The Elbert County tribune., 1915-07-16

| In contrast to Mrs. Bryan. Mrs Ian
sing has had wide and intimate ex-
perience of life in the great capitals
| OF Europe. and her long residence in
Washington has familiarized her with
the peculiar social problems OF the
place and with the far-reaching effects
| OF the social side of diplomacy and
| statecraft.
Diplomat by Profession.
Mr.. Lansing is diplomat by pro-
fession and by long practice. He be-
gan his diplomatic training under his
father-in-law. He is reputed to have
handled more diplomatic business
just plain business, in the form Of ar
bitrations-as counselor for govern
ments and In related capacities than
any contemporary American. He
knows the methods, the manners and
the forms of diplomacy. and is particu
larly informed upon the intimate de-
tails now pressing upon his depart
ment, having had opportunity to IA
miliarize himself with them during his
service as counselor of the state de-
partment
1t is significant that the man in
the street was obliged when Mr.. Lam
sing first came into prominence to IN
quire as to his politics. The answer
is that he is a Democrat but in no
way politician; and his appointment
| is step toward divorcing foreign re-
lations from domestic political con-
Germs. He stands for the professional
view that the nation needs foreign
policy that shall be continuous and
logical and not disturbed by political
shifts.
Always Keeps His Temper.
| Without resembling the emancipator
in physical appearance to even a re-
mote degree. Mr.. Lansing has much
the personality of Lincoln He has
/ the war presidents ability always to
keep his temper, to speak his mind in
stantly in simple. homely. but correct
English. to withhold information with
out being troubled or embarrassed in
the act. and to maintain a serene,
! judicious mind while all around is
hurrying and shouting 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 fifty-one years old-but un-
doubtedly handsome. His eyes are
excessively fine. and his face lights
| up in a way that is Irresistible.
To questions he replies instantly
and often with trenchant humcr
There is no sidestepping. He looks
straight at his questioner and if the
query is improper he dubs it such
without stumbling. His emotions are
under complete control.
These qualities have endeared him
to the Washington correspondents,
who didn't get along at all well with
Mr.. Bryan. Mr.. Lansing's request
not an order-that no foreign diplo-
matists be accosted by Questioners In
the state. war and navy building has
been uniformly carried out, indeed a
correspondent who violated it would
become pariah to his fellows here
The correspondents know the new oc
cupant of the secretary of states of
flee will do the right thing by them
and they desire to measure up to Mr..
Lansing's own standard
The members of the diplomatic
corps find Mr.. Lansing is of the best
type of old world courtiers and they
treasure him accordingly.
They know Mr.. Lansing understands
their troubles and difficulties thorough.
ly. Mr.. Lansing and his wife's father.
John w. Foster. secretary of state un-
der Harrison and United States envoy
to several countries, make their home
here together. The son-in-law has aL-
sorbed great stores of diplomatic lore
from the man who is affectionately
called 'the old fox of American diplo.
macy"
Rose by Sheer Ability.
Mr.. Foster will be eighty years old
next year He was brigadier gen.
eral in the Civil war, minister to Mex.
leo for seven years, then minister to
Russia and minister to Spain. He has
served on many very important inter.
national commissions and has acted
officially for China and Mexico Sew
eral of his books are standard. He is
a leading peace advocate.
Mr.. Foster had much to do with In.
Producing his brilliant son-in-law to Of.
ficial 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 IT. 1864. the son of an emf.
nent lawyer and the descercant Of
many men who have been leaders in
New York state history. John Lansing
represented New York in the consti.
| tutional convention OF 1887 at Phile.