Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-03-02
Batnbridge Colby.


In former days the country would have
felt that the occasion demanded the appoint
ment of Webster, a Fish, John Hay or an
Elihu Root. But in parting company with
Secretary Lansing the president wrote that
his resignation would ''afford me an oppor-
! tunity to select some one whose mind would
more willingly go along with mine" The
country will assume, therefore, that the
change in secretaries involves no change in
policies. The president will be his own min
lister of foreign affairs and Secretary Colby s
mind will go along with his.
The appointment will not be received with
enthusiasm by the Democratic party Not
long ago Mr.. Colby was Republican, then he
was Progressive of such hrmness OF conVlc-
ton that lie chung to the fragments of that
party and what was left of it's principles after
their great leader had discarded both as in
str Lments that had served his purpose Four
Years ago he became Democrat, Recent
! converts have been called to the high places
by presidents of both parties, but such ap-
pointments have never given JOY to the faith
full If there was any political reason for
choosing Mr.. Colby it was not wise one.
Just what his political principles are it might
be difficult to determine, but the country
will be very much SURPRISED to learn that he is
a conservative.-NEW YORK TIMES (Ind.
DEM
Tn Diminishing a Secretary of State Presi-
dent Wilson, for the time being, may be
greatly concerned about custom and prece-
dent" but no such considerations Influence
him in appointing Secretary of State.
There could be more complete def
ance of custom and precedent than the
seiection of cambridge Colby to succeed
Robert Lansing and there could be no more
complete justification for dispegarding those
standards than the Presidents own expe-
rience in adhering to them in the past
! In the letter asking for Mr. Lansing's
resignation the President said it would re-
lieve him of embarrassment 'if you would
give up your present office and afford me
an opportunity to select some one whose
mind would more willingly go along with
mine" Mr.. Colby fills those specifications
His mind follows naturally along the chan
nels of the presidents mind; but it is not
subservient mind. On the contrary, MIR
Wilson has taken nobody into his Cabinet
who has shown in higher degree the cour
age and independence that have marked
Mr. Colby's political career. ..,
Originally a Republican, he joined the
Roosevelt revolt against the Old Guard and
the Mandarins in 1912. TIE was one OF
the Progressves who were progressive fo1
principle and not for profit When Roose
welt and Perkins sold out the Progressive
Party in 1915, Colby refused to become {
chattel.
With John NJ Parker, who was re-
Gently elected Governor of louisiana or
the Democratic ticket, he supported Mr.
Wilson in the campaign of 1916, and has
been an ardent adherent of the president
ever since Politically he can be described
as Wilson independent, belonging to th'
breed of Herbert G. Hoover and If that o'
Atreason to organization politics., let the sen
ate make the most of it.
Mr.. Colby will necessarily be an expert
ment as Secretary of State, but most o.
his predecessors have been experiments
Men are not born to diplomacy; they &C
1uire it, and Mr.. Colby's career as For
eign Minister is before him; but he has
qualifications from which much can be ex
pected even during the brief period fo
which he is appointed. He is an able
lawyer, a brilliant public speaker, an in
telligent student of history an da fearless
champion of human freedom and of liberal
ism in government. His mind will go alon!
q with the presidents because he believes
that Mr.. Wilson's policies, in the main, ar
the policies from which the American PEG
pie and the world at large have the mos
to hope
i Neither reaction nor thick-and-thin par
tvisn will derive any comfort from Mr.
Cclby's appointment. 1t is a challenge u
both of them, and was unquestionably IN
tended as challenge-NEW YOKE
WORLD (Dem)
Whether Mr.. Colby's mind will go alon'
more willingly with Mr.. wilson's than OK
Mr.. Lansing's has to be determined. Ther
will be many who will wonder how Ions
Mr.. Colby, whose friends would describe
man of great independence of mind ant
Judgment, but who might also be loke'
upon by others as "erratic" in matters o
augment will be able to function with tn
president. 1t is most uncertain whether n
will find in his place in the cabinet, shoulC
the senate consent to the appointment, thos
opportunities for independent judgment TO
which he has hitherto been distinguished
But that is a matter between the presiden
and his secretary of state which must b.
left for them to find out.-PHILADELPHII
PUBLIC LEDGER 0nd.)
He is a man of great talents, familia
with world affairs, a staunch, old-fashionet
American at all times, and will not be
rubber-stamp cabinet officer. His past per
formances indicate plainly that if he find
himself out of tune with the adm1nistra
ton he will not sulk; he'll get out.-TREN
TON TIMES EInd.)