The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-05-05

He's lawyer. That's all know about him. Go
ahead, boy. and tell them what you know" Baker
told them, and so began the activities which led
to four terms as solicitor and legal leader of the
antitraction combine forces and two terms
mayor.
asked Mr. Baker how the mayor of Clevelands
job compared with that of the secretary OF
Il love personal relationships. One of the
pleasantest things about being mayor of city the
size of Cleveland is the great number of people
with whom it puts into touch. At the
department | find large part OF my duties Is
taken up with seeing people am very glad that
is so. | like to see people constantly OF course
he explained, Il don't mean that hocks of casual
visitors drop in to me here. But the business
of the department brings many people to me
daily"
had meant to ask him how the two positions
compared in size and difficulty He
committal on that point, and suggested that at
least he did not seem appalled, by the size of his
new task, even though the Mexican situation had
given him baptism of fire for greeting. He
said:
Il am not appalled,. No hope to escape
mistakes. Mistakes are inevitable know shalt
make But the only things need be
really afraid of nsincerties and indirectness.
Also il is well to remember that unfamiliar tasks
have a way of looking mountainous. Familiarity
reduces their proportions. At present am work
ing here from half past eight in the morning till
midnight TO become familiar with mine. That
to put in those long hours"
What is your idea of the functions Of the secre-
tary of war?"
The duties" he said are largely legal Almost
all the secretaries have been lawyers (He cited
the names of many, from Stanton down TO his
predecessor Garrison) Strictly military affairs
are not my province Experts must for those
things. Legal notwithstanding the conflict
ing rights of state and federal governments the
navgability of streams, the proceedings of courts
martial-such things comprise the problems have
to settle am executive. Congress has made
laws governing my department 1t is my duty
see that they are carried out conscientousy"
About preparedness" he felt obliged to decline
to say word and reminded him of an interview
in which he recently quoted saying that he
for peace at almost any price"
so ! am" he answered stoutly, because peace
seems TO me the reasonable thing | do not say
that war is always avoidabe. 1t seems to come
sometimes earthquakes come-a natural cata-
clysm. The French revolution, think, such a
But is always regrettable. Peace Is
what spells progress. We have to advance step
by step. | do not think can hope 10 force ad-
vancement by violence And believe that some
times we shall have court of nations. and no
more wars. Was il Lowell said The telegraph
gave the world a nervous system? AS our world
gets better co-ordnated by ntercommunication.
we shall have fewer OF the misunderstanding
which cause wars"
Constantly, as we talked alike in his domicile
"aid in his Office the secretary's unpretentious
pipe was in his mouth. Constantly his knees
crooked and his feet cured up to comfortable posi-
tions on radiator top and desk top. Though there
was always dignity about him, we might have been
two undergraduates chatting together. His atti-
tude not suggestive OF lounging OF OF affected
careessness. II was. thought the bodily ease
which is apt to reflect outwardly the mental states
OF sefunconsciousness and serene sef-conhdence
AS city solicitor OF Cleveland in the traction mat
al. ..tsf
Ohio to a standstl AS mayor he forced the peo-
pie to retain him until he had done what he set
out to do.
To be secretary OF war just now. to be lifted at
one step from local into national prominence at a
critical moment like the present, Is a far more
searching test Of his capacities than any be has
yet undergone.