Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-27
NEW YORK ATTORNEY,
ONCE PROGRESSIVE,
SUCCEEDS LANSING
cambridge CoIby's Appoint
ment Comes as a Surprise,
Baker or Polk Were Ru-
mored as Slated

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Bain-
bridge Colby, of New York, who was
one of the leaders in the Progressive
party under Theodore Roosevelt, vii!
a-aeceed Robert Lansing as secretary
IN state. Announcement of his Sc
lection by President Wilson was
made today at the White House.
His nomination was sent to the
senate late this afternoon.
Mr.. Colby's appointment came as
even more of a surprise than the res
ignation of Mr.. Lansings at the re-
quest of President Wilson.
The first hint of Mr.. Colby's ap-
pointment came a few minutes be-
fore the formal announcement by
Secretary Tumulty. The early re-
ports that he would get the place
were not generally credited.
Following the announcement of the
appointment Mr.. Colby appeared at
the White House and was taken to
see President Wilson.
With Shipping Board
His latest connection with the Will
son administra ton was when he was
a member of the United States ship
ping board. He resigned from that
DOSlI1On q lew 1QOnInS ago.
Mr.. Colby is a lawyer. His home
is in New York. He was born il
st. Louis in 1869.
During the Republican national
convention of 1912 he was in charge
of the contest to seat Roosevelt dele
gates. He was one Of the founders
of the progressive party and dele
gate to its first convention.
During the war he was a commits
sioner of the federal shipping board
and member of the emergency fleet
corporation. He was member Of
the American Mission to the intec-
allied conference at Paris in 1917.
Mr.. Colby was a lifelong Republi-
can until the famous Bull Moose bolt
at the Chicago convention in 1912.
He had been actively identified with
the candidacy of Theodore Roosevelt
for the Republican nomination for
president that year and was in
charge of contests to seat the Roose-
welt delegates in the Chicago conven-
ton.
When Colonel Roosevelt bolted the
convention, Mr.. Colby helped to
found the Progressive party and was
n delegate to it's Chicago convention
in 1912. He continued an active
leader in that party and in 1914 and
again in 1916 he was a Progressive
candidate for senator fronNNew York
state.
D. When. Colonel Roosevelt threw the
weight of his influence to Charles
Evans Hughes in the 1915 presiden.
tial race, Mr.. Colby identified him.
self with the Democratic party.
Mr.. Colby was born at st. Louis
tifty-one years ago and graduated
from William college, Massachusetts
He spent one year at the Columbia
Law school and has practiced law in
New York since 1892. He vas a
member Of the New York assembly
in 1901-02.
Debate Due in Senate
When Mr.. Colby's appointment gets
on the senate floor for confirmation,
debate on the lansing Wilson clash
is expected to result, Immediately
after Mr.. Lansing's resignation, a
number of senators stated privately
they intended to look into the affair
when submission of the name of a
new secretary for congressional an
prevail gave them an opportunity to
do So. AS the appointment may be
taken up in executive session, this
debate is likely to take place in the
committee which will consider the
nomination.
On leaving the White House Mr..
Colby said:
az had a long and unhurried con-
ference with the president which
impressed me with the great conf.
dence he has rcposed in me. I hope
I shall not prove inadequate to these
great duties"
Mr.. Colby said that pending con-
sideration of his nomination by the
senate he did not desire to make
further statement.
A bitter fight will be waged in the
senate against confirmation of Mr..
Colby as secretary of state, several
senators declared today on hearing
of his appointment.
Opinion among Republican senators,
with the exception of a few progress
sives, was practically unanimous
that Mr.. Colby won't do" But no
be used. 80
Will Oppose Selection
Though it is unusual for the SEN
ate to oppose the presidents selec-
ton of a cabinet member, this one
will be fought to the finish, these
senator's declared positively.
It was recalled by senators today
that when he was nominated for the
shipping board Mr.. Colby's confrma-
ton was vigorously opposed in the
commerce committee and in the sen.
ate, and he got through by the mar
rowest of margins in both bodies.
Both New York senators. Messrs.
Calder and Wadsworth, fought him
at that time.
His attacks on the senate critics
or the League of Nations also may
nave something to do with intensity
ing the fight on him. He went into
several states whose senators oppose
the league and attacked them. Mis-
souri, was an example cited today.
Mr.. Colby made speeches assailing
Senator Reed, who would not discuss
the appointment today.