French, Spanish, or Italian, poking all sorts of fun at the hostess and
her entertainment, and then, as she approached, rush to greet her with a
mock homage which made my flesh creep. I have heard them declare that
"all Americans are cads," and the next instant prove the less sweeping
proposition that "all cads are not Americans" by fulsome compliments to
a distinguished Justice or Senator.
They, however, dispense a generous hospitality, and society, which has
learned to estimate them by their own cynical standards, and is neither
elated by their smiles nor annihilated by their snubs, cultivates them
as best suits its own purpose.
The United States supports abroad thirty-eight embassies and legations,
consisting of ministers, secretaries, and attachés, besides about one
thousand consuls.
* * * * *
The Congressional Directory gives the personal history of Secretary Knox
as follows:
PHILANDER CHASE KNOX, Secretary of State (1527 K Street), was born
in Brownsville, Pa., May 6, 1853, son of David S. and Rebekah Knox;
his father was a banker in Brownsville; graduated at Mount Union
College, Alliance, Ohio, in 1872; entered the law office of H. B.
Swope, Pittsburg, Pa., and was admitted to the bar in 1875; was
assistant United States District Attorney for the Western District
of Pennsylvania in 1876; was elected president of the Pennsylvania
Law Association in 1897; was made Attorney-General in the Cabinet of
President McKinley in 1901 as successor to Hon. John William Griggs,
of New Jersey, resigned, and was sworn into office April 9, 1901;
was the choice of President Roosevelt for Attorney-General in his
Cabinet, and was confirmed by the Senate December 16, 1901; resigned
that office June 30, 1904, to accept appointment as United States
Senator, tendered by Governor Pennypacker June 10, to fill a vacancy
caused by the death of Hon. M. S. Quay, and took his seat December
6; was elected by the Legislature in January, 1905, for the term
ending March 3, 1911; resigned as Senator March 4, 1909, to accept
the position of Secretary of State, and was nominated, confirmed and
commissioned March 5.
Congress had to repeal the act raising the salary of the Secretary of
State before Mr. Knox could take the position, because he was in the
Senate when the salary was raised.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT
In time of war or just following a war the most interesting department
is that which was lately occupied by Elihu Root and William H. Taft. Mr.
Root is noted as a great corporation lawyer, and at first seemed to
consider that the government of the United States could be run on the
same principles as a great corporation—that is, "We shall do as we
please in spite of public opinion." But he was severely brought to task
for this. Later he became Secretary of State.
In spite of this, the report of this department, dated December, 1901,
shows difficult, conscientious, magnificent work performed by the War
Department since the close of the war with Spain. Possibly the quiet
prejudice which existed throughout the country against Mr. Root was
largely the result of his treatment of General Miles. He did not like
the old General, but the country did. Mr. Root could do many splendid
things before the farmer, who only reads his weekly paper and to whose
brain new things come slowly, forgave him for rudeness to a man of the
people, whose merit had placed him at the head of the army. Any one who
thinks he wins favor by calling General Miles "old fuss and feathers,"
as some newspapers do, quite forgets that the American people like fuss
and feathers.
In spite of the above, Mr. Root is a great patriotic man, who, with
mental ability enough to earn $100,000 per year, gives his country the
benefit of his talents for what must seem to him the modest sum of
$12,000. As an organizer and great executive officer he had no superior
in the government employ. His last report shows the army located as
follows:
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ARMY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1901
──────────────────┬──────────┬─────────┬───────
COUNTRY │_Officers_│_Enlisted│_Total_
│ │ men_ │
──────────────────┼──────────┼─────────┼───────
United States │ 1,922│ 31,952│ 33,874
Philippine Islands│ 1,111│ 42,128│ 43,239
Cuba │ 166│ 4,748│ 4,914
Porto Rico │ 51│ 1,490│ 1,541
Hawaiian Islands │ 6│ 250│ 256
China │ 5│ 157│ 162
Alaska │ 17│ 510│ 527
──────────────────┼──────────┼─────────┼───────
Total │ 3,278│ 81,235│ 84,513
──────────────────┴──────────┴─────────┴───────
[In this table are included the 4,336 men of the Hospital Corps and
the 25 officers and 815 men of the Porto Rico Provisional Regiment,
leaving the strength of the Regular Army 3,253 officers and 76,084
enlisted men.
