Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-27
OF
COLBY SURPRISE
TO WASHINGTON
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

Copyright, 1920, for The Atlanta Journal.)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Bain-
fridge Colby, secretary Of state. The
lppointment not only is a complete
surprise, but it makes official Wash
ington gasp. Politics, national and
International, are involved in the
selection.
Mr.. Colby is an amiable gentleman,
a skillful lawyer, splendid alter
dinner speaker, remarkable orator
and speII-binder and charming per-
sonality. He is one of the few men
who has been for both Theodore
Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson with
out feeling conscious of inconsistent
CIV. He is one of the few men who
has had the support and Endorsement
of William Randolph Hearst and yet
remained persona grata in both the
Democratic and Progressive parties.
He is one of these men who in his
time has bitterly attacked President
Wilson's policies Ind been forgiven.
He nominated Colonel Roosevelt at
Chicago in 1916, and then the solon
of Oyster bay decided to support
Charles E. Hughes for the presi-
dency. Mr.. Colby went campaigning
70" Mr.. W..son.
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 TO- the frustra-
ton of the deal by which the British
companies attempted to get control
Of certain ships that ha been owned
by the International Mercantile
Marine and were under American
registry.
He goes along 3 little with the
elements who have from time to time
"ange themselves in opposition to
British policies. Particularly was
he prominent in 1913 in the move
ment against the repeal of the Pan
anna Canal tolls which was de-
nounced in a big mass meeting in
Madison Square Garden, New York,
as un-American Ind surrender of
American rights.
Mr.. Colby was the chief speaker at
the mass meeting which was ar
ranged by Mr.. Hearst. But if Mr..
Wilson considered what people said
in attacking him he would have to
disqualify others from membership
in the cabinet or from appointment
to high office. .sLook up the speeches
of William c. Redfield when he was
a member of the house of represen-
tatives and you will see how he
might have been ineligible for cabi-
net membership if Mr.. Wilson hadn't
been disposed to let bye-gones be
bye-gones. No more bitter denuncia-
ton Of Mr.. Wilson's personality
was circulated in the pre-convention
campaign of 1912 than that by
George Fred Williams, yet he was
later selected by the president to be
American minister TO Greece.
The selection Of cambridge Colby
to be secretary of state, however,
means no sudden affinity between
the White House and the distin-
guished pro gressive. 1t is a fact that
Mr.. Colby became enamored of Pres
ident Wilson when he came to Wash
ington to become a member 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 pres
| ident as the true progressive, the
logical heir to a bull moosism' of
1912.
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 president in foreign politics.
| He propably is more interested in