Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-03-06
Daily
Editorial
Digest
(Title Appld for U. S. Pat Off
Edited by the Washington
Feature Service
DAVID LAWRENCE. Prest.
COLBY'S APPOINTMENT.
THE MEANING OF


/ The appointment OF Baiuhridge
! Colby to succeed Robert Lansing as
Secretary of State was Il great sur
prise. His name had not been men
| toned in connection with the Vacau.
! cy. People are still wondering what
this unexpected choice signifies.
/ Yet the Birmingham News (Dem,l
finds it mot such an amazing thing
after all" regarding il as another
revelation of the breadth and hignesS
of the President in seeking to solidifv
the progressive forces OF America IN
TO teamwork that shall assure the
continuation of democracy in this
country. For. as the New York
Tribune (Rep.1 reminds us, Mr.. Col.
by was Republican up 10 1872 and
Progressive from 1912 TO 1916. In
the election of 1916 he actively sup
ported Mr.. Wilson against Mr.. Hugh.
es, Thus "his public career" IN the
view of the Springfield Republican
tlnd.l. mas demonstrated that he
possesses the power of independent
Judgment" and therefore he viii
prove 70 be exactly the kind Of man
the President does not want"
Political significance is naturally
sought in this appointment. 1t seems
to many to be a play for the Pro.
greasiyes. The Memphis Commercial
Appeal DEM saws the men who
o. with Roosevelt in 1912 are
- ~ tlota 1t home IN the Democrat
&c party than in the Republican par
~ under Lodge, Knox. Penrose. Bran
degee, Mondell and Gilett." The
Nashville Banner (End1 likewise
thinks Ill may be a good move no
/, htlcally to give this recognition to a
Former Progressive at the beginning
OF new political campaign" and the
Jersey Journal end. RepD looks upon
II as a warning to the coming Re.
'olican convention that mere reae-
Ion may not be sufficient for it TO
Icarry the coming campaign"
The Wheeling Register (Dem.1 on
the other hand voices the disappoint-
ment OF fanny papers of its party III -.
T the President did not select an out.
and-out Democrat. MANY capable
, and deserving Democrat" it SAYS.
would have been more than willing
TO serve. The Colby appointment is
almost as serious a mistake as the
sLansiug dismissal" Similarly the
Cleveland Plain Dealer Gnd. DemD
believes it will be felt that the
president has overlooked several men
With better training flY The office in
order TO pick this former disciple OF
Theodore Roosevelt. Like other re-
cent cabinet selections this one is
evidently not dictated by ordinary
political considerations
Others. such as the Bridgeport Post
tind). seek a motive outside OF in
ternal politics. The Post recalls that
lord Grey wrote a letter very Ell
barrassing 10 the Presidents stand
on the treaty. very comforting TO
those who were breaking away from
President Wilson's leadership" and
now We get q new Secretary OF
State. who, whatever else he may be
10 decide lily cold toward Great Bri
tain" He is "a twister of the lion s
tail" the Post adds. and was one of
the leaders against the repeal of the
Panama canal tolls and at that time
voiced in the hitterest words his sus,
picion that President Wilson (then in
bis first term was pro-British. This
view is supported by the Chicago
Evening Post llndl which declares
that in those circles disposed 10 re-
gard Great Britain with distrust. If
not with eumily. Mr. Colby is said 10
have friends NOT a few" while The
e ot journal (nd Rep9 thinks the
Precedent has thrown a rich SOP TO
William Ean-e.rh Hearst whose DO
cal g0fhy has