Evening journal., 1913-01-07
NEW NEWS UFF YESTERDAY
How WhiteIaw Reid Met
With Political DiSappOint-
ment
By Holland.

Shortly after President Mckinley
transferred John Hay from hts post
as ambassador to the Court Of st.
James to the position Of secretary of
state, Joseph II. Choate Of New York
was appointed ambassador in Mr..
Hays place, IL had been the pre-
sumption that the President would
appoint Whitelaw Reid ambassador
at the Court OF st. James. for It was
known that Mckinley was at one
time strongly disposed to make this
appointment, Mr. Reid had already
neen appointed by President Mckin-
leyispecial ambassador to represent
tho United States at the Queens nbi-
Zee IN London, IN 1897, Later he was
appointed special ambassador by
President Roosevelt TO represent the
President at the coronation OF King
Edward, In 1902.
Shortly after the appointment Of
Mr. Choate as ambassador at the
Court OF st. James. I spent half hour
In conversation with Mr.. Reid at the
Office Of a gentlemen who was our
common friend.
Il should have esteemed Il a very
great honor had I been appointed
James" said Mr. Reid. Earlier In
my active life, If ! had any ambition,
outside my work as editor OF The
Tribune, it was for service in some
important executive or administra-
tive capacity"
but I have heard, Mr. Reid
said. that at one time you could have
entered Presidents cabinet"
ttXoc ! ho1forro fl,At to 90 Hftf 81
the particular time to which you re-
fer I was too greatly occupied with
my newspaper work TO think of un-
dertaking any other activity.
Apparently 1t has been my distiny
to serve my country exclusively in
diplomatic work | could have been
minister to Germany so long ago as
1878, but my responsibilities IN The
Tribune Office did not permit IL,
Again. could have been minister to
Germany in 1891. but the offer came
from President Garfield on the eve
Of my marriage and / did not think
IL advisable to spend the first year OF
my married life in public service. 7
did become minister to France in
1889, and I was very busy man
while in that service.
"Now I will tell you something
that may be OF interest: OF course
you know that was appointed a
member Of the commission named by
President Mckinley in 1898 to negoti-
ate the treaty of peace with Spain.
was the only cOmmoner, so to speak,
on that commission The secretary
of state. William r. Day. was appoint
ed chairman of the peace commission
and he resigned the Office Of secre-
tary OF state to accept that responsi-
hility William p Frye, many years
United States Senator from Delaware,
were members of this commission.
You see that I was the only COM
missioner-the body consisted Of five
who was not In public life
President Mckinley was greatly
pleased with the manner i'm which the
commission met It's very great re-
sponsibility The question of reward
Of Compensation was raised II was
decided by the President to give to
Senators Frye and Davis ten thous
and dollars in cash II was also de-
cided TO appoint Senator Gray as
/ Judge of the United States Circuit
Court OF the third judicial circuit
"The President also decided TO ap
point Judge Day Judge Of the United
States Circuit Court of the sixth cir
cult, with the intimation that at the
first vacancy he would be placed
upon the Supreme Court bench.
That seemed almost to leave ms
out I'm the cold. OF course. 7 did no
want any money recompense, and
was not qualified for judicial ap
pointment The only thing tina
seemed to be appropriate was m,
appointment as ambassador TO th'
j Court of St. JAMES.
"All Of my associates on the com
mission were Of this opinion and
know that they would be highl.
gratifed If / were appointed the sue
cessor of John Hay as ambassado
to the Court of St James.
u suppose politics had something
to do with the appointment of MI
Choate rather than myself hav
learned, however, that II any one 1
to have political ambition he shoul
fortlfy himself from the beginning b
preparing to meet with disappoini
ment"
It was not until six years later tina
President Roosevelt appointed NJ
Reid ambassador to the Court Of s
James.
Copyright, 1918, by p. J. Edwards
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