BAINBRIDGE COLBY

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 121, 22 May 1920, Page 3

BAINBRIDGE COLBY

NEW SECRETARY OF STATE AN UNEXPECTED CHOICE,;. (ritOII OUR OWN CORMSPOMDIHT.) LOS ANGELES, 25th March. By appointing Mr. Bainbridge Colby Secretary of State, ' President. Wilson caused a "sensation somewhat resembling that Mowing Mr. Lansing's resignation of tho gams post. Only one paper, so far as can be learned, shows gratification over the choice. The New York Evening World's* satisfaction, however, is based on Mr Colby's record as a leading supporter of the liquor trade. Mr. Colby, established himself in the confidence of that party when, as a member of ' the Shipping Board, he made a deter-.' mined fight on the War-Time Prohibition Bill, declaring that the nation could: not 'build ships successfully without ah abundance of good liquor for the workers.! "If the President's enemies are anxious to put him ip another hole," comments the Baltimore Sim, a Democratic' paper,- "they may consifler Mr. Colby's nomination an opportunity for mischievous acquiescence." ' The New York Tribune says it matters little who holds the office, because, after all, as shown by the Lansing correspondence, the duties will be performed by the President. As Mr Wilson explained in the Lansing^correspondence, the chief qualification 'or the post is a '< mind which will willingly go along wih his own.' MR. COLBY'S HISTORY. The new Secretary was one of the loadei's of the Progressive Party under Mr. Roosevelt. He was a lifelong Republican, until the famous Bull Moose "bolfc" from the Chicago Convention in 1912. He had been actively identified ■ with", the candidature of Roosevelt, and was ■ in charge of contests to "seat Roosevelt delegates at the Convention. .. When Roosevelt left the Convention Mr. Colby helved to found the Progressive Party, and was a delegate to its Convention. He continued to be an active leader in tho party, and in 1914 and 191<j he was Progressive candidate for senator from New York State. When Roosevelt threw the weight of his influence with Mr. Justice Charles E. Hughes in the 1916 -election,'-' Mr. Colby identified himself with, theDemocratic Party. Although the President has the riglit to nominate his official family, the Senate took over three weeks to ratify the appointment by carrying out a pretended investigation regarding Mr. Colby. This was. of course, merely to annoy the President. In the meantime, however, public business, including the issuing of passports, was held up. Mr. Frank L. Polk, who had been act-ing-Secretary of State since Mr. Lansing resigned, is expected to carry out. his intention of retiring from the' State Department. He has been ;n ill-health for more than a year.