of the democratic system." He goes on to tell how the economic dependence of the working classes prevents the free expression of their will, and how attempts to perfect the electoral laws will be useless as long as there are no clearly defined standards of public morality.

The concepts of economic democracy, social interdependence, and good interAmerican relations set forth by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1933 had for a long time formed part of Dr. Rowe's store of political ideas.

The sentiment of social justice, of kinship with one's fellow men, and of confidence in the possibilities of the masses give character and stature to the life and work of a politician or a statesman.

Implicit in those qualities is the idea of serving rather than commanding. Dr. Leo S. Rowe zealously guarded his authority to insure that it should serve as a basis for the better performance of his disinterested tasks. Never have I known a

man who espoused a cause for the common good with the complete consecration which marked Dr. Rowe in his direction of the work of the Pan American Union.

His moral integrity enabled him to see through the gravest problems with understanding. The Latin maxim suaviter in modo, fortiter in re (gently in manner, strongly in deed) appeared to be his Golden Rule. He was a man of gentle manners and social grace, reasonable and ready to compromise in matters that were debatable, strong and inflexible when a fundamental principle was involved.

There was never room in his mind for discord or envy. He prided himself on recognizing another's merit and on appreciating the worthwhile actions of others and the ability of his subordinates. Perhaps it is wrong to speak of subordinates in this case, since to him the humble as well as the high on the Pan American Union staff were first of all his friends; he treated all of them in a friendly, almost

THE news, many of us told ourselves when it appeared in the press, must surely be a fantastic mistake; later, when it was confirmed, it still seemed like a bad dream. Our friend, whose years of labor had won for him so many high honors, had been struck down while attending to one of his multiple daily activities, and the world was thus deprived of one of its most tireless benefactors.

The world, I say, but our continent most of all; for Dr. Rowe spent his life working for the good of this great and mysterious expanse of land which, being a hemisphere, holds within itself half the world's fate.

THE FORMATIVE YEARS

The first theater of his struggle was, naturally, the United States. He was educated in Philadelphia, cradle of his country, where ancient England, molder of men, had left its mark. Afterwards he went to Europe and received his doctorate of philosophy in Germany. The title was no empty one, for Dr. Rowe had a vital philosophy of life that he applied to peace and, hence, to human welfare.

He returned to the University of Pennsylvania to teach political science. Later, his career as a conciliator of nations cast its shadow before, when he became professor of international law at the same university.

In the United States more than elsewhere, certain cities really stamp their characteristics on their residents; they chisel, mold, form-decisively and definitely. Such is the case with the city of Philadelphia and it is true also of Boston. New York turns out another kind of pro

duct, more or less mechanically inclined, and Chicago, which may be likened to a sort of Juggernaut, creates still another type.

Some years later Dr. Rowe joined the organization where, because of his technical knowledge of South America, his definite task lay.

THE GOOD COMPREHENDER

Our countries, which saw Dr. Rowe at work in both South America and Washington, felt the probity that was as natural to him as the rhythm of breathing, and they rejoiced in the easy flow of his daily intercourse. He possessed the gift of listening and the patience to await reaction in the vehement and the stubborn. His political meteorology embraced all temperamental climates and he was never confounded by tempests. He dealt with the entire repertory of South Americans: statesmen, leaders, professors, even writers and artists. And those engaged in each of these diverse fields owe to him some direct or indirect help.

Dr. Rowe's galaxy of degrees and decorations which he never wore on his person, because there was not room enough for them spread like the Milky Way over the whole Continent. Each of our countries to which he had rendered special services overflowing the measure of official duty admired and honored him to the greatest possible extent. The Director General of the Pan American Union and head of the Union's beautiful building always managed without display to make the visitor there feel at home. Never was there confusion for the stranger; never did the iciness of official atmosphere prevail.

Dr. Rowe had the skill to decipher human hieroglyphs by means of a simple friendly chat. But, since mere polite decorum is a poor thing, he slipped easily from conversation to service and from service to friendship. He had only to listen, in order to acquire an immediate grasp of the visitor's deepest interests, and the next step was to place at the latter's disposal the facilities of the appropriate office of the Pan American Union.

Our friend enjoyed giving both his time and his experience in easy but fruitful conversation, with no empty official talk. If people's tasks were visibly perched on their shoulders, even the most persistent person would have abstained from asking him for more favors, since he carried a burden of cares, both great and small. But we are not always temperate about asking, and we smothered him with requests.

Dr. Rowe's ready and thorough under

standing of our people stemmed from the culture, more universal then than nowadays, instilled by old-time colleges throughout America. (Bitter nationalisms came later, in both North and South America.) In the generous soil created by his belief in the world's unity flourished the seed of the ten years he spent in South America. The experience of living in countries different from his own was invaluable training for continental leadership; without knowing it, he thus prepared himself among us, in South America, for his great task.

Dr. Rowe became acquainted with both the virtues and the vices of our national lives; the creole temperament, at once cordial and suspicious, open and full of reserve, was as familiar to him as the furnishings of his own office . . . He knew us. Ten years with us taught him much about the foreign, the different, the puzzling. From our physical appearance