Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-20
INDIAN SOON TAKES
us. 0ATH0F OFFICE
Future Register of Treasury
Modest on Arriving at
Department.

Slipping past the messenger at the door
of the Office of the secretary to the Sec
rotary of the Treasury without observa-
ton. a well groomed gentleman took his
seat on a chair in the room among other
callers and sat quietly for more than an
hour without exciting attention OF any
sort.
Usually the messenger finds out the
name of each visitor and conveys 1t to
Byron Newton. secretary to Secretary
McAdoo AS the stream of callers is
persistent on most of the days of the
week it is not difficult for Secretary
Newton to overlook the man who does
not call attention to himself, despite his
efforts to avoid such accidental neglect.
That happened Thursday. The visitors
had thinned out under the eliminating
process of Secretary Newton and the
stranger was the last of the line. He
stepped up to Mr.. Newtons desk and
rendered his card. Mr.. Newton gave it
casual glance and took in the surname
Parker
Unenlightened, he asked what he could
do for the visitor. The stranger said
that Senator Owen Of Oklahoma had sug-
gested that he call upon the Secretary
Of the Treasury. According to the usual
practice in regard to casual visitors, the
private secretary inquired the nature of
the business on which Mr.. Parker want
ed to see Secretary McAdoo, to determine
if it was a case in which the Secretary
of the Treasury was to be seen, or
whether the matter could be arranged
otherwise.
Secretary Sees a Light.
The stranger called attention to note
on the back Of his visiting card. Secre-
tary Newton read 1t. and learned that
Senator Owen had referred the visitor to
him, asking him to take him In charge
Mr.. Newton turned the card over, ex-
amined the name more particularly. and
found that 1t read ''Gabe e. Parker.
Gabe E. Parker is the name Of the re-
Gently appointed register Of the Treasury.
AS 1t was generally understood that the
Oklahoman nominee was a full-blooded
Choctaw Indian, Mr.. Newton was ex-
pecting something different from this
well tailored product of the arts of civili-
zation. But he grasped the situation, ana
piloted Mr.. Parker into the office OF
Secretary McAdoo. There it was ar
ranged that Mr.. Parker should take the
oath of office October 1.
It was then suggested by Secretary
Newton that Mr.. Parker make acquaint-
ance with the man he is to succeed,
j. C. Napier, the last of a long line of
colored incumbents of the office. Mr.
Parker asked for points on etlQuette IN
meeting his predecessor. whether ne
would be expected to shake hands and
show him the respect of social equal.
Both Well Groomed.
1t was a curious meeting between the
two men, both of whom probably had
preconceived notions of each other. Mr.
Parker, lit is easily connected. expected
to see a black man. with some of the
characteristics Of the African forests at
taching to him. whereas Mr.. Napier is
very light of color with clear-cut fea-
lures, and as we'll dressed as was MT
Parker it is easily conjectured, expected
fair assumption that the conception OF
Mr.. Parker entertained by Mr.. Napier
was that Of a "pussyfooted." moccasin-
wearing. her-duster-crowned, buck
skin-clad aborigine.
Each outvied the other in courtesy on
introduction All the finish of culture
acquired by these descendants of bar
barian peoples was called into play. Lord
Chesterfield was competing with Lord
Chesterfield 1t was a remarkable dis
play of progress in Caucasian surround
ings by the picked representative de-
scendants of two other races of man
kind.