COALITION IN U.S.A.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 146, 21 June 1940, Page 8

COALITION IN U.S.A.

PRESIDENT ACTS

REPUBLICANS NAMED

KNOX AND STIMSON

NAVY AND WAR OFFICES

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received June 21, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON, June 20. President Roosevelt has taken action to form a coalition Cabinet and is submitting to the Senate the nominations of the Republicans Colonel Frank Knox as Secretary of the Navy and Mr. Henry L. Stimson as Secretary of War. Simultaneously White House announced that Mr. H. H. Woodring had resigned from the War Department, his resignation to be effective when the Senate confirms the nomination of his successor. . Mr. Roosevelt added that Mr. Woodring's letter of resignation was so personal that he would not publish it. Mr. Edison's resignation becomes effective on June 24. President Roosevelt's letter, in which he accepted Mr. Woodring's resignation, stated: "It is, of course, a defensive programme, and is not aimed at intervention in world affairs which do not concern the American Hemisphere" LONDON, June 20. Reports from Washington say that President Roosevelt has caused one of the biggest surprises in his career by nominating two members of the Republican Opposition to join his. Democratic Government. In a recent speech Mr. Stimson urged the United States to abandon isolation and help to co-operate more with Britain in resisting the Axis Powers. Colonel Knox was a Republican candidate for Vice-President at the last election. He opposed President Roosevelt's domestic policy, and latterly has been strongly urging active aid for the Allies. Colonel Frank Knox, the "Rough Rider" from Chicago, is the publisher of the "Chicago Daily News,"- which has employed such men as John Gunther, Negley Farson, and the two Mowrers. He was born in Boston on January 1, 1874, and has sold stationers' supplies, served in two wars, published three newspapers (not counting Hearst's Boston property), run unsuccessfully for Vice-President, and played practical politics for many years. He is wealthy and energetic. He went to public school in Grand Rapids and to Alma College, a Presbyterian school in Central Michigan. He enlisted in the Michigan militia at the outbreak of the SpanishAmerican War, was transferred to Roosevelt's Rough Riders, and took part in the Battle of San Juan Hill. After the war he went to work as a cub reporter for the "Grand Rapids Herald," saved his money, bought, a decrepit newspaper in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and built it up. He also became active in local and State politics. Next he moved to Manchester, New Hampshire, and bought another paper.- He went to the World War, sought the Republican nomination for Governor of New Hampshire, served in the Hearst organisation, became publisher of the "Chicago Daily News," and was one of the first publishers to come out against the New Deal. Everything he has had in life he has gained for himself, usually against determined opposition. MR. STIMSON. Mr. Henry L. Stimson was President Hoover's Secretary of State and the most prominent figure in the United States /at the time of the Manchurian invasion. He has a long record in politics and made a most successful law practice for himself. This is the fourth President under whom he has served. When a young [lawyer he was suggested by Senator [ Elihu Root for the post of United States Attorney in New York, and was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1911, under President Taft, he was Secretary of War. In 1929 he became Secretary of State under President Hoover. In 1917, Mr. Stimson offered his ser» vices to the army which he had formerly directed, and was appointed a major. It was not long before he was promoted colonel, and during the intervening period he saw a lot of active service in the Field Artillery. '■ In 1927 he was sent to Nicaragua toi attempt the almost impossible task o':jf composing the differences between th«j Nicaraguan political parties and paviing the way for a fair election. BorcK in New York City in 1867, of affluent parents, he went to Exeter Acaden? fa, and was graduated from Yale in 18' JB. He later studied law at Harvard, a tad after being admitted to the Bar wt^nt into the office of Mr. Elihu Root, 'jfiis father's friend. That distinguished lawyer early recognised the ster?ong intellectual qualities of this self-con-tained, quiet New Englander, and ' in time took him into partnership. > In later years Mr. Stimson established the famous law firm of Stimson ;and Winthrop, and his practice brought him into contact with the big business interests of his country. He consistently remained a liberal Rer publican. His enemies and opponents characterise him as an "icicle." ,