
PETTY FORMALITIES BARRED
BY Jonathan Winfield.

WASHINGTON, April 5.-There
in the State Department between the
shirt sleeve" and silk stocking dip
lomats. With the sudden retirement
of Assistant Secretary of State Hunt
ington Wilson, the shirt sleeve men
believe they have come again into
power, while the silk stocking brigade
views with alarm the possibility of
the department becoming a joke
among the ENJOYS of foreign powers.
There was a lot of formality when
Philander c. Knox and Huntington
Wilson ran things. on the slightest
provOcation, the frOck coat was drag
ged out and donned. Tea at 4 o'clock
became as regular an institution as
monthly consular reports. Clerks
were called "clahks" and everybody
bowed politely to everybody else,
while the bewildered stranger Won
dered at all the culture and refine
ment going to waste.
Secretary Wilson never lifted his
voice to a high pitch He always
spoke in soothing whispers. even
when he wanted to "bawl out" some
yellow newspaper-which was one OF
the best things he did. Also Secre-
taTy Wilson never appeared wearing
frayed collars or an impressed sack
B. coat He always was suave, gentle
and impeCcably attired.
But Bryan Is Different.
Secretary Bryan never can, on the
other hand be held to be a silk
stocking diplomat. His best friends
will not claim that for him. Bulky,
almost clumsy, in his movements, clad
in a frock coat that has seen long
service and wearing the regulation
black string tie, he is perfect pic
ture of the Secretary Of State that
jefferson might have desired. The
smaller formalities so well recognized
by the outgoing administration have
no attraction for him.
A thoroughly practical man Is Man
ton Wyvel, secretary to Secretary
Bryan. He, like the chief Of the
State Department, is opposed to UNI
necessary flourishes and Formally
He wears sack coat and hustleS
arOunds-ike "a managing editor when
an extra is about to be gotten out
Huntington Wilson'S bright young
men have to fight off heart failure
every time they behold WyVell, in his
abbreviated coat galloping up and
down the corridors.
Although the state Department ut
tine present time is being rapidly de-
prived of The, frills which were its
mainstay in the dear old days, there
stiu is enough Of the silk stocking
brigade left to constitute a strong
minority. Most of their time is spent
I'm wondering whether oyer5ll7 Will
come into fashion before Woodrow
Wilson's administration ends.
"Silk Socks" Keep Quiet.
Ever since Woodrow Wilson, with
the full knowledge and support Of
Secretary Bryan. took his fling at
dollar diplomacy" the silk stocking
element has been keeping quiet. Not
a peep will be heard from them for
about a year or so. Then little yarns
about social mistakes" etc, will
creep into the papers and the reader
may be sure that the silk stockings
have been talking. Even as Hunt
ington Wilson's tea things We're sat
irized. so will other "infOrmalities"
be made the subject Of jest.
It is not possible TO get rid Of the
silk stocking element. Neither is II
POSSIBLE to rid the department of the
shirt sleeve battalion.
Both are useful IN their various
ways. It seems a shame that this UNI
dercurrent of sarcasm should cause
this breach beneath the surface
should create a feeling that no one
administration can wipe out.