Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-07-10
Will
get PLUMs, SAYS
COAST PAPER
Clean Sweep in the Diplomatic
Service Promised by
Administration

] WASHINGTON. = The Wilson ad.
ADMINISTRATION is preparing to make a
clean sweep of the whole diplomatic
i corps. New men, Wilson men or Bry.
an men, are to be appointed to every
Enthusiastically and ministership now
held by Republicans.
| 1t became known at the capitol that
| no minister or ambassador, who has
jheld office under previous administers
tons, with the possible exception of
the Cleveland administration, is to re-
main.
The reasons are political. though
not so avowed by the. state depart
ment.
Secretary Bryan, according to men
who have talked with him. holds that
man who goes to foreign post
fresh from the people" is the best
diplomat.
He believes that such man has
more capacity to represent this coun-
TRY and its institutions than a man who
has been for years in the diplomatic
service This applies in the opinion Of
the secretary, even though a man has
had years of training and mas been
promoted from the consular service to
minister or ambassador.
This. novel Sdoctrine is opposed to
lie policy of all the great foreign
countries and it is generally looked
on here as being put forward merely
as an excuse for appointment of an
entire new boly Of ministers and am
bassadors. 5
The policy of the state department
in respect to this matter has caused
much adverse comment at the Capt.
toll among senator's and others who
have been promoting the idea that
diplomatic service. ought to offer
wen-equipped men acareer. In some
cases, especially in the Latin nfeTi-
can field, there has been in recent
years an effort to keep men of merit
in Office without reference to political
affiliations.
These seasoned men have been adj
yanced from time to time until now a
number of the ministers serving this
government abroad have reached their
places On merit Some of them, not
old men either, have been in the serv
ice a quarter of a century and have
demonstrated they are the right men
in the right place The policy of Sec
rotary Bryan not only will work great
hardship to such men, but, as viewed
by many Congressman, would be hurt
full to the best interests of this gov,
eminent.
Justice James w. Gerard of the
New York state supreme court has
been selected by President Wilson to
be ambassador to Germany. Justice
Gerard was originally slated for Spain.
The president also nominated for
1ner Governor Benton McMillin OF
Tennessee for minister to Peru. An
Important post, not in the diplomatic
-seryice, is soon to be offered to Aug
ustus Thomas. playwright. according
to present plans. There is also talk
of Maurice Francis Egan, minister TO
Denmark, being transferred to Spain,
but no confirmation was forthcoming
today.
The Embassy TO France is still be-
ing held open for William F. Nc
Combs, the Democratic national chair
man. 1t was reiterated today that
within year Charles r. Crane Of
Chicago would become Ambassador to
Russia. Practically the only Euro
pean posts which have not been filed
or for which no choice has been made
are Lisbon, Constantinople and the
Balkan state
Justice Gerard sailed from New
York yesterday without knowing he
had been transferred on the Presi-
dents list from Madrid to Berlin
After a short trip abroad, however, he
Is exnacfed to rafrIrr, To XXaohirnfnr,