Evening star., 1920-02-25
.C0LBY'S MIND SEEN
AS ONE TO co ALONG
WITH PRESIDENTS
New Secretary of State Has
Had Political Experience
With Various Leaders,.
ny David LAwRENCE.

cambridge Colby. Secretary of
State. The appointment is not only
a complete surprise. but it makes
official Washington gasp. Politics,
national and international, arc involved
In the selectfon. Mr.. Colby is an
amiable gentleman, skillful lawyer,
splendid after-dinner speaker, re-
markable orator and spellbinder and
n charming personality. He is one
of the few men who have been lot
both Theodore Roosevelt and Wood
row Wilson without feeling conscious
Of Inconsistency. He is one of the
few men who have had the support
and Endorsement, Of William Ran
dolph Hearst and yet remained per-
soma grata in both the democratic
and progressive parties He Is one
Of those men who in his time have
bitterly attacked President Wilson's
policies and been forgiven. He nom
mated Roosevelt at Chicago in 1915
and when the solon of Oyster Bay
decided to support Hughes for the
presidency Mr. Colby went campaign
ing for Mr.. Wilson.
Frustrated ship Deal.
As a member of the United States
Shipping Board Mr.. Colby showed
himself particularly anxious to safe
guard the American merchant marine
and was responsible for the frustra-
tion of the deal by which the British
companies attempted to get contro!
Of certain ships that had been owned
Nv the international Mercantile Ma
rine and were under American regis
try. He goes along a little with the
elements who have from time to time
ranged themselves in opposition 10
british policies. Particularly was ne
prominent in 1913 in the movement
IF
csnaJ tolls. which was denounced in a
bir mass meeting in Madison Square
Garden. New York. as un-A American
and a surrender of American ngntS
Colby was the chief speaker at the
mass meeting which was arranged
by Mr.. Hearst
Other Critics in Cabinet.
But IL Mr.. Wilson considered what
neonle said in attacking him, he
wonld have to disqualify others from
membership in the cabinet or from
annointment to high Office. Look up
the speeches Of William c. Redfield
when he was a member OF the House
of Representatives and you Will see
how he might have been ineligible Tor
cabinet membership if Mr.. Wilson
hadn't been disposed to let bygones
be bygones. No more bitter denuncia-
ton of Mr.. Wilson's personality was
circulated in the pre-convention cam
paign of 1912 than that by George
Fred Williams. yet he was later
selected by the President TO De Amerl-
can minister to Greece.
The selection Of Bainbridge Colby to
be Secretary of State. however. means
no sudden affinity between the White
House and the distinguished progressive.
1t is a fact that Mr.. Colby became en-
came to Washington to become a MEM
bre of the Shipping Board. No more
eloquent compliments have been paid
to the President in public speech than
those by Mr.. Colby. He regards the
President as the true progressive. the
logical heir to Bull Moosism of 1912.
Liberal in Domestic Affairs.
Mr.. Colby is what might be called
a liberal in domestic affairs and by the
same line Of reasoning may be expected
to follow out the idealism of the Presi-
dent in foreign policies He is proba-
bly, more interested in people than prop
erty, although no one has a keener re-
RainbridRe Colby He has been a near
member Of the cabinet for some time
He was urged for Attorney General
when Mr.. McReynolds was elevated to
the supreme bench and was considered
for a cabinet post after the 1916 cam
paign was over.
MI. Colby will find little difnculty
in following out the Wilson policies
i'm international affairs. He is wedd ed
to no particular theories of interna-
tjonal law or international relation
ship beyond the broad principles
enunciated by the President himself
1t is for instance, unlikely that Mr.
Colby would be embarrassed in han
ding the Russian question. MIR. Ian
sing. his predecessor. was an invet-
crate foe of the Russian soviets,
something that could not always have
been pleasing to President Wilson,
who has throughout the last year ex-
Continued on Page .. Column ~