Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1921-05-26

of Every American Citizen-Func.
tons More Numerous and Varied
Than Any Other Department.
When Charles EvHnS Hughes became
secretary of state and herewith pre-
mer" of President Hardings cabinet
he assumed responsibilities and duties
second only to those Of the President,
says the New York Times.
The cardinal function of the State
department, the conduct of the foreign
relations of the United States, Consti-
tulrs merely part of the operations
of the department. Working always at
full pressure, though this is seldom aln-
parent to the casual observer. short
handed in it's personnel because of the
refusal of congress to provide funds
for the requisite number of higher Oil
Gals and clerks. the State department
has the record of quietly and smoothly
meeting whatever extraordinary de-
mandS have fallen upon ii IN addition
to the daily burden.
Within its province fall the conduct
VI lNS''i WIN i'i''S'' -'''' 49,
meutS. the protection of every AmeT-
can citizen and tie safeguarding of
American property and trade interests
in other lands. More and more has its
diplomacy been interviewer with the
welfare of American business ana com
mer..ial prosperity. Some of the most
involved fiscal and economic problems
a
those confronting Secretary Hughes.
And the subjects of his daily anxiety
include the attitude of the United
States toward the League of Nations.
the question Of the open door ana
equality of opportunity in five conti-
nentS, The handling of the mandate
problems and the freedom of commune
cations by cable and wireless around
the world.
Aside from the major problems the
department must look after ii hewildrr-
ing mass of miscellaneous detail. IL
must care for the interests of the
American sailor who misses his ship In
a foreign port, for the welfare or the
elderly lady who has lost her letter OF
credit. for the extension of protection
to an American bank account overtax-
ed by n foreign government for the
case of goods subjected to discrimlna-
tory foreign duties, for the retrieving
Of American property seized as spells
Of war by some former belligerent In
Europe.
Many and Varied Functions.
In addition the department may he
called upon to offer It's services as
mediator between nations, large or
small, or be appealed to as world
power to pass Judgment when princl-
pies of international law are con-
cerned. particularly in cases involving
infringement of neutral rights. Few
realized the broad functions of the
State department In the easy-going
days before the World war of 1914,
and since then these functions have
multiplied MANIFOLD. For time world
events crowded so rapidly one upon
another, that it was feared the ma
chinery Of the department would break
down.
But its machinery has functioned,
remQdeled from time to time to suit
changing conditions. And all the time
it has kept up its lesser routine. 1t
acts as custodian of the great seal OF
the United States, receives and holds
all the original laws enacted by con-
gress, In addition to safeguarding In
its archives the original texts of the
Declaration Of independence, and or
the Constitution, and of the various
acts of the Confederation. The State
department also certifies and publishes
the official texts of the laws Of con-
greSs. atteSts and prOmulgates all
Presidential proclamations and execu-
tive orders, takes care of the guberna-
toriai returns of all presidential cleo
tOral votes, certities to congress the
results of such elections, and cares for
many valuable original American state
papers and documents, in addition to
maintaining the most extensive Ameri-
can library on international relations.
After-War Problems.
The duties of the State department
have not become less since the armis-
tice. The after-war problems are In
some respects more difficult than were
those of the period Of belligerency.
The conduct of Americas foreign re-
lations, under the Constitution, rests
with the department.
The directing genius Of the State de-
partment sits at large fiat desk In
large room on the south side of the
second floor of the granite pile known
as the State, War and Navy building
at Washington. At every hour there
are many calls upon him. He must at
all times have his fingers on the strings
running into the offices of his four as
sistants, and thence via the telegraph,
cable and wireless rooms to the fur
thest recesses of the world.
Under the President, the secretary
of state represents the sovereign
power of the United States govern
ment In all its dealings with foreign
governments, and foreign governments
communicate with the government of
the United States through its secretary