In addition there are also in the Philippines 172 volunteer
surgeons, appointed under section 18 of the act of February 2, 1901,
and 98 officers and 4,973 native scouts.]
Of course, now that the war in the Philippines is practically over, many
more men have returned to the United States.
In reading Mr. Root's report, nothing impresses one more than the
splendid arrangement for the better education of army officers, not only
as to military tactics, but for full intellectual equipment. Enlisted
men who fit themselves by study, and retain good characters by passing
complete civil-service examination, become eligible to official
positions among the regulars. Also officers of volunteer regiments by
the same process become eligible to official positions in the regular
army.
Mr. Root recommended that officers of the National Guard, or officers of
former volunteers, be permitted in their vacations to study with regular
army officers at West Point, and at the army post schools, so that we
may never again be caught without competent officers for volunteer
regiments. His report contains full accounts of the forming of the new
government in Cuba, the Cuban Constitution, a full account of all the
troubles in the Philippines, the wonderful work accomplished by the
signal corps, the territorial and military divisions of the Philippines,
and recommendations as to the proper currency and system of banking
necessary in our Oriental possessions.
He recommended the purchase of the lands of the friars, who could not
continue to hold their possession peacefully on account of the hostility
of the people, whom they have grossly wronged.
His account of the very valuable unexplored timber lands of the islands,
and the industries needed, made his report of great practical
importance.
Men of the United States army have always been noted for their high
standard of honor. The country believes in the integrity of the officers
of the regular army. When any of them fail themselves and betray the
trust imposed in them, it causes a shock to public feeling such as
malfeasance in no other official position ever produces. To an unusually
large extent they have been worthy of the trust reposed in them by a
great nation.
The French are no more jealous of the good name of their army than are
Americans. The person who takes away the good name of our brave,
patriotic, self-sacrificing men, "who are a-doing and a-dying" in the
Philippines, because of the evil actions of less than one-twentieth of
their number, deserves public execration. The least we can do for our
army is to give them their hard-earned laurels unspoiled.
The following sketch of Mr. Root, now Senator from New York, is taken
from "Who's Who in America":
Secretary of State from July 1, 1905, until March 4, 1909; born in
Clinton, N. Y., February 15, 1845; son of Oren and Nancy Whitney
(Buttrick) Root; graduated from Hamilton College in 1864, where his
father was for many years professor of mathematics; taught at Rome
Academy in 1865; graduated from the University Law School of New
York in 1867; (LL.D., Hamilton, 1896; Yale, 1900; Columbia, 1904;
New York University, 1904; Williams, 1905; Princeton, 1906;
University of Buenos Ayres, 1906; University of San Marcos of Lima,
1906; Harvard, 1907); married January 8, 1878, Clara, daughter of
Salem H. Wales, of New York; U. S. Attorney for the Southern
District of New York, 1883-85; delegate-at-large to the State
Constitutional Convention in 1894, and chairman judiciary committee;
appointed Secretary of War, August 1, 1899, by President McKinley;
reappointed March 5, 1901; resigned February 1, 1904; became
Secretary of State, U. S., July 1, 1905. Member Alaskan Boundary
Tribunal in 1903; temporary chairman Republican National Convention
in 1904. Trustee of Hamilton College, Carnegie Institution,
Washington; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; President Union
League Club (New York), 1898-99; president New York City Bar
Association, 1904-05; president American Society of International
Law, 1906.
