El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-06-28

! DeIore the Canadian Joint high COM
! mission in 1S98+99 and later apa51
served the Mexican and Chinese Iega-
In 1903 he was appointed to he conn-
SCI Tor the United States before the
Alaskan boundary tribunal and he tool
prominent part in the Venezuelan
aspnait disputes in 1905. He repre-
sented the government in the Atlantic
Ilsnerles arbitration in 1908 and in 1911
on his return to this country from me
Hagues he was made technical DELEGATE
OF the government in the fur seal con-
ference at Washington.
In 1911 he acted as counsel for the
United States in the American and
BRUSH claims arbitration and this was
ms work up TO the date he was chosen
as secretary Bryan's right hand man.
Described His Own Job.
Mr.. Lansing described his own lob
70 an extent in a speech before the
Alumni OF Amherst college a short time
ago He said.
These are critical days for our
country. How critical only those who
are IN intimate touch with affairs can
realize 1t is time for serious thought
a time Ior anxiety. The greatest war
OF al history is being waged with a
disregard for life and a ferOcftv nm
paraLleled IN the annals Of war. Ma
tons seem to have returned to primi-
tive barbarism- Rights Of individuals
and. Of nations are swept aside in this
gigantic struggle that is deva sta ting
Europe. Neutrals as well as belliger-
ents are bearing the burden. The com
mercial and industrial life Of the whole
world is affected
The result is that the neutral ma
tons have had to meet a series OF
problems that have never been solved
The. liability Of error, the danger Of IN
Intentional partially and the constant
complaint of one or the other of the
belligerents make the path Of neutral
lty rough and dangerous It is my duty
to deal with the questions of interna-
tional law and usage which are arising
every day in our relations with other
countries. These questions are Of alb
sOrbing interest and many Of them
are extremely complete. because this
war IN its magnitude and methods is
different from all the wars that have
gone before One can look in vain for
presidents in many cases.
I'VE have to abandon the time hon
ored refuge Of Jurists and diplomatists
lay hold of the bed
rock principle. Diplomacy today is
wrestling with novel problems. TO which
it must apply natural justice and prac-
teal common sense"
Is Democrat.
Mr.. Lansing is a Democrat, but has /
never taken part in political strife. He /
Is not at all a schemer or an intriguer /
and will probably be Of little political /
value to the fortunes Of this admins I
tration at the next national elections /
This was in a way a drawback to his /
appointment as secretary Of state
But, on the other hand, there is added /
to the administration a man who viii /
strengthen the government greatly.
President Wilson needs a few more
men like secretary Of war Garrison,
who never judge a situation until they
have all the facts before them Mr..
Lansing always asks first. What are
the facts?" Then he judges, but he
keeps his mind open for more facts
and he is willing to listen to the Opin-
On Of others still.
His mental processes are sure. He
has a great liking for mathematics
and once said he did not see how any
nan could undertake the solutions Of
great problems without having had the
mental discipline afforded by the study
# this subject The cabinet cannot
nave too many mathematical minds.
As secretary of state Mr. Lansing
an be depended upon not to court pub
lefty He dislikes notoriety. as does
lrs- Lansing She has persistently re-
used to be photographed for the news
lapers and Mr.. Lansing himself is in
-uced to pose only with great diff
ulty-