Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-03
Editor of W. J. Bryan's Com
moner Picked by Wilson to
Form First Civil Government.
WILL SAIL FOR PANAMA
AS SOON AS CONFIRMED
Nebraskan Started Newspaper Ca.
reer as Printers "Devil"-Has
Wife and Five Children.

Richard Lee Metcalfe. editor of W. j.
Rryan's Commoner. at Lincoln. Neb.. is
to organize the first civil government in
the Panama Canal Zone as governor.
having been picked today by President
Wilson i'm conference at which Secre
taries Bryan, Daniels and Garrison were
present
BRYAN got his man" said Secretary
Garrison. as he left the White House
with Secretary Daniels, Secretary Bryan
did not wish to make any announcement
except to admit that he is exceedingly
fond Of Mr.. Metcalfe and regards the
commoner editor as splendidly fitted to
establish civil government in a portion of
the domain of Uncle Sam that will play
a great part in the affairs Of the world.
The name Of Mr.. Metcalf will probably
be sent to the Senate Thursday, and as
soon the Nebra skan is confirmed he will
sail for Panama to take up the threads
Of a mighty big undertaking. he VIII
have begun the work by the time Presi-
dent Wilson goes there in August, IL he
can get away from here then.
Canal Nearing Completion.
The President recognizes that the canal
is nearing completion and that civil gov
ernment should be gotten under way
there as early as possible. that 1t may be
ready to handle the problems that arise
when the canal is thrown open TO the
world.
Secretary Bryan's recommendation OF
Mr.. Metcalf was most eulogistic. The
Panama canal and zone will focus the
attention of the world when the yes
sells of the nations begin going
through. and Mr.. Bryan pointed out
the necessity of having a man on the
spot with constructive ability and Win
wide knowledge Of questions or gov
ernment. Mr.. Bryan told the President
that he did not know man in private
life with greater knowledge of gov
ernmental matters than Mr. Metcalf,
and added that he possessed rare cOur-
age combined with kindness and ten
derness.
President Taft planned, before going
out of office. TO name Col Goethais tne
chief engineer Of the canal. as the first
governor, but the democratic forces in
the Senate, through no hostility to Col
Goethals allowed Mr.. Taft to know that
the Panama problem must be worked out
by the democratic party after 1t came
into power.
To Abolish Commission Soon.
Under the law approved by President
Taft over a year ago, President Wilson
Panama canal commission by executive
order whenever he considers 1t ad-
yisabIe to do So 1t is believed to be
the intention of the President upon the
confirmation by the Senate of Mr.. Met
calfes nomination to issue an executive
order abolishing the present cOmmls-
sion Maurice II. Thatcher of Ken
lucky is now the head OF the commis-
sion and is head of the department of
civil administration. He Will give way
to Mr.. Metcalfe.
Mr. Metcalfe began his newspaper ca
reer as devil in country newspaper
and later purchased a paper in Poplar
Bluffs. Mo In the late nineties he moved
to Omaha, where he became political re-
porter on the World Herald, and 1T was
while working in this capacity that he
and Mr. Bryan first became acquainted.
Mr. BRYAN. himself a young man, was
rendered the democratic nomination for
Congress from the first Nebraska district
and Mr. Metcalfe assisted in the cam
paign with his pen
With Commoner at Start.
When. in 1894. Mr.. Bryan became edi-
tor of the World Herald, Mr.. Metcalfe
became his associate editor and moved
into the chair Of editor-in-chief when Mr..
Bryan was nominated for the presidency
i'm 1896 Four years later Mr.. Metcalfe
was the personal representative of Mr..
BRYAN al the Kansas City convention,
and was member of the resolutions COM
mittee In 19OS he was a member OF the
national text book committee. When Mr.
BRYAN started his Commoner he named
Mr.. Metcaife his associate editor
Last year Mr.. Metcalfe was candi-
date for the democratic nomination of
Governor Of Nebraska. He advocated
the nomina ton of Mr.. Wilson and took
the stump in his favor. Lined up
against him were the forces of the
Harmon and Clark supporters. and he
was defeated by small majority.
With the exception of seven papers,
every paper in the state was support
ing Mr.. Metcalfe for governor.
Mr.. Metcalfe was born in Illinois.
His mother belonged to the family
IF Edwards of that state, while his
father came from Kentucky and was
direct descendant Of Gov. stone
hammer Metcalfe, who was allied with
Mr.. Metcalfe has wife and FIVE
children. An only daughter is Mrs
Silas Barton. wife of Representative
Rarton of the fifth Nebraska district