Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-08
BAKER MAY TAKE
OFFICE TOMORROW
New Secretary of War Is Ex-
peCted to Reach Here
This Evening.
NOTHING NOW REMAINS
BUT TO TAKE THE OATH
Former Secretary Garrison May Not
Be Present. as the Time Is
Somewhat Uncertain.

Newton D. Baker, former mayor
OF Cleveland, Ohio. will become
Secretary of War as soon as he
! subscribes to the usual oath OF
office prescribed by the Constitu-
ton. Having been duly nomi-
mated and confirmed by the Sen
ate, he can qualify as the official
head of the military establish
ment at his convenience. He is
due to arrive here this evening.
and probably will make his first
call at the White House to ascer-
tain the Presidents wishes.
Everything is in readiness for the
new Secretary at the War Department,
with full expectation of his formal in
duction into Office tomorrow morning.
A few days after Mr.. Garrison resigned
the War portfolio and had returned to
his home in New Jersey he indicated
his intention of coming back to wash
ington for the purpose of assisting in
the induction of his successor by intro
ducing him to the heads of the yari-
Gus military bureaus of the War De-
partment and giving any information
regarding unfinished business of i'm
portance that might be desired. He
asked to be informed when his success
sor was to be installed in Office, SO
that he might arrange his affairs ac-
cordingly. Owing to doubt at the War
Department as to the actual date when
Mr.. Baker will take hold it has been
impossible so far to inform Mr.. Car
rison on that point.
In case it is arranged that Mr.. Baker
shall be installed tomorrow morning
Maj. Gen. Hugh l.. Scott. chief of staff,
Secretary of War ad interim. probably
will conduct the ceremonies at the War
Department. as the representative of
former Secretary Garrison, in case the
latter is not able to be present. In
accordance with custom, Gen. Scott
has asked Judge Garrison to sit for his
portrait, to be added to the collection
of his predecessors in Office. The Sc
lection of the artist is left to the dis
cretion of Mr.. Garrison.
Nomination Confirmed.
The nomination of Newton Diehl
Baker to be Secretary Of War was con-
irmed by the Senate late yesterday
afternoon. The nomination was sent
TO the Senate few hours earlier by
he President.
Opponents of the administration at
tempted yesterday to make trouble for
Mr.. Baker by quoting from a telegram
which Senator Pomerene of Ohio re-
ceived from him when there was loud
talk of a rebellion in the House against
the Presidents policy regarding armed
merchantmen. They quoted from the
telegram follows:
Cannot something be done to save
the party, which at present is a dismal
failure"
The full text of the message, how
ever, puts a very different light upon
the matter. 1t reads:
Opinion here is wholly with the
President. He will doubtless save the
honor of the country. but cannot some
thing be done to save the party, which
seems to be dismal failure"
When Telegram Was Sent. Z
Mr. Bakers friends Immediately called
attention to the fact that the telegram
was sent at time when many of the
democrats in the Senate and House were
making "a dismal failure of the party"
by opposing the Presidents submarine
policy.
The anti-preparedness committee yes
terday issued strong Endorsement of the
appointment OF Secretary Baker This
committee. which includes in its member
ship Miss Jane Addams. Stephen s. Wise,
Lillian d. Valid and John Haynes Holmes,
has headquarters in Washington to work
against the enactment into law of bills
proposed by the administration and con
gressional leaders for national prepared
ness.
Statement Of Committee.
The statement issued by the committee
was as follows
'If the President had appointed an Ohio