Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-02-28

| was LETT or It's principles after their
great leader had discarded both as
instruments that had served his
purpose. Four years ago he became
q Democrat. Recent converts have
been called to these high places by
Presidents OF both parties. but such
appointments have never given Joy
to the faithful. If there was any
political reason for choosing Mr..
Colby it was not a wise one. Just
what his political principles are it
might be difficult, to determine, but
the country will be very much sur
rised to learn that he is a conserva-
tive.-NeW York Times Qnd Dem.)
AS to the political aspects fthe
appintment, it doesn't establish any
new precedent Mr. Colby was a
Republican up to 1912 and Pro
gressive from 1912 to 1916. Ia the
election of 1916 he actively sup
ported Mr.. Wilson against Mr.
Hughes, but he also ran for the Sen
ate as Progressive. In 1899
President Cleveland appointed Wal
ter q. Gresham as Secretary of
State. The latter had been a con
spicuous candidate for the Republi.
can Presidential nomination in 1883
and before that time had served as
Postmaster General in President
Arthuf's cabinet. In 1892 he was on
she Federal bench. and as a Judge
was precluded from taking an ac-
tive part in the national campaign
u that year, although he had bit
ter personal feud with President
/ Harrison
Even more than In Judge Ores
hams case it must be assumed
that the choice of Secretary Of
State was made not for political but
for purely personal reasons New
York Tribune CRep9.
The nation was startled by Mr..
Wilson's appointment o. Balm
bridge Colby as Secretary of State
Mt This juncture of our crflcial inter
national affairs; the Democratic
party is shocked. Inundated. that
among all the tried and true Demo-
Gratis of the country thte was none
to fill this first office in the gift of
the President Sun and New
York Herald (lnd0.
In dismissing a Secretary of
State. President Wilson, for the
time being, may be greatly con-
cerned about custom and prece-
lent but no such considerations
influence him in appointing a Sec
rotary OF State.
There could be no more complete
defiance of custom and precedent
than the selection of Bainbridge
Colby To succeed Robert Lansing.
and there could be no more COM
plote Justification for disregarding
those standards than the Presi-
dents own experience in adhering
to them in the past.
In the letter asking for Mr.. Ian.
sings resignation. the President
said 1t world relieve him Of embar-
rassment eff you would give Nm
Your present office and afford me an
opportunity TO select some one
whose mind would more willingly
so along with nina." Mr.. Colby
fills these specifications His mind
follows naturally along the channels
or the Presidents mind: but il is
not a subseryient mind. On the
contrary. Mr.. Wilson has taken no.
body into his Cabinet who has
shown in higher degree the cour-
age and Independence that have
marked Nj Colby's political career.
Originally Republican. he Joined
the Roosevelt revolt against the
Old Guard and Mandarins in 1912
He was one Of the Progressives
who were progressive tor principle
and not for profit. When Roosevelt
and Perkins sold out the .xogres-
sive Party in 1916, Colby refused to
become 2 chattel.
With John NJ. Parker, who was
recently elected Governor OF Louis.
lana on the Democratic ticket. he