South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-13
Statesmen Real
and Near.
By Fred c. Kelly

WASHINGTON. Feb. 13.-One has
TO take off ones hat now and then TO
the fellow who matches a bunch.
Take. for example. the case OF John
ID. O'Rear of Mexico, Mo.
O'Rear has for a number Of years
been practising law in the little town
of Mexico, which is situated in the
congressional district represented by
Champ Clark. One day il occurred
to John O'Rear that his career as a
lawyer should be rounded out by a
glimpse into the great world of
diplomacy. Something told him that
ne had those innate and subtle quail
fications, whatever they may Oe.
which go TO make the diplomat He
mentioned this to one OF two intimate
friends and they agreed that O'Rear
was indeed precisely the type of man
who would dOvetail snugly into the
diplomatic circle at foreign capital
The one difficulty, his friends sug-
gested, lay in the fact that circum-
stances entirely beyond his control
might prevent him from gaining the
appointment needed before he could
perVade the realm of diplomacy.
These circumstances included the
geographical location of his dwelling
place. The point was this With the
town of Mexico in Champ Clark's dis
trict, and Champ Clark and the sec
rotary of state bitter enemies. what
chance would a man from that dis
trict have to receive a diplomatic ap-
pOintment.
Right there however. was where
O. Rear's bunch entered into the stu
alton. In logical syllogisms he set
forth what was in his mind.
In the first place" he explained.
owing TO the feeling between Mr.
Clark and Mr. Bryan no one from this
district has thought it worth while to
seek an appointment If Speaker
Clark himself thought he had any
influence at the state department
there are scores of men here in the
district whom he would recommend
before he would me-men to whom he
is under greater obligation. / would
cut no figure whatsoever NY one
chance lies IN the fact that I have nc
competition. | alone in the entire
district have a notion TO apply to Mr.
Bryan for lucrative position.
Now, Mr.. Bryan doubtless feels
that it is good politics to heal the
breach between himself and the speak.
er OF the house growing out OF the
| Baltimore convention. Mr.. Clark has
never asked the secretary Of state for
an appointment. When he makes his
first request for such an appointment
will Mr.. Bryan feel like refusing?
think not. / believe, therefore, that
my appointment is almost cinch ]
shall become a diplomat"
Accordingly, John O'Rear dropped
into the Office of the speaker Of the
house one fine crisp day and asked
for a letter of endorsement TO a
diplomatic post. Champ Clark die
tated a brief. perfunctory letter
smiling grimly over the absurdity OF
the quest as he did So and C'ReaI
SOunued up to the state department.
William Jennings Bryan read the
letter. recalled that it was the first
request Of the kind that had come
| from Champ Clark and promptly
/ looked about for a nice place for the
I applicant from Mexico. Mo- He ap-
pointed John O'Rear envoy eXtraor-
binary and minister plenipotentiary
10 Bolivia. with all the dignities
rights. privileges. and prerOgatives
that go with the place, including a
/ tidy little salary of $4,000 a year.
And that's what came of the happy
! bunch of John O'Rear.