The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-03-09
n, D. BAKER NAMED
AS WAR SECRETARY
President Appoints Cleveland
Man to Succeed Garrison.
FAV0RS WILSON'S POLICY
Was College Pupil of Executive and
Supporter of Tom Johnson-An-
nounces That He Will &c
cept Cabinet Post

Washington March Newton u
Baker, former mayor OF Cleveland
has been selected by President Wilson
as secretary of war to succeed Lindley
NJ. Garrison. Mr.. Baker was the tlrst
choice of the president month ago
but in his endeavor to verify his orig
inal decision that Mr.. Baker was the
best available man for the place, the
president has canvassed a number OF
other persons, including Thomas ID.
Jones of Chicago.
Baker Accepts the Position.
Mr. Baker was a follower Of Mayor
Tom Johnson of Cleveland when the
latter was in the height of his power.
He was subsequently elected mayor
himself. He recently declined to run
again Mr.. Baker was Wilson sup
porter in the Democratic convention
at Baltimore and is understood to
have declined appointment as secre-
tary of the interior three years ago.
Mr.. Baker has accepted the position
and is arranging his affairs III Cleve-
land preparatory to coming to Wash
ington to take up his duties,
The president and Mr.. Baker have
been close friends for some time and
have correspondent frequently. Mr..
Baker is said by his friends to be in
close sympathy with the president
policies and is known to have had the
support of several members of the
cabinet for the war office
Events in Life of Baker.
Mr.. Baker is forty-four years old.
He was born at Martinsburg, W. Va,
and at the age Of twenty-five was APP
pointed private secretary to Postmas-
ter General Wilson in President Cleve-
lands cabinet In 1897 he began the
practice of law at Martinsburg, but
not long thereafter moved to Cleve-
land, where he became city solicitor
in 1902. He held this office for ten
years until his election as mayor
after the death of Tom l.. Johnson.
In 1914 he was reelected mayor for
two-year term. MIR. Baker in July.
1902. married Miss Elizabeth Leopold
or POttstoWn, ia.
Mr.. Baker has received degrees
from Johns Hopkins and Washington
and Lee universities. For years Mr..
Baker has been closely identified with
the reform movement in Cleveland
and has taken an active part in the
street railway controversy there as
Mayor Johnson's chief lieutenant in
the fight for lower fares.
At the time of the Baltimore conven-
| ton when President Wilson was nom
| mated Mr.. Baker was prominently
mentioned for the ce-presidency be-
cause of the fight he made in support
of MIR. Wilson.
Mr. Baker has been known for years
as a leader of the Ohio bar and is
highly regarded by the president as
a lawyer.
Baker Expresses Gratitude.
| Cleveland, O., March 7.-'l have
plimented by the presidents conf
dence. ! am deeply grateful and ap-
preciate what he has done
These were the words of Newton
Diehl Baker, former mayor, when
asked for a statement regarding his
appointment by President Wilson as
secretary of war. Mr.. Baker confirmed.
| his acceptance and then continued
arguing a law suit in the common
pleas court, in which he was engaged
when word came to him that his ap.
pointment had been announced.
Mr. Baker was a student under Pres
ident Wilson when the latter was an
instructor at johns Hopkins univer-
sitv. Baker came here from West Vir-
| L.,