Republican farmer., 1918-12-06

Son of an American missionary to Japan, Willard Dickerman Straight's career was ore of the most interesting and remarkable of any young Yankee of this generation. Typically Ameri- can, brilliant in initiative, a natural diplomat, he arose from obscurity to ar important position as a financier when little more than 30 years of age. A master of Chinese and Japanese politics and culture he became the , right hand man of great American bankers and was their representative in the Far East when, with British, French and other European fnanciers they undertook to syndicate loan of l S27,500,000 to China.
 . Willard D. Straight was born in Oswego, N. Y. on Jan. 31, 1880. Years 1 of residence in China and Japan gave 1 him g. valuable insight into native character. Two years after his grad [ uation from Cornell in 1901 young Straight went back to China and en- tered the service of the Chinese Im- per!al Maritime Customs Service un. der Sir Robert Hart where he was assigned to Ranking and Picking.
 In 1904, when the Russo-Japanese war started, Straight resigned his post, and, with the view of broaden ing his knowledge of Eastern affairs and peoples went to Manchuria as a correspondent for -ne Associated Press Early in 1905 as a result of illness he was ordered home and at Petrograd met the late George von l. Meyer, then Ambassador to Russia, and later Secretary of the Navy.
 Shortly after returning to New York and recovering his health MT. Straight was appointed Vice Consul General al Seoul Korea, and the next year re- 00ived his credentials as American Consul General at Mukden, where he remained until 1908.
 Returning to the United States or leave In the fall of 1908, MT. Strafgh was detailed as Acting Chief of the Bureau of Far Eastern Affairs of tho State Department. Later, when a syn diCate of American bankers, cooper ating with the State Department, un dertook in the summer of 1909 to ncs gotiate with British, French and othe European bankers. the so-called "Si1 Power Loan" to China, MT. Straigh resigned from the State Departmen and was appointed the representativ, of the American group in Picking Although not yet 30 years old, MT Straight was at this time reported to be receiving a salary of $5O,OOO ; year. J. P. Morgan. the elder, wa said to have selected him for the job
 In 1911 MT. Straight married Mis- Dorothy Payne Whitney, daughter O the late William Whitney, Secretar of the Navy in the cabinet of Pres dent Cleveland, and one of America wealthiest young women.
 Returning to the United States Nil Straight became, in time, vice presi dent of the International Corporatio and a director in 12 or more enter prises, including the Allied Construc tion Machinery Co. and the Sieme Carey Railway & Canal Co.,, engage on work in the Orient. F,S was !. Fellow of the Royal Geographical St ciety of London and a trustee of Col nell University. He also was a men Der of numerous clubs In New Tor and London.
 When the United States entered tt war Mir, Straight was appointed hea of the United States War Risk Insu ance Bureau in Washington, but d, string to be of service overseas, I obtained a transfer to France. Pr
 viousiy he had been commissioned
 major in the adjutant generals d
 pertinent. Major Straight had hon in New York city and at Old Yves
 bury, Long IslanG