The Washington herald., 1920-06-12
In the Linelight
By George Perry Morris.


John Calvin Ferguson, who sue
ceeds the late George Morrison as
political adviser of the President OF
China, has been serving the re-
publican government In an advisory
capacity since 1917. A native of
Canada. son Of a clergyman. edu-
Gated In the United States and
originally missionary college edu-
Gator at Marking University from
1883 to 1897. he became an oficiai
OF the Chimes. government In 1902.
and since that time has held most
Important educational and adniinis-
trative posts. including that OF
counsellor of state from 1915 to
1917. He served repeatedly on i'm
portant commissions to foreign
countries; has had much to do with
management of large philanthropies
with the United States as their
contributing centers; he has had
control of newspapers and has been
highly honored by the government
with decorations. His tastes are
scholarly and aesthetic. The fact
that he. an American. takes the
place Of Briton, just at this juno
ture in history is significant.
Cincinnati has one Of the best. if
not the best. urtan universities in
] the country. 1t has recently had
to choose a new president. Like
the University of Minnesota, 1t has
decided to depend upon home tai
ent and take a man from the fac
ulty Frederick c. Hicks, an econo-
mist Of some note. with experience
as a public school administrator
before he began a teaching career
that has included the universities
of Michigan and of Missouri The
Federal government frequently has
called him in to aid IL in census
and other statistical work, Since
1890 he has been in Cincinnati. and
he knows intimately the policy of
community service which the retir-
ing president, c. w. Dabney, has
made so successful.
Baltimore is quite set up by
her rapid growth as a port dur
ing the past six months, and by
the new passenger as well as
freight fleets that are to make the
| city their American terminal. The
| great Japanese firm of Mitsui &
Co. operating seventy-seven steam
| ships across the Pacific and To-
European and American Atlantic
ports, has just had Mr.. X. Aka
bane, of its American managerial
staff. looking over the harbor with
the purpose of recommending his
| nrm's use of IL for one of it's lines.
He quite frankly disclosed his sur
prise at what he found, not only
IN the way OF natural advantages,
but planned terminal facilities, and
he was equally frank in condemn
ing conditions in New York City
! and the difficulties of congestion
and inadequate terminals there.
! Both Baltimore and Philadelphia
| are winning new shipping at
faster relative rate than New York.
and the Manhattanese are worry
ing.
When the Rockefeller and Nc
Cormick fortunes partially blended
in the common purse OF the Harold
Mccormick family. IL was fire day
Tor Chicago. speaking in terms OF
distribution of surplus wealth for
civic ends. Mrs. Mccormick is now
supervising the beginning of a great
geological garden on the Des PLANES
River for which she has set aside
S5.ooo,0oo from her pin money; and
in the course of time Chicago Will
have an animal show that will make
ours and the one at the Bronx. y. Y.
City seem somewhat insignificant.
John W. Abercrombie, of the De
pertinent of Labor! will soon be At
more congenial work. free from be-
ing shuttle cock in the dispute
between his chiefs and Mr.. Palmer.
Alabama has just chosen him as
state superintendent OF education
and being Progressive he will
help that State keep UP with tn.
procession in education which the
new South is giving the country. A
lawyer and also a school admins
TRAITOR of experience, at one time
president of the States association
Of colleges. and singled cut repeat
edly for important tasks in con-
ncction with sectional and national
educational beiterment. he will sur
render wartime duties and study at
first hand of the irtricacies Of labor
law enforcement and &C back to his
native State to servo IL willingly.