XXVI
STATE, WAR, AND NAVY DEPARTMENTS (Continued)
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
THE offices of the Navy Department are situated in the same building as
those of the War Department. The Secretary of the Navy occupies some of
these handsome rooms. On their walls are the pictures of eighteen
Secretaries, more than half the number of those who have occupied the
high place being yet unrepresented. Secretary Long urged that the
pictures of those yet waiting should be secured and given a place among
these worthies. Down to Lincoln's day the following persons occupied the
place of Secretary of the Navy:
During Washington's administration the Secretaries of the Navy were also
Secretaries of War. Three men occupied the double position: Gen. Henry
Knox, of Massachusetts; Timothy Pickering, of Massachusetts; and James
McHenry, of Maryland. In John Adams's administration the Navy was made a
separate department. The Secretaries of the Navy since 1798 have been as
follows: Benjamin Stoddert, of Maryland; Robert Smith, of Maryland;
Jacob Crowninshield, of Massachusetts; Paul Hamilton, of South Carolina;
William Jones, of Pennsylvania; Benjamin W. Crowninshield, of
Massachusetts; Smith Thompson, of New York; Samuel L. Southard, of New
Jersey; John Branch, of North Carolina; Levi Woodbury, of New Hampshire;
Mahlon Dickerson, of New Jersey; James K. Paulding, of New York; George
E. Badger, of North Carolina; Abel P. Upshur, of Virginia; David
Henshaw, of Massachusetts; Thomas W. Gilmer, of Virginia; John Y. Mason,
of Virginia; George Bancroft, of Massachusetts; William B. Preston, of
Virginia; William A. Graham, of North Carolina; John P. Kennedy, of
Maryland; James C. Dobbin, of North Carolina; Isaac Toucey, of
Connecticut; Gideon Welles, of Connecticut. Since then have come John
Faxon, Adolph E. Bane, Geo. M. Robeson, Watson Goff, Jr.; N. H. Hunt,
Wm. E. Chandler, Wm. C. Whitney, Benj. F. Tracy, H. A. Hobart, John D.
Long, M. H. Moody, Paul Morton, Chas. J. Bonaparte, S. H. Newberry and
George von L. Meyer. Mr. Long resigned in 1902, and was succeeded by Mr.
Moody, who later was transferred to the Supreme Court. Of Mr. Meyer the
Directory says:
GEORGE VON LENGERKE MEYER, of Hamilton, Mass., Secretary of the
Navy, is trustee Provident Institution for Savings, Boston; director
Old Colony Trust Company, Boston, Amoskeag Manufacturing Company,
Manchester, N. H., and United Electric Securities Company, Boston;
was a member of the city government of Boston, 1890-1892; member of
the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 1892-1896; Speaker of
the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 1894-1896; Republican
national committeeman, 1898 to 1905; confirmed as ambassador to
Italy December 14, 1900; transferred as ambassador to Russia March
8, 1905; recalled in February, 1907, to enter the Cabinet as
Postmaster-General, and took oath of office March 4, 1907, holding
that post until March 6, 1909, when he took oath of office as
Secretary of the Navy.
Now that the United States has become a world power, the navy is the
right arm of the government in taking needed supplies to our distant
colonies, and in protecting with devoted care the property of America
the world over.
The last annual report of the Secretary of the Navy showed that the
United States has 252 regular naval vessels, 55 of special classes,
besides as many more of inferior classes called standard vessels, such
as steam-cutters, launches, cutters, etc. The Secretary's report shows
that $84,181,863.89 was appropriated for naval expenses, of which about
seventeen millions yet remain unused. A large part of this has gone for
new vessels. No part of the government is increasing so rapidly as the
naval service. When all men are enlisted for which legal provision has
been made, the naval and marine force will reach 34,810 men, or nearly
8,000 more than were in the army prior to the war with Spain. By the
Congressional acts of 1864, 1868, and 1876 the navy was fixed not to
exceed 7,000 men; the act of March 3, 1901, fixes the number at 25,000,
but the necessities of the country have increased it beyond this.
The average citizen knows far less about the navy than about the army.
Yet in time of war the army would be of little use without an efficient
navy. In the Civil War no great progress was made in conquering the
South till the blockade shut in the Southern States, preventing the
export of cotton and the bringing in of the necessities of life.
In the late war with Spain, brilliant as was the service of the army,
yet our navy carried away the greater laurels.
The North Atlantic Squadron during the last fiscal year has been engaged
in severe training in marksmanship and evolutions, gaining facility in
landing large guns, etc. The vessels of this squadron have extended
their operations from Maine to Central America, particularly among the
West Indies. The South Atlantic Squadron has assisted in commercial
interests along the coast of South America. The European Squadron is now
mostly in the Mediterranean Sea. The Pacific Squadron is scattered over
such a great length of coast from Alaska to South America that the ships
can not drill as a squadron, but are obliged to maneuver singly. The
apprentice and training squadrons have been along the coast of Europe,
but are now in the West Indies. These are afloat continually, except
when stopped for repairs or supplies.
