The Washington times., 1920-06-09
(Csatiasel frea Yesses~sy.l

almost undlgnified race between
the British and French 20 be ap-
pointed first and 80 become doyen
or the Diplomatic Corps. Lord
Pauncefote succeeded and so car
ried that prestige for England. All
ambassadors rank alike. but they
pass" according to the presenta-
tion OF their letters OF credence.
Ministers pienipotentiary, no matter
when appointed. have to follow
newly arrived ambassadors. and
cede precedence to them. These
officials represent nations and so
should be given priority en- all pos
sible occasions. When entertain
ing Americana. the Diplomatic
Corps regards itself as one family
and SO gives them the highest
places.
In the old days a Vice President
demanded to pass before ambsssa-
dors on the ground that he was
"heir-apparent" to the President
and SO entitled to II, and this has
been generally granted to be the
case.
But there has always been diff
culty-whateyer the State Depart
ment might advise-in seating
members of the Supreme Court,
Senate. and Cabinet. Frequently 1t
Is wiser not to run any risk by in
viting at the same time officials
who may find fault with their
places. Among individuals Of each
set. however. 1t is simple. for the
Justices succeed the Chief Justice
In order OF their service. and Sena-
tors are ranked by groups accord
Ing to their date OF membership,
while Cabinet members have a set
tied order, the Secretary OF State
being first.
New American officials. when they
first come to Washington, do not
seem either to know or to care about
precedence, but ii does not take
them very long to become interest
ed in the subject and to look about
the table to see IL they are being
properly placed.
One of the men who helped the
Administration run the war was
Barney Baruch-Bernard NJ. Ba-
ruch. Like Baker, he is of German
Jewish extraction, and like McAdoo.
thin Of lip and keen Of eye, although
very good-looking. He came into
the limelight chiefly in connection
with the peace leak" AS a dinner
companion / found him extremely
clever and agreeable.
Mr.. Dawson, head of the War
Council for the American Red Cross,
is famous for raising a huge sum oil
money for the organization when
no one else thought 1t could be done.
BY profession he is a banker, and
looks the typical American business
man. l think he made an excellent
representative of the Red Cross,
and on the whole 1t was a great
success. OF course. like any big or
ganization. it fell down occasion
ally on tact and efficiency, bat IN
general the spirit was good. While
few thought chiefly of decorations,
the majority worked hard and un-
selfishly.
Mr.. Hoover is also absolutely an
American business type. A
worker under him wrote me the
following: "As / saw Mr.. Hoover
frequently in the Food Administra-
tion in Washington, / grew to have
tremendous personal admiration
for him, and to understand, in
way. his great power of accomplish
ing things which at first sight
looked impossible. Indeed, what he
accomplished in the Food Commits
sion would not, 1 believe, have been
possible for any other manor for
Mr.. Hoover himself. without the
prestige which his work in Belgium
had given him. There was no de-
partment in Washington where
there was such personal loyalty to
it's chief as there was in ours. This
was all the more remarkable be
cause Mr.. Hoover has as little per-
sonal magnetism and as little COM
panionability as any great executive
/ ever saw. His whole attention
has been so absorbed by big things
that he has disregarded many of
the small amenities of life. TO
study him and watch his handling
of any matter of Importance gives
one an insight into his broad grasp
of the whole world situation. Yet
il is all done with the greatest
modesty. He has no time either to
flatter himself or you, bat you feel
the ideaIism of the man, and l sup
pose it's that which fixes your
loyalty. I believe that what he has
done is as unselfish as any work
a man could do"
There were great many splen-
did and executive men. too many
for me to mention. and great deal
of work was most successfully ac-
complished. but of course some war
boards got unfavorable mention
perhaps justly-and shipping and
aviation both received deal OF
criticism first and last. The inves-
tigation OF the latter board result
ed in clearing its members OF dis
honesty. but it convicted them OF
gross extravaganza and inefficiency.
The Shipping Board was far from
being above reproach, too, but 1t
did succeed in getting, some new
vessels across the water. at any
rate. (Though / know Of one, at
least. which broke down twelve
times on it's maiden voyageO
The preliminaries of construction
at Hog Island, Bristol Point, and
Port Newark lad been begun with
speed and efficiency. All contracts
for the erection of shipyards were
drawn up by Colonel Goethals.
Then everything slowed up and
stopped. The contracts could not
be signed. Washington red tape for
bade IL. There were changes. and
and G0ethals