New-York tribune., 1908-12-27
New Secretary Would Like
1t Made an Auxiliary
to Our Navy.
BY James d. Morrow.

Washington, Dec ze-It is no violence on Ian
guage TO say that Truman Handy Newberry, the
storage battery and dynamo combined; that he
generates electricity all day and keeps his fires
burning at night.
Here, I thought, when I sat down 10 interview
lin, IS a square and solid block OF man who
could walk the Presidents legs OFF. Did you ever
pedestrianize with Mr.. Roosevelt7' I inquired
Once; only once" Mr.. Newberry answered.
IT was given the third degree good and hard. At
my request was Immediately transferred &c
the tennis court"
nlarks7' I asked. no victim as yet has per-
scnaiIy revealed tho secrets Of the torture"
7 shall concentrate my experience into single
phrase by saying that 1 walker. Manifestly
II would be inprope- for me 70 go step further.
You see was the Presidents guest"
a closer examination Of his ornament and lines
then showed that MI Newberry is a battleship
and not cruiser. Hs is big man all overhead,
Jaws, shoulders, chest, stomach and hips. In
stature. however, he is no more than a fair
average His gray eyes large, steady and wide
apart. In speech he is terse rapid and nervous.
He brown clothing. white neglige shirt,
with black lines IN it: a pea green necktie and a
blue scarfpin. In atmosphere he "as unnlistak-
ably fashionable. tremendously vigorous and
br4skly alert,
Law, business and the Church are mingled In his
birthright John stoughton Newberry. his father.
made a fortune in Detroit and, dying, left $500 900
TO religion and various benevolences. Truman P.
Handy. his maternal grandfather, for whom ne IS
named, was a banker in Cleveland and Presby-
terrain elder. Money has been in the family for
three geneEations-the money OF iron mines. ships,
factories, forests and merchandising.
The Newberrys and the Handys have always per
sonalIy managed their own business. The drudgery
incident TO responsible wealth has not been left
hired agents When a Newberry is the board of
a nanufactory he studies the books and gives form
10 plans and policies. II q Handy Is in bank he
knows all about the loans and the outside perform
ances of the offlceTa
Newberry, OF the navy. dropped many important,
messing and profitable enterprises be Assist
ant Secretary. He could have loafed in Washing
ton and done official and smart society. Swivel
chair warriors" as Fighting Bob Evans calls
them would have looked after the shipyards and
contracts. Moreover. tho OF rest" again
quoting from the literature Of Admiral Evans are
experts In matters OF navigation and strategy.
However Newberry got right down to his desk
and called for work. He had owned ships and he
had sailed them. thousands Of men had been in
his employ. lie had bGit factories and bought ma
chir ". Likewise he had been a volunteer lieu
tenant In the navy during the with Spain and.
along with the captain and the cook had been
nonaded for q matter Of five hours without being
hit.
The pictures OF a young miionaire-NewberT
vas thirty-four years old in Is9S-standing watch
in the sun and rain by night and by day. and
taking hts medicine manfully in the dreary block
sdes off Havana. Guantanamo and San Juan. when
he might have remained at home, pleased the
President immensely The call to Washington.
therefore, mainly sentimental Promotion 20
th. Cal abinet recently made, of Mr. Roose-
velt's practical strokes OF government If New
berry tramp steamer or regular freighter.
instead OF batteshp, It could be said that hs has
been YTomptlg delivering the goods