The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-07
N. D. BAKER, PACIFIST,
TO BE WAR SECRETARY
Clcvcland's Ex-Mayor and Tom
l.. Johnson's Disciple
Accepts Post.
FRIEND OF PRESIDENT
While Worker for Peace lie is
Believed TO Favor Wilson's
Defence Plans.

WAsHINGToN. March s.--Newton n
Haker. OK Mayor Of Cleveland, has been
selected by President Wilson for Secre.
tarf OF War The nomination will be
SEM to the Senate Tomorrow. Mr.
Baker will MI the vacancy created by
the resignation OF Lindlcy NJ. Garrison
OF New Jersey.
Mr. Baker is a member e n number
or peace societies. However, II Is taken
for granted that he is in harmon, with
President Wilson's policy OF prepared
ness
Ii Is the understanding tina, the Pres
ident decided to offer the War port folio
to Mr. Baker after an early morning
conference with Col. T.. NJ. House The
President signed the nomination to-day
Immediately upon getting a telegram
from Mr.. Baker accepting the office
Mr. Baker will come to Washington
Thursday for conference with the
President to fix the time for the assump.
ton OF his new duties. As the thirty
day commission OF Gen. Hugh l. Scott
as Secretary ad interim will expire
March II, 1t is believed that the Pres.
ident will urge Mr.. Baker to prepare to
take the oath of office as soon as pos
sible
Earlier Port folio Offer.
The President and Mr.. Baker are
warm personal friends. 1t Is recalled
that when Mr.. Wilson was making up
his Cabinet in 1913 he twice rendered
the Secretary yship OF the Interior to Mr.
Baker Mr.. Bakers declination at that
time was ascrbed to the fact that he
was serving as Mayor of Cleveland and
did not wish 10 resign in the midst OF q
term for which ne had sought election.
When tn. President stopped ia Cleve-
land or. his recent speechmaking trip
he had a long talk with MIR. Baker. who
was on. Of the few leaders called into
conference with Mr.. Wilson in the course
Of the journey.
The President rendered the Secretary
ship of war to Mr.. Baker. in accordance
with his decision to choose n lawyer Of
the middle West for the post Mr.
Baker was the first man outside the
cabinet whom the President considered
for the post vacated by Mr.. Garrison.
Earlier reports as 10 the Presidents
choice IL il recalled. had 1t that either
Secretary of the Interior Lane or Secre-
tary OF Agriculture Houston might be
b chosen.
Mr. Baker is regarded by friends OF
the President an astWe politlcihn.
/ He has "A good reputation as public
speaker For years he has been idenu-
! fed with the reform movement IN Cleve-
land and has taken an active part In the
street railway controversy there. On
/ the death of Mayor Tom Johnson Mr..
Baker took up the johnson night for
a tod . sn tts-
cessful elimination before the supreme
Court Of ohio.
Mr.. Baker is "a Democrat lie Is
/ graduate OF .Iohns Hopkins University
and received the degree of IL. II. from
| Washington and lee University in 1884.
wilson's Advisers Pleased.
Z Advisers of President Wilson tonight
expressed gratihcation with the Presi-
dents selection Of a Secretary OF War.
Mr.. Baker was married July ,. 1907, to
Miss Elizabeth Leopold of Pottsiown.
! Pa. They have three children. Polti-
/ cally Mr.. Baker throughout his career
! has been active III national, State and
! local politics.
lie H. chairman of the Cuyahoga
county Democratic executive committee
. and a member of the Democratic State
committee. Mr.. Baker was "a conspicu-
I
! by reason of his fight against the unit
: rule of voting state delegations. which
had long been recognized as the cus-
toinary procedure of democratic ma
tlonal conventions,
Mr. Baker, who vas elected as a vii.
/ son delegate to the baltimore conven-
| ton. was instructed by the ONO Demo-
cratic State convention to vote for Jud-
/ son Harmon under the unit rule. Car
| rying the hght 10 the floor OF the
Baltimore convention Mr. Baker got a
ruling repudiating the action of the
: State convention and enabling himself
d, with fourteen other members of the
: ONO delegation to vote for Wilson
! rather tnan Harmon.
I Mr.. Bakers views on national defenc"
have excited great interest here. lie has
been classified heretofore as n pacifist.
As member OF peace societies he has
taken an active part against national
defence measures. DESPITE this President
Wilson picked Mr. Baker. being appai-
! emily satisfied that the secretary of War
, viii uphold his hand in the fight for the
pending preparedness bills.
l'pon Mr.. Bakers lual ion as Sec.
retary Of War he will choose an assistant
for the office of Assistant Secretary.
This Office was vacated by Henry Breck-
, inrdge coincident with the retirement OF
Mr.. Garrison Mr.. Breckenridge resigned
because he was in sympathy with the po-
sition that prompted MI Garrison tn
relinouish the war portfolio.
~ ~ 49,