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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 1915)
THE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. I I iNTIIE I HOJflllT BUSINESS MANAGER OF NAVY e j l .. fn TST 5 i By EDWARD B. CLARK. (Stnff Correspondent Western Nownpniicr Union.) N APRIL, 101S, Just one month after Woodrow Wilson had tnkon tlio oath of ofllco ub president of the United 8tntcB, the Gridiron club of Wash ington gave a dinner at which Mr. Wilson and most of tho mombors of IiIh cabinet woro guests. The Grid Ironers put on a "eklt" which repro sontod tho return of hnrdy "Dill" Bryan to tho coast as keeper of the Demo cratic lighthouse Thero woro const guardsmen in the skit In plenty, and among thorn was "Dill" McAdoo. always ready to do sorvlco In behalf of humanity, and particularly In behalf of tho good (Democratic ship, Dnltlmoro Platform, which was trying to mako harbor laden with a precious curgo bf party legislation. Most of tho coast guard anion woro gathered in tho lighthouse, circling about their returned leader and friend, big Hill Dryan, who had corao back onco moro to his work as kcopor. Tho door of tho llghthouso was thrown open and In breozed a tall, lanky coast guardsman wrapped in a pen IJackot. Whon tho nowly "blown in" ono brought his faco out gradually from tho folds of a hugo Vnunior. tho coast guardsmen cried in welcoming Unison, "Why It's mil McAdoo I" Later ono guardsman said to anothor, "How did fllll McAdoo got thoro; did ho coino In on tho Ifoboat?" Tho answer wus, "No, Dill got thero hrough tho tunnel." So it is that whon men speak of Secretary of ho Treasury McAdoo and his carcor, which has andod him in tho socond cabinet olllco of govern Jmont, thoy aro apt to say that "Dill 'got thoro through tho tunnel." ( Does not ovorybody know what Is meant by Sill "getting thoro" through tho tunnel? If any ( no bo bo unknowing let It bo said at onco that tt was William Qlbbs McAdoo, now tho Bocretary if tho trcanury, who undertook tho gigantic work jot constructing tunnols undor tho Hudson rlvor, (through which railroads woro run to connect tho terminals and cltlou of tho Jersey side with tho buslnoss and shopping districts of Manhattan. jTbls tunnol projoct of Mr. McAdoo wub nt first Hald to bo a dream. It had been suggested and somo attempts had boon niado to put It in form and substance boforo tho present Hocrotary of tho treasury lookod on tho schemo, said It was good and that It could bo put through. Ho put It through and tho work was such a buccobb that faon now Buy that Mr. McAdoo "'got thoro' hrough tho tunnol." He's Often Criticized. It probably la not entirely fair to Undo Sam's aecretary of tho treasury to Bay thut tho tunnol was responsible for his buccush, Mr. McAdoo's hrlondB would rather hnvo it put that Mr. McAdoo was responslblo for tho tunnol's buccobb and that tho samo onorgy and other things which enter Into an ablo man's mako-up woro responsible for his "getting thoro" with tho tunnol and with tho other things which ho has undertaken, and also responsible for his "getting there" when their thoughts, dwell on tho president's cabinet. Perhaps no man in Mr. Wilson's cabinet has lieen tho target for so many shufts of criticism kind so many bouquets of praise as title lnnky gon jtleman with tho Roman hobo who looks after tho ntorcBtu of Undo Sam's strongbox. Mon who do tot bullevo in his financial theories and somo of Ills legislative endeavors say that ho may bo ablo to build a tunnel, but that ha has not In him tho plemuuts of greatness as a financier and that his tory will not uiaku a second Alexander Hamilton nut of him Other men, lots or them, tnko Issuo. The legislation which established u federal rosorvo board nnd virtually a now lluancial system for the United States is of too recent cnactmont to need any particular comment. Tho new plan has boon in operation for some tlrao and judgment is being passed upon it according to tho vlowa of men. Mr. McAdoo has worked about as hard on his various plans for what ho thtnkB to bo tho bet torment of ftnnnclnl and commercial conditions as any man can. Concerning Some "In-laws." William Glbbs McAdoo Is a son-in-law of Wood row Wilson. Porhnps If tho history of tho Unltod Stntos was searched another similar caso could bo found, but, so far as prcsont memory goes, this is tho first tlmo that a chief oxocutlvo has had in his cabinet tho husband of his dnughtor. When tho engagement of tho secretary of tho treasury to tho daughter of tho president was announced, somo pcoplo snld, "It Is all ovor with Mr. McAdoo as secretary of tho tronsury." Other pcoplo asked why, and then tho answer came, porhnps naturally enough, "'In-laws' novor cun got nlong together," Thoro seems to bo no indication that tho "In law" relationship existing between tho secretary of tho treasury and tho president of tho United Statos is going to intorforo nt nil with tho serenity of their rolntlons. Woodrow Wilson, it Is known, bellovcB Implicitly in Mr. McAdoo's Judgment In mutters governmental. Had an Eye on McAdoo. Washington hcarB occasionally thut tho presi dent, when ho was a collage professor, had his attention drawn to Mr. McAdoo at tho tunnol pe riod of tho latter'B llfo. Tho word la that tho president thought that n man who could tako up n schomo which had boon pronounced visionary and mako It of forco and offoct was n mon who could do pretty nourly anything that ho choso to do. So thoro may bo somo fouudntlon, aftor all, in ono way for tho occasional statement with rotor onco to tho secretary's position In tho cabinet that "nil! 