The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-05

by would amulate the example of Will liam Jennings Bryan and Robert Lam sing, his predecessors, and revolt against the apparent necessity of transforming himself into rubber stamp, are to date, at any rate. proved false prophets. No hint of discord emanates from the inner circle.
 Nevertheless, the wonder is, and con- tinues to grow, just what occupied the attention of the Senate committee which so long and so secretly inquired into the fitness of the Presidents appointed It was known as a rule that Colby was not popular with any political party. For he had deserted the republican party when Theodore Roosevelt formed the Bull Moose organization. and had deserted that organization when TVS m- spiration returned to the fold following the nomination of Charles F. Hughxs With both the progressive and standpat wing of the G. o. P. organization "sore' over his conduct, the democratic party, unaware of where or when Colby would next jump, and believeing him more an adherent of Woodrow Wilson than of the democratic party, was naturally dis
 inclined to embrace the convert with open arms or fulsome praise
 Therefore, it is reliably reported that in a political sense, MT. Colby had no friend in the committee which investi- gated ms fitness. -Inat 0eSplLe LnlS 1dcL, he ''came through" with a clean bill of health is indicative of the probability that the "chargesH against him were of the flimsy variety and were not even in part sustained. There was in his favor the prevailing sentiment that the President has the right without let or hindrance to name his own official fam fly, and the precedent that no President had ever been thwarted in attempts to +ha@ xfY IQtrt ic crofH fHaf cd in confidence that the committee, after its Investigation found nothing on which to base a course seeking his elimination as a member-elect of the Presidents s cabinet.
 The investigation was secret. It is learned, however, that two cases were considered. It was represented that a young man, formerly employed in Col by's law office, and then employed by the lawyer with whom Colby had had a previous legal connection, had at tempted to capitalize his acquaintance with Colby, then serving as member of the shipping board, in the securing of contracts for rich shipbuilders The investigation developed the fact that as soon as the young man showed hls hand Colby asked his former law partner to discharge him, which was done.
 The other case was based on the al- legged ground that Colby, as an attor- ney in New York, had sought the aid of the republican organization in brng- ing pressure to bear on a judge N<o was hearing case in which Colby was one of the attorneys. Henry Parsons, at that time. was county chairman of fire republican organization. He came to Washington and took the stand before the committee. It is understood that his testimony was to the effect that Colby did attempt to brsng political pres sure to bear on the judge in order to bias his judgment or temporize his de- cision. Colby followed Parsons on the stand. It is not known to what Colby testified But it is known that imme- diately after his testimony, the investi- gating committee concluded that Colby was entitled to a clean bill of health. In this connection, Colby has publicly requested the committee to publish the testimony. But the committee, up to this time, has declined