West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-03-09
Before Going to Cleveland Baker
Was Prominent Lawyer of Mar
tinsburg-Well Qualified to Fill
the Position and Is Close Friend
of the President

WAShlNGION, March 6.-Newton
ID. Baker, former mayor OF Cleveland.
has been selected by President VIII
son for Secretary of War.
Mr.. Baker has accepted the posi-
ton and is now arranging his affairs
n Cleveland. preparatory to coming
10 Washington to take up his duties.
MIR. Baker formerly was mayor of
Cleveland. His name has been men
toned in connection with the position
several times. He was offered n
place when the cabinet was formee
but declined.
The selection OF Mr.. Baker is under
stood to have been discussed by Pres
ident Wilson with Colonel f. NJ.
House. soon after the latter's arrival
here this morning.
When President Wilson was max
ing up his cabinet in 1913, he offered
the place OF Secretary OF Interior to
Mr.. Baker twice. Mr. Baker then was
mayor OF Cleveland and declined for
that reason.
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 some members of the
cabinet for the war Office
= When President Wilson recently
Was touring the middle west on his
preparedness program. he saw Mr..
Baker in Cleveland and had a long
talk with him.
Mr.. Baker mas been in Washington
frequently of late and on his last visit
said he had not been offered the post
OF Secretary Of War and did not be-
lieye he would be.
Ever since Lindley NJ. Garrison re-
signed the President has been seeking
a middle western lawyer for the place.
AT the White House today ii was
neither officially confirmed or denied
that MIR. Baker would get the place.
O1icials strongly encouraged the use
of his name and II was understood
that Mr.. Baker had been definitely Sc
lected. III
The thirty de period for which Ma
;or General Hugh l.. Scott, chief of
staif was designated secretary of war
ad interim, will expire March II. II
is believed Mr.. Bakers nomination
will be sent to the Senate before thai
Ntime.
At the time OF the Baltimore con-
vention, when President Wilson was
nominated, Mr. Baker was prominent
ly mentioned for the Vice Presidency
because of the fight he made in sup
port OF Mr.. Wilson. He went to the
convention as a Wilson supporter and
fought successfully against the appli-
cation OF the unit rule to the Ohio
delegation.
Mr.. Baker has been known for years
as a leader of the Ohio bar. and is
highly regarded by the President as
a lawyer. Mr.. Wilson wanted the
place filled by a lawyer, because Of
legal questions constantly arising I'm
the administration Of the war depart
ment, the Philippines, the Panama
canal and Porto Rico.
Mr.. Baker is a member of the Ohio
state Democratic committee and f.
chairman Of the executive committee
Of his county.
lie has the record OF having run for
public Office in Cleveland during four
teen consecutive years without defeat.
lie declined to run for Office again
In order to devote his time to private
law practice.
Mr.. Baker is understood to have
specified when he Joined his law firm
that he would be free for six months
prior to the election to work for Pres
ident Wilson's recollection.
Newton Diehl Baker, the new war
Secretary, was born in Martinsburg.
W, Va, December 3. 1871, the son OF
Dr. Newton Diehl Baker and Mary
Dukehart Baker. After graduating
from the Martiasburg high school he
attended the Episcopal high school in
Alexandria Va. He secured his de-
gree OF Bachelor Of Arts from Johns
Hopkins University. Baltimore. ir
1892, and his LID. degree from wash
ington and Lee University. Lexington
Va, IN 1894 He was admitted 10 IN.
bar In Martinsburg Immediately upo
the completion Of his law course a
Washington and Lee. lie practiset
mw there about one year. when b,
was appointed private secretary e.
Postmaster Gen. VIM. +. Wilson. ser
wing during the last eighteen months
Of President Cieveiand's last adminls-
lration
N the summer OF 1897 be went 70
Cleveland and opened law Office
there Tie served two terms Of two
gears each a. city solicitor Of Cleve-
land, BY appointment. and was then
twice elected to that oflce by the
largest pluralitles ever given a munio-
ipai candidate IN Cleveland. Follow
Ing the death Of Mayor Tom l.. John
son, he was twice elected mayor. re-.
fusine last fall 70 again be candi-
date