The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-03-09
N.D.RAKER NAMED
WAR SECRETARY
PRESIDENT NAMES CLEVELAND
MAN TO SUCCEED GARRISON.
FAVORS Mr.. WILSON'S POLICY
Was College Pupil of Executive and
Supporter Of Tom Johnson-An-
nounces That He viii Ae-
cept Cabinet Post.


Washington, March 7.--Newton D.
Baker, former mayor of Cleveland,
has been selected by President Wilson
as secretary of war to succeed Lindley
M. Garrison. Mr.. Baker was the first
choice of the president month ago,
but in his endeavor to verify his orig
NAL decision that Mr.. Baker was the
best available man for the place, the
president has canvassed number of
other persons, including Thomas d.
Jones of Chicago.
Baker Accepts the Position.
Mr.. Baker was follower of Mayor
Tom johnson of Cleveland when the
latter was in the height of his power.
lie 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 in Cleve-
land preparatory to coming to Wash
ington to take up his duties. E:
The president and Mr.. Baker have
been close friends for some time and
have corresponded frequently. Mr..
Baker is said by his friends to- be in
close sympathy with the presidents
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 ap-
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 untq his election as mayor
after the death Of Tom l.. johnson. |
In 1914 he was reelected mayor for
a. two.year term. MIR. Baker in July, |
1902, married Miss Elizabeth Leopold
of Pottstown, Pa.
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 vice-presidenCy be-
cause of the fight he made in support
of Mr.. Wilson.
Mr.. Baker has been known for years
as leader of the Ohio bar and is
highly regarded by the president as
/ lawyer. +
5ak Expresses Gratitude.
Clevelan q O., March Tt have
nothing to say except that l feel COM
by the presidents conf
tence. am deeply grateful and ap-
'reciate what he has done"
These were the words of Newton
)iehl Baker, former mayor, when
Isked for a statement regarding his
by President Wilson as
ecretary OF war Mr.. Baker confirmed I
lis acceptance and then continued
rguing law suit in the common
'leas court in which he was engaged &
When word came to him that his an.
ointment had been announced.
Mr.. Baker was a student under Pres
dent Wilson when the latter was an
Instructor at Johns Hopkins uniyer-
ity. Baker came here from West Vir-
inia in 1902.