Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-02
Representative Rogers Crit
cises Wilson's Appointments
to South America.
MERIT PLAN FORSAKEN,
LAWMAKER DECLARES
Discusses Qualifications of ORear,
Gonzales, Leavell, Ewing Price
for Diplomatic Posts.

representative Rogers OF Massachusetts,
read few sarcastic paragraphs into the
biographies of recent appointees to the
South American diplomatic and consular
service today during the discussion of the
legislative, executive and judicial appro-
priation bill
The death of the merit system in our
diplomatic service was the title of Rep
resentative Rogers remarks, he said. and
stated that a high plane of efficiency
should be maintained in regard to South
American diplomatic and consular ap-
pointments because the United States is
receiving only small proportion of its
proper share of that business
Attempt at Merit Basis.
Under the Roosevelt and Taft admin
istrations." he said, "a sincere attempt
was made to place our diplomatic serv-
Ice upon a merit basis. Some traces Of
the old spoils system were discernible,
Out especially the lower diplomatic
grades became more and more the re-
wards of efficient service during those
twelve years."
Representative Rogers said he had
been interested in looking over the APP
pointments in this field by President
Wilson.
Il confess 1 have been handicapped in
learning the careers of the new diplomats
to Latin America, because of the fact
that almost all are entirely unknown to
the publishers Of that useful handbook
Who's Who In America That excellent
manual does not err on the side of ex-
clusiveness. Its preface tells US that
$1,000 names are listed therein. Yet of
the fifteen appointments to legations In
South America only four are known even
by name to the editor.
Referred to Earlier Edition.
For further Information as to one of
them-a most unkind cut-we are referred
to an earlier edition of the series, as if
the gentleman in question, though actual
ly living, were legally dead. Two of the
others are listed because fifteen years ago
they were members Of Congress. The
fourth is listed as a retired clergyman,
but also, fortunately for his chances in
the diplomatic service, as a progressive
democrat
Representative Rogers told the House
that the Pan American Union Bulletin
had published sketches OF the lives of the
other eleven. and that the sketches had
been written by the subjects themselves
The Massachusetts, representative there
upon read excerpts from the lives of the
eleven newly appointed emissaries to
Latin America from this country and
made many references.
Minister to Bolivia.
"Bolivia-John D. ORear. born in Mex
leo. Missouri. His diplomatic qualifica-
TONS" said Representative Rogers, iii
any, arise from the name of the town in
which he has resided: certainly he has
had no discoverable experience. ::
THE bulletin says he served on the
democratic central state committee and
brings the enthusiasm of youth combined
with his prudence as lawyer. He ad-
ask? The man who was displaced to
make this vacancy had been in the diplo-
matte service twenty-five years.
Speaking of William E. Gonzales, ap-
pointed to q Cuban post. Mr. Rogers said
there was a suspicion that one Of the
qualifications for this office was found in
a $500 contribution to the democratic
campaign fund.
Concerning William H. Leavell. ap-
pointed to Guatemala. Representative
city of Austin, Tex, the home of Post
master General Burleson and quoted Mr.
Leavell as follows:
II expect to find diplomacy easy: I
have never been a diplomat officially.
but have been a minister forty years.
Called Jack Of All Trades.
John Ewing. appointed to Honduras
came in for this from Mr.. Rogers:
HE is veritable Jack of all trades,
and his various pursuits have been so
lucrative that he was able to contribute
$500 to the democratic national campaign
of 1872
Mr.. Rogers also states, His brother,
Robert Ewing, is democratic national
committeeman of Louisiana and politi-
cal boss of the state-a mere coinci-
dence, doubtless"
OF William Jennings Price. appointed
to Nicaragua, he says:
"As Mr.. O'Rear had the name Of his
native town Of Mexico to give the need
ed diplomatic touch. and as Mr.. Jeffer-
son. another appointee, halls from the
town of Steamboat Springs, which
smacks Of foreign travel SO the pro-
priety of Mr.. Prices diplomatic selec-
ton is greatly enhanced by the name
William Jennings"
Morgenthau Appointment.
Perhaps the grossest case Of deliberate
departure from the merit system" he
continued. lis found in the removal Of