Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-25
FORMER ROOSEVELT
LEADER IN CABINET
CAPITAL SEES
DROPPING OF
PARTY LINES
AppOintee COnfers With Presi-
dent After Selection Is
Made Public.
NAME TO SENATE TO-DAY

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Presi-
dent Wilson has selected cambridge
Colby of New York as secretary of
state to succeed Robert Lansing. 1t
was officially announced at the white
house today Colby has accepted the
post and his name will be submitted
to the senate today.
Colby's appointment came as even
more of a surprise than the resigna-
tion of Lansing at the request Of Presi
dent Wilson.
STRONG SUPPORTER OF
WILSON ADMINISTRATIONS.
While Colby has been a strong sup
porter OF the Wilson administ ration he
is generally regarded as a progressive
republican and was actively Identified
with the campaign of Theodore Roose-
velt for the republican pre- eddential
nomination in 1912.
Later he was a candidate for governor
and senator of New York on the pro-
gressive ticket.
Colby campaigned for Wilson in 1918
after the progressive party convention OF
that year indorsed Charles E. Hughes,
the republican nominee Colby was one
Of a group Of nine progressives who
Insisted upon the nomination Of Col.
Roosevelt by the progressives. After the
nomination Of Hughes Roosevelt wired
the progressive convention Urging that
The former supreme court justice be in
dorsed. resolution to this effect was
introduced in the convention. Colby
fought it vigorously, still demanding the
nomination Of Roosevelt. When the con-
vention voted against him he refused to
accept Hughes and Joined the democrats
iu support OF Wilson.
RECALL LETTER
TO COOLIDGE.
During the war Colby was a commits
sioner Of the federal shipping beard and
a member OF the emergency feet corpora
/ tion, He was a member of the American
mission to the inter-allied conference at
Paris in 1917 In politics he is described
/ now as ian independent, with democratic
I lesnings."
Some politicians saw in the presidents
appointment of Colby an indication that
Wilson believes party lines are being
eradicated. In this Connection, they re-
called his famous letter Of congratula-
tion to Calvin Coolidge, republican, when
the latter was reelected governor Of
Massachusetts,.
IOA4ohAuS AOHB CoulSNeHCe Win
President Wilson this morning Colby
said:
Good taste, I think, counsels the brief
est Of statements until such time as the
senate has acted upon my nomination as
secretary of state. I may say that / had a
long and unhurried conference with the
president. which impressed me with the
great confidence he reposed in me.
hope I shall not prove inadequate in
performance of the great duties before
me-"
"HOUSE CLEANING"
Is PREDICTED.
Since Lansing's resignation, which was
announced the night of Feb. Is, Under
secretary Frank L. Polk has been acting
asfsecretary. He handled the sending of
Wilson's latest note to the supreme coun-
Gil. in connection with the Adriatic dis
pute. II was known that Polk was being
considered for the appointment ats secre-
tary.
The circumstances Of Lansing's resig-
nation are believed to have been dis
cussed by Colby and the president at
their conference this morning, at which
time Wilson went over with the new
secretary the policy he expects him 10
pursue, 1t was learned It was suggested
that "house cleaning may be in pros
pect in the state department, which viii
put the handling of Americas foreign
affairs in the hands of new group OF
men, as a result of the clash with Ian
sing The present state department staff
co-operated with Lansing in the inter
national dealings to which the presi-
dent is believed to have objected.
SENATE CLASH
rs FORESEEN.
When Colby's appointment gets on
the senate floor for confirmation de-
| bate on the Lansing Wilson clash is
expected to result. Immediately after
Lansing's resignation a number of SEN
ators stated privately they intended to
look into the affair when submission OF
the name of a new secretary for con-
gressional approval gave them aE op-
portunity to do so. As the appoint
ment may be taken up in executive ses-
siou this debate is likely to take place
In the committee which will consider the
nomination.
Mr.. Colby was born in st. Louis Dec.
%, 1869. He is now q prominent attorney
in New York City. He was a close per-
sonal friend Of Samuel L. Clemens
MARX Twain and had charge of the set
tlement OF the affairs OF Twain's publish
! ing house.