The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-22
MOONS OUTBURST IS
REGARDED AS Joke
Attack on Foreign Diplo-
mats Not Taken Seriously
STILL ON THE JOB
Chattanooga Man Very Harsh, But
Attack on Our Ambassadors
Can be Expected
Periodically
By C. e. STEWART


Until Hon. John Austin Moon. who
ceased to shed his effulgent rays on the
Third Congressional District of Ten
nessee and brighten the lives of the in
habitants thereby, 16 years ago, and in
stead began to shed them on Congress
and the country at large. burst into the
House chamber last Saturday demand
ing the recall of all of our ambassadors
and ministers plenipotentiary. it had
been two years since the diplomatic
corps had come in for drubbing, and,
of course, it was about time that an
other was coming to them.
Back in 1911 Congressman Bob"
Henry of Texas arose one day in the
House and deplored the gold and gilt
ter" of the diplomatic service of the
United States, constituted largely of
rich men. As a deplorer Mr.. Henry
takes first rank, but we must admit that
Representative Moons chastisement of
the diplomats left little to be desired
and laid down a new mark which even
Mr.. Henry will have to go some to
beat.
News of Judge Moons demand for
the abolishment of the diplomatic corps
capitals of Europe, where representa-
tives of this government are stationed,
but up to this writing no advices have
been received at the state department
tnat any of them have booked passage
back to home and fireside.
Still on the Job
While no doubt many of them will
view with alarm the exposure of their
utter uselessness by the statesman from
Chattanooga, and no doubt Benton Nc
Mlllin, way down at Lima, Peru, will
feel constrained to demonstrate some
what with his distinguished fellow citi-
zen-none of them-not single one
will exclaime discovered" and begin
making preparations to separate him
self from the pay roll
Mr.. Moon in dramatic tones called
upon his colleagues and the world at
large to Took today at the diplomatic
service of the United States. No man
who is not worth millions of money can
hold position in one of the great
courts of Europe as ambassador or min
lister. They are giving a false light to
the conditions in America" No one
here rose to fame by asking the con-
gressman If Moon light was preferred
the membership of the House is de-
teriorating-there is little wit left.
You have not the slightest use in
his day and time" continued Mr.. Moon,
for an ambassador or minister pleni-
potentiary in any court. Your diplo-
matte corps is superfluous appendage.
1t ought to be abolished
Gradually Warns Up
These may sound like cruel words,
but they are mild. indeed. to what the
,n.dr 1,J xr@t Ill IL
just getting good and warmed up when
he uttered them and proceeded to con-
tend that diplomats were distinct
class, and even refuse to recognize
abroad the senators who confirmed
them. ut is that gang of political rep
robates and society regenerates that We
ought to wipe out of existence" decreed
the irate Tennesseean.
Mr.. Moon declares that our diplomats
are all millionaires and all that, but
the democratic bunch recently sent
abroad will no doubt not agree with
him upon this point. There has been
for years complaint of various and sun
dry nature that our diplomats would
have to abandon "diploming" unless the
government increased their pay. This
complaint commenced with Thomas JEFF
ferson himself. while he was minister
to France for he then wrote:
"It Is the usage here--and / suppose
at all courts--that minister shall es-
tablish his house in the first instance
II this is done out of his salary he
r win be a 12-month absent without
copper to live on. . = NV furniture
carriage and apparel are ali plain yet
they have cost me more than years
salary"
Nevertheless there is always some
one who will take these jobs, the salary
and Representative Moon to the con-
trary notwithstanding. Also they hang
on after they get them with commend
able fortitude. and there is Mr.. Pindell
of Peoria, ILL.,, who is perfectly willing
to try out st. Petersburg on the INSTALL
ment plan.
We greatly fear that the judges de-
mand will not be needed by those cal
1ous and Indifferent persons represent
ing us in foreign courts. All 1t will
amount to is some advertising for the
Judge. and the addition somewhat to the
adornment of the Congressional Record,
which prints little of any and every
thing