'got thoro' through the tunnol." Ono thing which might seem of minor Impor tance Mr. McAdoo has accomplished In tho treas ury department whllo ho has boen engaged with thlngB of Bcomlngly much groater Importance Ho has succeeded in securing for hlmsolf eovoral hours of ench day In which to glvo study to fed oral matters, hours In which ho can bo cortaln that ho will not bo Interrupted by callors, no mat tor how high their cstato, politically or lcgisla tlvoly. Soon after Mr. McAdoo bocamo secretary of tho treasury placnnlB woro put Into all tho olovators or tho building announcing that It would bo impos sible for tho sccrctnry to receive visitors until after ono o'clock each day, because, and this fact was Bet forth In print, tho enrly hours of tho day must be given entirely to tho government's treas ury business. Politicians Are Displeased. Tho effect of this placard on senators and rep resentatives was notable. Thoy looked at It and it is to bo fenred that somo few of them who woro on their way to tho secretary's ofllco sworo under tholr breath, and perhaps had something to say about tho Importlnonco of a new secretary who would keep at hay tho legislative chieftains until his own good time for seeing them. However, most of tho politicians -and most of tho tcglslatorB hnvo accepted Mr. McAdoo's dic tum, and as It Ib Just about ns easy to talk to n man In tho afternoon as It 1b In tho morning, things are going along smoothly and tho secretary now has full opportunity to think on merchant marine, federal re3crvo nnd other mntters or hlgb nntlonal moment bororo tho luncheon hour. Tho Intimate acquaintance between Woodrow Wilson nnd his son-in-law secretary or tho treas ury began when Mr. Wilson entered political llfo In Now Jersey. It haB been said that Mr. Wilson lookod on tho tunnel operations of Mr. McAdoo with a deep, a scholarly and very llkoly a practical Interest, but no close personal relationships wcro established between tho two until Woodrow Wil son became governor of Now Jersey. He Watched Wilson. Now It may bo that William Glbbs McAdoo was Interested In Woodrow Wilson's career aB an edu cator, but If so ho novor hnB dwelt upon tho fnct In public. Tho truth ts probably that Mr. McAdoo. taking mi Interest In Now Jersey politics becauso or his own experience In getting tho legislation noccssary to connect up his tunnols with thnt Btato, mado him look with curiosity and porhaps concern on tho courso which tho educator was to follow bb governor ot tho stnto "across tho North rlvor." At nny rnto, Mr. McAdoo approved ot Mr. Wilson's courso ns govornor or New Jersey and tho two men became close friends. Tho ono Is now In the cabinet of tho other and Is also his son-in-law. Mr. McAdoo 1b something or a writer and ho Is much moro than n fairly forceful public speaker. Ho cannot turn out tho chlsclod and polished phrases thnt come out of his fnthor-ln-lnw'a work shop, but ho dooa a pretty good Job occasionally. Horo Is what ho said once about dealings with nowspapor men: "To bo frank, truthful and honest with tho news papors is obviously tho part of wisdom. Thoro aro only two things a reporter Is afraid of a 'scoop nud n 'con gnmo.' Don't bo responslblo for either. Concerning corporations nnd tholr dealings with tho public Mr. McAdoo onco said: "Public Opin ion Ran- must liocomo a mombor. nnd a respected ono, of evcrv corporation board of dlroctors In this country ' Native of Georgia. Wllilnm Glbbs McAdoo hnB been twlco married ilia flrut wifn illed some years ntso. Thero aro six children living, the fruits of tho first marriage Something ovor a yonr ago Mr. McAdoo married tho youngest daughter ot Woodrow Wilson. A child was born rocontly to this union and thoroby tho prosldont or tho Unltod Statos bocamo for tho second tlmo a grandfather, for an older daughter, Mrs. Sayro, had presented him with a grandchild Bomo llttlo tlrao earlier. Tho Bocretary of tho treasury la a southern man, having been born in Georgia In 1863. His boyhood homo lay in tho track of Gonoral Sherman's army. Ills early years woro spent In povorty, a fact which tho secretary dooa not seem to doploro In tho least for ho said rocontly In a spoech thnt bo bellovcB that "charactor is producod and dovol oped to tho highest dogroo by hardship, BUfTorlnt' aud povorty." Maybe It Is becauso ho got IiIh early business training running a brickyard and serving aa station agent for u railroad that "Sammy" McGowan la such a success as n naval man. He novor b,iv n ship, you might sny, until he entered the paymaster's depart ment at Washington 20 years ago. Now he is rtcnr Admiral