New-York tribune., 1920-02-26

away in the political burying ground
Mr.. Colby put his heart and soul in the
campaign for the reelection of Presi-
dent Wilson. He became one Of the
"seven little Progressives" who acted
as an advisory committee to Vance Nc
Cormick, chairman of the Democratic
National Committee. Mr.. Colby took
the lead in outlining ways and means
for rcsuscitating the Moose, and worked
hard to turn whatever Progressive vote
was left in the country to Wilson. Mr.:
Colby frequently came i'll close contact
with President Wilson at the White
House during the 1916 campaign. His
activities in behalf Of the President
were rewarded later, when in July, 1917,
Mr.. Wilson appointed him member of
the United States Shipping Board.
Counsel for Many Inquiries
Mr.. Colby has enjoyed an enviable
reputation as a lawyer since he began
practice in this city in 1892. His repu-
tation as forccful advocate and en-
thusiastic pleadcr for any cause he
represented before the bar of Justice
is nation wide. Prior to his appoint
ment to the Shipping Board he had be
come known as an expert in maritime
law. He had handled several impor-
tant maritime cases nccessitating q
careful study of shipping in many of
its features. His advance in the lega;
profession was rapid, and he figured in
many important cases. One of his first
c c'ientsTwas Mark Twain, whose tangled
affairs in his publishing venture Mr..
Colby Strengthened out.
He has acted as counsel for many
local investigations, notably the
Thompson legislative investigation of
the Public Service Commission four
years ago. Many startling revelations
were brought out by Mr. Colby as
counsel for the legislative committee
until he resigned because Of differ
cnces with Senator Thompson, its
chairman. Mr.. Colby has been an ac-
tive worker in civic affairs of the city,
many local campaigns. His most re-
cent activity in this respect was as
chairman of the Non-Partisan Judi
ciary Committee, which successfully
managed the campaigns of Justices
Joseph +. Newburger and the late
Richard II. Smith in the last city
election.
With Wilson on Treaty
While Mr.. Colby has made thousands
of speeches in recent campaigns and
at numerous dinners and public meet
ings, he has seldom referred to inter
national affairs as related to this coun-
try. Mr. Colby has stood firmly with
the President and the Administration
in regard to the ratification of the
peace treaty. Speaking last month at
the dinner of the National Retail Dry
Goods Association in this city he said:
1--WE are in more senses than one a
self-centered and provincial people.
t1o <f
our greatness, without much patience
or disposition to examine the true ex-
tent and measure of it, We have
made so far a spectacle of ourselves
as a nation in the way we have hest
tated and stumbled and delayed in the
ratification Of this enlightened treaty
OF peace. | have spent three days in
Washington three Of the most de-
pressing days ever spent there. /
have gathered the impression from
sources that l regarded as dependable
that the treaty Of peace to-day may
almost be said to be dead. That was
depressing My heart and thought go
out to that great man who sees the
product of his vision, Of his brain. of
his hand, underes timated, misprized,
despitefully used, aye, brought even to
the verge Of rejection by his people"
Opposed Prohibition
Mr. Colby has been consistent and
vigorous opponent Of prohibition. Urg-
ing the repeal of the Eighteenth
Amendment. in a recent public speech
he said:
"A great discussion, great debate
is soon to open in the Supreme Court
Of the United States, involving the
validity of an amendment which has
been proclaimed to be opposed to the
Constitution. This discussion will
rank with thee greatest discussion of
our history; it will take it's place
alongside of the great debates in the
Senate in the time Of Webster and
Clay and Calhoun. 1t will take its
place alongside of those great legal
arguments that led up to and precipi-
tated the war between the states.
Realize that the Eighteenth Amend
ment has been described as a revolu-
ton IN our government. Are we ready
for revolution, or shall we add here
to those blessed distinctions between
the power of the state and the power
of the nation that distinction which
has done SO much to promote our con-
tentment, so much to preserve the bal
anre between our widely separated and
dispersed and differently Interested
communities ?"