Gentlemen Asleep

A train bound southward roared through the gathering dark over the state of Virginia. Aboard the train, Charles E. Hughes made his toilet preparatory to going to bed.

Then he slipped into his waiting berth and turned over into sleep. At 9.10 P. M., the train snorted to a stop at Lynchburg, Va. Reporters climbed upon the platforms demanding to see Mr. Hughes. Mr. Hughes had given orders not to be disturbed; the diligent darky porter refused to violate these orders. The reporters turned to the conductor, who yielded to the importunities. He wakened Mr. Hughes.

"Reporters are on the train and want to interview you," he said. Mr. Hughes, opening his eyes, did not look upon the request with favor. "Tell them," he replied, "that I am very tired and have gone to bed." "All right," said the conductor.

It was midnight in Paris. Through the dark streets rushed reporters in a taxicab. The cab stopped before the U. S. Embassy. The reporters rang the doorbell and pounded on the U. S. Embassy door. A sleepy concierge came to find out what was the matter. "We want to see Ambassador Kellogg; he is visiting with Ambassador Herrick," demanded the reporters. "C'est impossible," declared the concierge. "Les Excellences se sont dej`a couches."

"Go to !" retorted the reporters. "They have just got back from the dinner at the British Embassy."

"Mais non, mais non! Je vous dit qu'ils dorment." A hundred-franc note passed. "Nom de chien! Je vous--eh bien! Je vais voir." Minutes passed.

At last Ambassador Herrick appeared. The reporters explained their mission and the news they brought.

"Impossible!" ejaculated Mr. Herrick.

"There must be some mistake." The reporters explained again. "I'll send word to Mr. Kellogg," said Mr. Herrick. A servant was sent off. More time passed. The servant came back. Mrs. Kellogg refused to waken her husband. He was extremely tired from his day at the Conference.*

"Well, anyhow," smiled Mr. Herrick, "he would have said nothing until he had been officially advised. Good night."

The concierge closed the door on the unfortunate reporters. So thankless was the task of the omnipresent press when it bore the news to Mr. Hughes that his resignation as Secretary of State had been accepted; to Mr. Kellogg that he had been named to succeed to that post!

But the press was taken at a disadvantage by the suddenness of the event. Without warning, one afternoon, a statement and two letters had been given out at the White House. The statement had said simply that Secretary Hughes had tendered his resignation to take effect Mar. 4, and that Mr. Kellogg would take his place. One letter from Secretary Hughes to the President stated that, having served 20 years in public life, he wished to retire, in accordance with his long-cherished intention; and that since "foreign affairs are perennial," no more appropriate time could be found. The President's letter in reply expressed regret, and appreciation of Mr. Hughes' ''exalted . . . disinterested . . . service."

No premonitory earth tremors preceded the shock; politicians, the press, the public were equally surprised. It was known that Mr. Hughes desired to retire to repair his private fortunes, which had suffered from long public service. A lucrative law practice in Manhattan has awaited him, even sought him out. He will be 63 when he leaves office, still young enough to enjoy a profitable career.

Even more surprising than Mr. Hughes' retirement was the naming of Frank B. Kellogg, as his successor. Like Mr. Hughes, who rose to prominence as an investigator of gas and insurance companies in Manhattan, Mr. Kellogg attained his reputation by prosecution for the Government of the Western Paper Trust (of which he secured the dissolution), by a far-reaching investigation of the Union Pacific Railroad under E. H. Harriman and by prosecution of the Standard Oil Company for President Roosevelt (dissolution also secured). While Mr. Hughes was becoming New York's Governor, Supreme Court member, presidential candidate, Mr. Kellogg continued his legal practice, became President of the American Bar Association. In 1916, Minnesota elected him to the Senate. He was not adept in politics and fell before the onslaught of Farmer-Laborite Henrik Shipstead when he stood for re-election in 1922.

It was as a member of the Senate that Mr. Kellogg became known to Vice President Coolidge. It was as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Mr. Kellogg was acquainted with Secretary Hughes. In December, 1923, after Ambassador Harvey retired, Mr. Kellogg became Ambassador to Great Britain. His was, of course, a "lame duck" appointment, and not looked upon with favor in some political quarters. To the same quarters his second elevation is equally unpleasing; political opponents doubted his capacity, referred to him as "too nervous, too worried a little man," and remarked that his Senatorial colleagues used to refer to him humorously as "Nervous Nellie."

The high points of Mr. Hughes' tenure as Secretary of State include:

Conclusion of a separate peace with Germany.

Repeated refusals to recognize the Russian Soviet Government until it reforms itself.

Drawing of the agenda and presiding over the Limitation of Armaments Conference.

Resumption of diplomatic relations with Mexico and Greece.

Conclusion of anti-rum smuggling treaties with Great Britain and other countries.

* Allied Financial Conference (see Page 7).