Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-25
NEW sec. Of STATE.
BA|NBR|DGE COLBY,
ROOSEVELT LEADER
Wilson Picks Unreconstructed Bull
Mooser for Lansing's Place:
MARITIME Law Expert.
WAS ON SHIPPING BOARD
ny Associated Prose to Every Eveninz

! HF A&RoFAafpn fFess 10 EFefE ENentNE
Washington. Feb 25 Bainbridge Col
by. of New York, who WIS one II the
leaders in the Progressive party under
! Theodore Roosevelt viii succeed Robert
lansing as Secretary of State
Announcement of his selection BY
President Wilson was made today at the
White HOUSE
The selection of Mr. Colby came ~
surprise. most officials ASSUMING that
Frank L. Polk acting SECRETARY, would
be the President IS choice The FIRST
inkling that the President was 70 appoint
some one outside of his official family
came when Mr. Colby visited the White
House early today IN company with
Raymond + Baker. director of the mint.
Mr. Colby was taken - sep the PresI-
dent or the south lawn. and a few minutes
later the formal announcement ~ hIg
selection was made His nomination is
expected to be sent to the senate within
q day or two.
This is not the first office Mr. Colby
has held under President Wilson's admin
istration He was appointed member
of the shipping Board and the Emergency
Fleet Corporation in July 1917 and also
WIS a member of the American Mission
70 the Inter-allled shipping Conference
at Paris IN the same year lie retired
from the shipping Board more than a
year ago.
After Mr. Colby has taken office, Mr..
Polk, who has been secretary ad interim
since the resignation Of MIR Lansing
nearly two weeks Hgo. . expectef 20
carry ont his intention of retiring from
the State Department Mr.. Polk $ health
has not been good for more than year
and his physicians have advised him 70
take n long rest.
Should Mr.. Polk retire two important
posts in the State Department would be
left vacant-that Of under secretary. 70
which Mr.. Polk was advanced some
months ago. and ~ assistant secretary.
The latter place vas held by William
Phillips. the newly appoated minister
10 The Netherlands and I.lIxembiirE.
On leaving the White House MIR. Colby
said:
II had a long and unhurried conference
with the President which impressed me
with the great confidence he has repo-cd
in me. hope I shall not prove made
quate 10 these great duties.
Mr. Colby said that pending considera-
ton Of his nomination by the Senate he
did not desire to make further statement.
When Colonel Roosevelt threw the
weight Of hIs influence 10 Charles Evans
Hughes in the 1916 Presidential race, Mr.
Colby Identified himself with the Demo-
crat C part.
Bainbridge Colby left here last night
fer Washington, said the New York World
of January -, 1917, 10 begin at once his
duties as successor to Capt. John 3.
White If the Shipping Board. He an
nounced that he had accepted the ap-
pointment, but declined to make any
further statement.
Mr.. Colby has practised law here /
New York since 1892. when he came from /
st. Louis, his native city. During that /
time he has handled several important 4
maritime cases necessitating a careful /
study Of shipping IN many Of its features. I
He is member Of the firIn Of Colby 4 +
Brown, with offices at No. % Nassau /
street
He represented Mark Twain in the I
settlement of the affairs OF his publishing 4
house. He was one of counsel who 4
brought about reforms in the Equitable t
Life Insurance Society. In 1901 and 1902 i
he was a member Of the New York As
sembly from the twenty-ninth district
In 1912 he was actively identified with .
the candidacy of Col Roosevelt. During
the last Presidential election, however. +
he refused 10 follow Col Roosevelt back /
into the Republican ranks and became
head Of the Progressive auxiliary COM
mittee Of the Democratic National Cam
oaign Committee.
He was one of the founders Of the Pro-
gseSsiye party and its candidate for
governor of New York in 1912 In 1914
le was the Progressive nominee for United
States Senator. Governor Whitman ap-
pointed MIN to the New York Commission
on National Security and Defense.
In 1916 he was special prosecutor for
the government in its investigation of
the alleged print paper trust. While
counsel for the Thompson Public Service
committee some of the
startling revelations Of that committees
ife were brought out. He resigned, it
sas said, because paper and information
lot brought out in evidence were made
public
Mr.. Colby has always been an ardent
advocate of national preparedness. He
5 member of the American Bar Asso-
'iation, the Bar Association Of the City
If New York, the Civil Service Reform
Association and the Authors League of
america He is also veteran Of the
spanish war He is forty-seven years
Id, has been married since 1895. and has