Possibly no condition in the war with Spain annoyed us so much as the
use of powder which emitted smoke and thus showed just where our men
were located, while they dealt with an unseen foe. The navy has taken up
this matter, and is experimenting on the use and making of smokeless
powder. We shall not be caught napping again. The navy is also
practising wireless telegraphy; and while it can not be said to have
adopted any of the half dozen systems now before the public, yet so far
it has secured the best results from the Marconi system. This is used by
Great Britain and Italy. Germany uses the Slaby system, France and
Russia the Ducretet system. The Secretary of the Navy insists that none
is a perfect success, as the difficulty of interference has not yet been
entirely overcome. Wireless telegraphy has carried messages between
British war-ships 160 miles apart. In 1908 and 1909 the fleet went
around the world.
We have eight navy-yards, the principal one being at Brooklyn. The
barracks for the marines in Washington are situated on Eighth Street, a
short distance from the navy-yard; they cost $350,000. The navy-yard at
Washington does not build large ships, but produces chains, anchors,
ordnances, such as rifles, breech-loading guns, etc., together with a
long list of materials used in the navy.
Admiral Dewey is not only the pride of the navy but of the nation. He
receives $13,500 per year. Rear-Admirals are paid $8,000.
Extensive and important improvements are to be made at the Annapolis
Naval Academy. The country expects great proficiency in its army and
navy, so no pains, no expense should be spared in the preparation of men
of whom so much is required. A number of years ago Commodore Perry,
speaking to the students of Antioch College (Ohio), told the following
anecdote:
"Some twenty-five years ago I was carelessly walking on the levee of a
city of the Adriatic. A short distance from the shore lay a man-of-war
at anchor. I called an oarsman to me, and had him take me out to the
vessel.
"I saw no one on board, but by a rope hanging over the side I went on
deck, hand over hand. I paid the oarsman, and told him to return for me
in an hour.
"I wandered over the beautiful ship, admiring its guns, its keeping, its
admirable appointments, and its excellent management, shown by its
condition. At the end of my hour I began to look for my oarsman. Just
then I discovered a door on my right. I opened it, and in that room sat
thirty-two boys. I had been there an hour and had not heard stir enough
to show that so much as a bird was alive on that boat.
"The youngest cadet came to the door and welcomed me with his cordial
military salute. 'Boy, where is your teacher?' 'Gone ashore, sir.' 'Do
you keep absolute order while he is gone?' 'Certainly, sir.'
"Then passing to the front, I said to one of the older boys: 'Young man,
why do you act so differently from other boys? Are you afraid of being
punished?'
"The cadet rose to his feet. 'Sir,' said he, 'you see before you
thirty-two cadets. We all expect to govern others in our future work.
The first element of a good governor is self-government; sir, we are
practising that.'"
The Commodore added: "That was twenty-five years ago. In the providence
of God none of these young men have been called to eternity. I will now
read you their names." And the audience recognized in each man a name
famous in the navies of Great Britain, Germany, France, or America.
Now those lads had not merely kept silent. The mastery of self made them
victorious over temper, bad habits, and all depraved tastes. They were
men in soul as well as in body. Truly, "He that ruleth his spirit is
greater than he that taketh a city."
XXVII
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
IN February, 1903, President Roosevelt nominated to the head of the new
Department of Commerce and Labor his secretary, George B. Cortelyou, and
to be Commissioner of Corporations in that department James R. Garfield,
who is a son of President Garfield, and a member of the Civil Service
Commission. Of these appointments the New York _Times_ expressed the
general opinion of the press of the country:
The former appointment is significant chiefly because the new
Secretary is intimately known to the President, and his policy in
the department will probably represent the President's views very
closely. It cannot in any special sense be regarded as a political
appointment. The selection of Mr. Garfield is also conspicuously on
the merits of the appointee, who is not an active politician, is an
able lawyer, has been prominent and useful in the promotion of
municipal reform and of the merit system in Ohio and as a Civil
Service Commissioner. He has plenty of energy, a cool head,
experience in public affairs, and may be expected to do all that can
be done with the powers of his new office, the value of which must
depend much on the character of the Commissioner and the support and
direction of the Secretary and of the President.
