The Washington herald., 1914-05-26
Political Proeessisn.
N p. .. q.

Robert p. Skinner, United States Con-
sui general at Berlin. who has had q
remarkable career In the consul service.
10 enjoying fluctuations at the State De-
partment and among Washington friends
this week without any tremors Of soul
about losing his job Since beginning as
q plain everyday consul at Marseilles
in 1887 Skinner has kept going up in the
service until he now holds one Of the
three highest consular ports London,
Paris. and Berlin are Of equal rank with
Berlin jumping very much to the front
in recent years and Consul General Skim
ner giving assurance that Berlin will
keep very much to the fore during his
administration.
Following service at Marseilles. Skin
ner was promoted to Hamburg. a very
important post, where his record won
him Berlin In very few years.
During the service at Marseilles he
made a notable Official visit TO Abys-
sinia, not only resulting In a valuable re-
port to the State Department, but in a
book by Skinner, which was cleverly
written and indicated that he has not
lOst nlS Oiu bhlll As a JOuTndllSt. ears
ago in the modest town OF Massillon, Ohio
Skinner was editor Of a daily paper. but
also represented the big papers at Can
ton during the Mckinley campaign of
1896
The Skinner way of doing things won
the admiration of Mckinley, and Skin
ner was one Of the first Of the Canton
correspondents to &c handed appoint
ment
Nor il it forgotten out Massillon way
that Skinner was in great part RESPONSE
bic for the first Coxey army that de-
scended upon Washington in 1884, His
friend Coxey was constantly proclaiming
that something should happen to let
Washington know how the masses were
suffering and suggested an army. 1t
looked good to Skinner from a news
standpoint, and he artfully kept Coxey
agitated until the army moved The late
fiasco of the second Coxey army hap
pened as Skinner was returning to Wash
ington. and he may have ventured the
suggestion that Coxey lacked an agile
press agent this year of our Lord.
However, the consul general of today
Is not inclined to the Coxey demonstra-
ton Of 1894. or twenty years later. and
is much more interested in affairs con-
sular and American interests abroad
The death of Consul General Grifiths at
London leaves a vacancy and Skinner
may be given consideration for that post,
counted the most desirable in the service.
The once first citizen Of the repub-
lie has had much to ponder over since re-
turning from Brazilian wilds. and first
of all, he will both ponder and wonder
some over the carefully construed COM
pliment paid him by his old foe, Foraker,
in the Senator's formal announcement
that he Is coming back to the Senate.
Once friends, following McKinley's death,
Roosevelt and Foraker became bitter enc
mics, personal and political Yet Foraker
in his late letter of acceptance" given
to Ohio voters criticising the administra-
ton on the Colombian treaty affair, hands
Oyster Bay these commendatory lines:
Il had personal knowledge at the time
of the occurrance of all the facts to
which this treaty has reference. and
know that President Roosevelts conduct
and action throughout that whole mat
ter was highly honorable and in every
way above legitimate criticism. He did
only what his duty required. and there is
no just ground for complaint on our
government in any respect"
This deft bringing in of RooseveIt's
name with complimentary comment may
have been inserted to lead back Roose-
welt Republicans in Ohio to the old faith,
and especially the Foraker faith. II will
help the very evident coming back to
old party times Of those who went wrong
in 1912. Along with the artful reaching
out of Foraker the lamentable Pinchot
showing in Pennsylvania will distress the
Roosevelt soul The Roosevelt vote in
the State was much over that of Taft
two years ago, but the Pinchot figures
are distressingly less than even his foes
had hoped.
And then Oregon. That faraway State
gave Roosevelt $3.50 votes in 1912 and
Taft 1853. Wilson leading with 47.nsl
Alas! for the Progressive hopes of 1914
when last weeks vote indicated only
6.e55 Progressive. $685. Democrats. and
bass Republicans-real Republicans.
Pennsylvania and Oregon have given the
Progressives and their leader an awful
jolt. coming, too, when the adjutants had
planned TO make the Homecoming JOYOUS
with good news.