The Washington times., 1920-03-15

Life and Public Services BY NJ A. u.
| Wolfe Howe. New York; Dodd. Mead q
A valuable addition to the bio
graphical literature of the United
states is the interesting and timely
life Of George Won l. Meyer. ambassa-
dor to European nations and cabinet
member during tho Presidencies
Of Mckinley, Roosevelt and Taft.
| Much OF the book is made up Of
extracts from the diary Of Mr.. Meyer
and from his official and private cor
| respondence. much of the latter being
| with Theodore Roosevelt
| Mr.. Meyers appointment to the
italian Enthusiastically by President
Mckinley was confirmed by the SEN
ate in December. 1000. At this time
he began the practice OF keeping a
| diary, record of persons and events
| over a period of nine years. While
many OF the notes have to do with
the social life OF the brilliant capitals
or Europe, there are many passages
OF great general interest, dealing
with kings and emperors and men
high in the governments OF the lead
ing nations Of the world. Thus not
only are these extracts from his
diary of great use as a record OF his
own public life. but also for the light
|
acquired an historic Importance I'M
forseen at the time OF their writing.
In 1905. Mr.. Meyer was sent by
Theodore Roosevelt to st. Peters
burg, as Ambassador to Russia 1t
here fell to him to conduct the ne
gotiations with the Car which lead
up to the Peace Conference between
the representatives. of Russia and
Japan, at Portsmouth. N. H.. termi-
mating war between those countries
For his untiring efforts In behalf Of
peace. a work which was hamp-
cred by the intrigues OF that part
OF the Russian court which was In
favor OF continuing the war, he re-
ceived the highest commendation
from Roosevelt.
Meyer was keenly interested in the
opening of the Duma, and a note in
his diary indicates he had little faith
In its success. Under date of Decem-
Der, 1905 he writes: History seems to
be repeating itself. and there is a
strange resemblance between certain
events in France I'm 1889 and that
which is now taking place here.
1t is pity the emperor
does not study the causes and. results
OF the French revolution and profit
by the events which are rapidly be-
ing repeated in his own empire"
or greatest interest to Washing
tonians, Is that part of the book COW
ering the years 1907 to 1913, when
Meyer was n member of the Cabinet,
frst as Postmaster General and then
as Secretary of the Navy. The
operations OF the Roosevelt Cabinet,
and also the tennis cabinet" re-
membered by all Washingtonians, are
significantly revealed. and here too.
are stories, from one who took part
In them. OF those strenuous hikes
and wild horseback rides in which
Roosevelt delighted. In 1909, Meyer
became Secretary OF the Navy. The
following statement OF Admiral Vain
wright which appeared in a news
paper Immediately after the death OF
Meyer, In Marcia 1918 Is significant
as showing his success as head OF the
navy: Some Secretaries OF the Navy
have had more opportunities to show
their administrative ability, but none
have made better use OF their oppor-
tunities Under Mr.. Meyer, for the
nrst time since the establishment OF
.he bureau system in the Navy De
partment. the fleet was placed under
control OF the military branch OF the
navy. and history will record that the
high standing of the American fleet
during the war was partly due to the
frm foundation established by George
Won l.. Meyer when Secretary OF the
NAVY