After that Mr. Cortelyou made an efficient officer in this Department,
then was transferred to the Treasury, which he ably conducted during the
panic of 1907. At the end of the Roosevelt Administration he was called
to the presidency of the Consolidated Gas Company in New York City.
Mr. Garfield was soon called to deal with the great corporations, and
confronted the greatest problem of the times. He came to his responsible
place a comparatively unknown man. His name carried something of the
halo which surrounds the name of his distinguished father, and for that
reason he started with the best wishes of his countrymen.
Mr. Taft placed at the head of the Department of Commerce and Labor Mr.
Nagel, of St. Louis, whose history the Congressional Directory sums up
as follows:
CHARLES NAGEL, of St. Louis, Mo., Secretary of Commerce and Labor
(the Arlington), was born August 9, 1849, in Colorado County, Tex.
He left his home in 1863 as a result of the civil war, accompanying
his father to old Mexico, and from there, by way of New York, to St.
Louis. He graduated from the St. Louis High School in 1868; from the
St. Louis Law School in 1872; attended the University of Berlin
1872-73; admitted to the bar 1873. In 1876 he married Fannie
Brandeis, of Louisville, who died in 1889, one daughter surviving
her. In 1895 he married Anne Shepley, and they have four children.
He was a member of the Missouri Legislature from 1881 to 1883;
president of the St. Louis City Council from 1893 to 1897; member of
the St. Louis Law School faculty since 1886; Board of Trustees of
Washington University; Board of Directors of St. Louis Museum of
Fine Arts. Made national committeeman from Missouri in 1908. Has
taken an active part in politics for the last twenty years by
participating in conventions and speaking during campaigns, and has
from time to time delivered addresses before bar associations and
similar organizations upon various topics of public interest.
[Illustration:
FISH COMMISSION BUILDING
]
The new department has a wide scope, and under efficient administration
may exert a good deal of influence. It takes over practically the
scientific and statistical work of the government, especially the Coast
Survey, the Bureaus of Statistics from the Treasury and State
Departments, and the Fish Commission, besides the Labor Bureau, the
Immigration Bureau, and the enforcement of the Chinese Exclusion Act,
and it has a new Bureau of Manufactures, with considerable duties. But
undoubtedly the most important work it can perform is in the Bureau of
Corporations. It will do a great work, if it only secures publicity of
accounts. The powers of this bureau extend to "diligent investigation
into the organization, conduct, and management of any corporation, joint
stock company, or corporate combination engaged in commerce among the
several States and with foreign nations, excepting common carriers." For
this work the Commissioner is to have the "right to subpœna and compel
the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of
documentary evidence and to administer oaths." One of the objects of
this power is to enable the Commissioner to "gather such information and
data as will enable the President of the United States to make
recommendations to Congress for the regulation of" interstate and
foreign commerce.
The Survey, Quarantine, Immigration, and Life-Saving bureaus are next in
importance. Along the coast new harbors and coast lines are constantly
being surveyed. When the quarantine officer boards your ship at the
entrance of New York harbor, and scares you thoroughly lest he keep you
in quarantine for the sake of some poor Italian baby in the steerage, he
represents the Secretary of Commerce guarding a great nation from
disease. When the immigrant lands he is interviewed by an agent of this
department and his money changed into United States currency. Some of
these agents recognize in the poor, frightened, lonely, and
travel-stained foreigner a human being who needs a friendly word and
helping hand, but others would scare even an American woman, who knows
her own value, out of her wits; what, then, must be the effect of such
men on the feelings of these strangers? Nearly a half million of
foreigners a year enter our ports, and I have seen many of them treated
like cattle.
The Life-Saving Bureau has charge of the continuous line of life-saving
stations which guard our coasts. No braver men have ever lived than the
devoted servants of the government who patrol our shores. There are 269
life-saving stations on the coasts of the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the
Great Lakes, and one at the Ohio Falls, at Louisville, Ky. The men of
these stations were present last year at 693 disasters and saved 3,377
lives. Our government pensions soldiers and sailors who are hired to
destroy lives; surely greater pensions should be awarded these heroes of
the main for saving life.
XXVIII
THE EXECUTIVE MANSION