Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-01

ments, so that every stage hampered
solution instead of assisting 1t. For
instance, some months ago an extreme
measure for control of imports of oil
to France was brought forward by the
late Minister of Commerce Bokanowski.
The American Ambassador wrote a
private letter to Premier Poincare,
marking it unofficial and personal,
setting forth his views. Mr.. Herrlck
said that las one lawyer to another
he wanted the premier as lawyer to
give his opinion on the facts as pre-
sented" The premier Immediately
took a personal interest in the subject
and modified the proposed legislation
to an extent acceptable to Americans.
Worked UnofficiaIly for Nationals.
Mr.. Herrick received, as do all Am
baSsadorS, many requests from his
countrymen to do things for them with
the French government. He never
protected himself behind the instruc-
tons of the State Department or by
invoking the regulations Of the depart
ment. What he usually replied was,
instead of my asking the Foreign ONCE
to do what you desire, think can snow
YOU better method. Let me give you
a letter of introduction to 'so-ano-so.
He will, I think, be able to suggest
how YOU may obtain what you want
without making this an affair between
governments.
The Ambassador would then, by a
private note or telephone message, set
influences at work which would serve
the American enterprise without COM
plicating diplomatic procedure.
Began Career as Peddler.
In the course of a career which be-
gan as a. peddler, Myron Timothy Her
rick was a lawyer, financier, governor
of Ohio and Ambassador. A Repuoll-
can, he was appointed Ambassador TO
France in 1912, served until December,
1914, and was reappointed in 1921. VIII
liam G.. Sharp succeeded him IN 1914.
He sold dinner bells, parlor organs
and lightning rods to the farmers OF
Ohio. From this humble start he rose,
by virtue of his application and ability,
to his later positions as flnancier, pro-
moter of great railroad enterprises, then
governor and Ambassador.
A close personal friend of President
Mckinley, he was offered three cab
met positions by Presidents of the
United States and twice was appointed
Ambassador to F'rance-firSt by PreSi-
dent Taft in 1912 and again by Presi-
dent Harding in 1921. The title Of
colonel was given to him when he waS
appointed to the staff of Mckinley
when the latter was Governor of Ohio
Mr. Herrick attacted worldwide at
tention as American Ambassador to
France during the war by his refusal
to leave Paris in 1914. In addition to
the intricate matters connected with
his own Office, he also assumed charge
of the British. Japanese and Turkish
embassies, and by his calmneSs and
devotion to duty in the face of great
danger is credited with having done
more than any other individual to pre-
vent the outbreak Of a disastrous panic
in Paris.
Aided Foreign Refugees.
Another problem of immense proper
tons which confronted him during the
early days of the war was the necessity
Of providing advice and financial aid
for the thousands of American subjects
stranded in France. Through the
of an American committee he
not only assisted the needy American
travellers. but aided more than 1000
cIlBIlSIl SUBJECTS 10 TedCH Cnelr nOmeS
These services caused the French gov
to bestow upon him the Grand
Cross of the Legion of Honor.
Another notable achievement of Mr..
Herrick while in France was the Amer
can Relief Clearing House, which he
organized after the tourist problem had
been disposed Of. This organization
took full charge of the transportation
and distribution of supplies from
America, which were arriving in great
Quantities. The committee continued
throughout the war as one of the most
relief agencies in Europe.
Born in Huntington, Ohio, October 9,
1854, Mr.. Herrick managed to attend
school and earn living at the same
ime. He entered Oberlin College and
Ohio Wesleyan University, but did not
the course. That he found
outside of college text books,
however, is evidenced by the fact that
lmong the honorary degrees bestowed
Upon him was that of doctor of laws
conferred by Yale, Harvard, Columbia
md Princeton.