Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-29
BIZ
]. S
Americans about the Philippines ana
constantly presenting arguments for IN
danardarna

Americans about the Philippines ana
constantly presenting arguments Tor IN
dependence.
Work of Irish Nationalist
The Irish nationalists have main
tanned such a bureau here for years
and many observers believe that Ire
lands Independence resulted in par
from the activities of this bureau In
converting the American mind.
HALF the Latin-American govern
ments use this method of presenting
themselves to the public. It has been
said that when a new minister comes
to Washington from q Central or South
American country his first act is to get
a press agent. Sometimes these are
kept in the background but frequently
the press agent is Haunted as a reg
ular part of the establishment of Legal
ton or embassy.
In other words, the foreign govern
ments not only send special ministers
and ambassadors to the governments Oh
the United States, they also send spe-
cial ambassadors, in the form OF press
agents, to the American mind.
Many fascinating stories Of the dip
lomatic battles which are fought out by
these press representatives n IN
formation bureaus could be told and
back of their activities there are many
incidents romantic and interesting
enough to vie with the best stories OF
international spies.
The order Of things has not changed
wholly and there remain some of the
old fashioned and highly romantic Sc
cret agents. 1t must be borne In mind
that in about half Of the smaller Latin
American republics there is a party
of m~alcontents which is always seeking
an opportunity to obtain power. ID
this. country when a party Is out of Of
flee it seeks to return through the me-
dunn of the polls and the ballot box.
In many of the Latin-American coun-
tries the more direct method of revo-
luton or militaristic coup is preferred.
Each Of these out of office parties
knows that when the time comes and
the coup is executed the first thing
| to be done Is to gain financial support
In the United States and the diplomatic
recognition of the American state de-
partment. Therefore, all such factions
maintain juntas or secret agencies at
! Washington and some have branches in
New York.
1t has been said that when the pic
turesque old Arlington hotel was torn
down, the Latin American plotters
were routed and they could find no
other congeniaI place. The old Airing
ton was a fine rambling old hostelry
with long dark corridors, carpeted with
i a Brussels covering in which a mans
tread would be unheard. 1t was full
of cosy hooks and corners and winding
passageways. 1t was an ideal place for
c~onspiracies and clandestine political
meetings. When the building was RACED
it was reported that the ghosts of a
thousand plots lowered over the site
nightly until the new Arlington building
housed was erected.
But the secret agents did not leave
Washington. They bought gum shoes
to take the place of the silent carpets
of the old Arlington and betook them
selves to other hotels; less congenial,
to be sure, but endurable. In the sum-
mertime, which IL a gay season in
Washington, they are to be seer on the
roof gardens Of the city, in its many
parks and motor ways and at other
places where society congregates.
The job of secret agent apparently
is a lucrative, as well rs a diverting,
one. They all seem to have plenty of
funds and to live we'll. What they &C
complish is difficult to measure-doubt-
less a good deal in some cases and
nothing in others-but so long as
Washington is the capital of the world,
they may be expected to appear in in
creasing numbers. Washington likes
them. They are ornamental and give
a cosmopolitan atmosphere which no
city. especially a capital, could afford
to despise.