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

remote degree, Mr.. Lansing has much
/ the personality Of Lincoln. He has the
war presidents ability always to keen
his temper. to speak his mind instantly
IN simply, homely, but correct English;
to withhold information without being
troubled or embarrassed in the act, and
Z to maintain a serene, judicious mind
while all around is hurrying and shout
ing and the whole world seems about
TO plunge into ruin
On entering his office, in the state.
war and navy building, one meets a
man of large figure, prematurely gray
he is 81 years Old-but undoubtedly
handsome His eyes are especially
fine and his face lights up in a way
that is irresistible
Mr. Lansing dresses in the black cut
away coat OF the man Of big affairs
and is unobtrusively Wen grOomed.
Suggests Strength; Inspires Confidence.
Everything about him suggests
strength and inspires confidence. It
is impossible to think Of him as going
off half cooked according to the good
old American metaphor One knows
that what he says today he will not
regret tomorrow. You feel that he has
reserves Of intellectual force which he
can bring TO his assistance at will
To questions he replies instantly and
often with trenchant humOr. There is
no sidestepping- He looks straight at
his questiOner and if the query is i'm
proper he dubs it such without STUN
bling His emotions are under COM
plete control
These qualities have endeared him to
the Washington correspondents, who
did not get along well at all with Mr..
Bryan. Mr. Lansing's request-nOt an
oroer-that no foreign diplomatists be
accosted by QuestiOners in the state
war and navy building has been uni
1ormly carried out; indeed. a CORE
aHHa7 I1saA Ill.
pariah TO his fellows here. The cor
respondents know the new occupant OF
the secretary Of states office will do
the right thing by them and they de-
sire to measure up TO Mr.. Lansing's
own standard
Members Of the diplomatic corps find
Mr. Lansing is Of the best type Of old
world courtier and they treasure him
accordingly.
As to the subordinates OF the secre-
tary Of state throughout the world
they know Mr.. Lansing understands
their troubles and difficulties thor
oughly- Mr.. lansing and his wifes
father, John ". Foster. secretary of
state under Harrison and United States
envoy to several countries, make their
home here together. The soninlaw has
ABSORBED great stores Of diplomatic
lore from the man who is affectionate-
" called the old fox Of American di-
plomacy."
Mr.. Foster will be so years old next
year He was a brigadier general in
the civil war, minister of Mexico for
seven years; then minister TO Russia
and minister to Spain He has served
on many very important international
commissions and has acted officially
for China and Mexico. Several Of his
books are standard. He is a leading
peace advocate
Lansing's Rise Due to Ability.
Mr.. Foster had much to DO with in
Producing his brilliant soninlaw to Of
fetal Washington, but Mr.. Lansing's
rise to fame has been through sheer
ability and hard work He was born
In the small city Of Washington, n Y.
OCTOBER L. 1854, the son Of an eminent
lawyer and the descendant Of many
men who have been leaders in New
ork state history. John Lansing rep
resented New York in the constitutional !
Of 1887 at Philadelphia. I
served in the revolution and was later
chancellor Of the state Of New York.
Mr. Lansing was graduated from Am /
1erst college in 1856 and began the 7
practice Of law with his father in 4
Natertown in 1889.
He soon became too big for small [
own litigation, however. International 4.
aW was his forte. In 1892 he was ap-
pointed associate counsel for the
: nited States in the fur seal arbitra-
ion and he attended the sessions Of :
he international tribunal at Paris in
In the course of the next two years
le was counsel for the Mexican and
,hinese Legations in Washington, and
n 1895 secretary of state Olney ap-
'ointed him counsel for the govern
nent before the Boring sea claims com
mission.
He was counsel for private parties J