Evening journal., 1913-06-12
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How WhiteIaW Reid Held
Ills AmbaSSadOrShip
B, uonsnd

A few hours after the impressive
funeral Of Whitelaw Reid, few of
his friends met for the purpose Of
discussing the expediency of estab-
fishing a memorial Of some kind
which would permanently symbolic
the striking career of the late ambas-
sador to Great Gritain. II was felt
that a man who began life in some
what humble capacity, as Mr. Reid
did. in Ohio, and who subsequently
became the editor and owner Of one
Of the greatest of American newspa-
pers; who declined President Car
fields offer of the mission to Ger
many; who, eight years later, be-
came our minister TO France, who in
1892 was nominated by the Republic
can party as its candidate for Vice
President; who was a member of the
peace commission by which the treaty
of Paris was written in 1898; who
was the personal representative OF
Alt lANiNiMA at Ani NiNAiNAN dlinAN'A
sary of the coronation of Queen Vic
toria, and who served afterward for
nearly eight years as ambassador
from the United States to the Court
OF ST. James. was worthy OF some
permanent memorial
You forget one thing said one of
his immediate friends. 'Whitelaw
Reid had The Unprecedented and
1 ..N
ing served as our representative to
Great Britain and for four years
without having been rcappointcd to
that Office.
"He was, in fact. holdover for
four years. He did not know any
morning when he went to his office
In London whether he would or would
not receive intimation from Wash
ington that his successor had been
nominated by the President and con
firmed by the Senate lie knew of
course. after the election of Governor
Woodrow Wilson to the Presidency,
that he would be succeeded early in
the spring of this year by Demo-
crat
There is some unwritten history
of which have knowledge. and
which. ! am sure. Chauncey NJ. De-
pew would confirm il he were asked
TO do so. relating TO Mr. Reid's pre-
carious tenure of the Office of am
bassador during all but the last
weeks of President .Tafts admins
tration
AS was customary with all ouI
diplomatic representatives Mr.. Reid
forwarded his resignation to Presi-
dent Taft on the 4th of March. 1909
The President. expected to nominal,
the ex-president of. Harvard Univer.
sity as Mr.. -Reid's successor, and
would have done so. had he not re-
ceivcd word from Mr.. Eliot that h,
could not accept the Office.
"As soon as II became known tha
President Eliot had declined the offel
one or two of his intimate friends
called on the President They urge,
the President very earnestly to re
appoint Mr. Reid. They could not
however persuade the President L
send Mr.. Reid's name to oNthe Senat
( as his own successor as ambassador
Mr.. Taft perceived that Mr. Reid
( friends were greatly i'm earnest III
said something TO them, however
I which led them 10 suspect that he dii
not wholly approve of the eXpenditur
of vast sums of money by American
/ ambassadors or ministers for the en-
| tertainment of tho aristocracy O
/ Great Britain or of the continent
/ He was convinced that there shoul
be greater simplicity displayed b.
our diplomatic representatives.
lie at last said that he would no
reappoint Mr.. Reid, but he woul
promise these friends that he woul
not for the time make any other an
pointment He would permit MI
Reid to hold over for a while
He did permit Mr.. Reid TO hol
over for practically the entire tern
In that way he granted the request q
Mr.. Roid's friends in part, but at tn
same time, he followed out his Ow
disposition. which was not TO appoiu
very rich men 10 diplomatic posts.
When this history had been mar
rated. another of Mr.. Roid's friend
said:
Queen Victoria said Of Mr. Reid a
the time Of her sixty-year jubilee. Il
which Mr. Reid took part as the Off
cial representative of the America
President. I have seen many Ameri
cans, but ! think that of all IN
/ Americans ! have known. Whitela'
] Reid is the most distinguished in hi
manner"
copyright. 1913. by L. J. Edward:
All rights reservedl
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tel