Samuel McGowan, paymaster general, U. S. N., and Is entitled to nil tho distinc tions, honors aud privileges appertain ing thereto. Ho wears a brilliant uni form, with epaulets and gold lnco aud a chapeau on dress occasions. For every day ho prefers to be plain Mis tor McGowan. Of courso, being be loved by his subordinates, ho Is pop ularly called behind his back Just "Sammy." Cutting of rod tnpa has been tho penchant of Rear Admiral McGowan since he was appointed to the job of business manager of tho navy, for that's what the job amounts to. Tho paymaster general is tho financial head of the navy, tho buyer for tho whole outfit. Ho pnys off tho men and buya everything except aims and nmmunltlon. my- J v ITALY'S BRAVE KING Thoy call him king, but In truth ho is moro of a confrere, a rcllow citi zen, a president of n republic than a king or a monarchy. It Is safe to say if Victor Emmanuel III by somo turn of fortune were dethroned tomorrow and Italy were asked to elect a presi dent his name would bo "Victor Em manuel. For ho Is heart and soul Italian, the beau ideal, the beau sabrcur, the idol of tho nation. It was thoroughly characteristic of him. when Italy entered tho war, to throw asido his Ecopter, place his undo, tho duko of Genoa, on his throne while the king mounted his horse and rode away with his army. Anybody can sit on a throne; It takes a brave man to ride to war. But Vic tor Emmanuel has never shirked dan ger. In so fur as any man can bo trained to be a king the monarch of tho Italians was so trained. Truly Spar tan In its rigor was the courso ho was put through by the severe old Colonel Orso. For, although ho was born in n palace, tho little prlnco was far rrom princely. He was, indeed, one of tho most wretched apologies for a royal child that was ever born in state. So rickety that they had to carry him upstairs at nn ago when most children ran; so weak and sickly that they despaired of ovor making n man of him, he has como through to man's estate n short, powerful, virile individual, typically Italian, despite blue eyes and fair comploxion, with bold mtiBtachlos and tho military hearing that his subjectu so admire, an Italian of Italians. HE'S A TYPICAL AMERICAN j Robert P. Skinner, consul general at London, who camo homo to report to tho administration concerning the controversy with England over Ameri can shipping, is a typical American, whoso career Illustrates how one may not only moot opportunity when It comes his way, but create opportunity Eighteen or twenty years ago ho was identified with what would be called a country newspaper In his homo town at Massillon, O. Tho country newspapers In Ohio as a rulo aro metropolitan in their spirit and aro good training for other places. Massillon is near Canton. William McKinloy lived at Canton. During the presidential campaign or 189G Robert P. Skinner looked aftor tho news ror several papers In New York and else where. Aftor the election ho was ono of tho band of newspaper men who, as tho phrase then wont, helped Major McKinley form his cabinet Tho McKinloy administration had not been long in power when Mr. Skinner was appointed consul nt tho great Mediterranean seaport of Mar Bellies. Ho filled this Important post well and lator President Roosovolt sent him as head of a spectacular trade mission to Abyssinia. Promotions soon camo and Mr. Skinner was successively consul general at Hamburg and Ber Un, from both of which places ho sent invaluable trado reports. Tho sudden death of John L. Grlflln, consul general at London, offered anothor oppor tunity and Mr. Skinner was transferred to tho British metropolis Just beforo tho wnr broke out. UNCLE SAM'S RADIO CHIEF Tho Btory of tho development of wlroless communication In tho United States covers a span of only 10 years. When that story comes to be written tho historian will find that tho major portion of bis material and notes ac cumulated for the task relates to tho activities of tho navy, and that, in this portion of them, tho figure of Capt. William H. G. Dullard, U. S. N 1b prominent. For just as tho navy pioneered in wireless, so, witViin tho navy. Captain Dullard was a leader of tho ploneors, It rcnlly wa 1? years ago that Captain Bullard, then a young naval lieutenant, fresh from Spanish-American war servlco, was attracted by tho now subject. During his student days at Annapolis electricity and electrical engineering had attracted him. These studios he carried on further follow ing graduation. Ho became known as ono of tho "electrical sharps" of tho navy. He is now and has boon ovor slnco tho position wns established threo years ago superintendent of tho navy radio service. In that capacity he Is charged with tho direction ot tho most cxtcnslvo wlroless service in tho world today. Moro than fifty shore stations, approximately 250 ship stations and about 750 navy radio operators aro undor his direction. Only rorty-nlno years old, Captain Bullard 1b stocky, gray, cloan-shavan. grave of faco a figure that manifestly belongs aa well on tho quarterdeck as in an oxocutlvo nfflco, for Captain Bullard la a Bailor man first ;