The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-25
WILSON NMEETS
NEW OFFICIAL
Appointment Announced Follow
ing White House Conference
With Successor OF Lansing.
SELECTION GREAT SURPRISE
Latest Cabinet Officer Has
Been Active In PoIitics-Has
Held Federal Office.

Bainbridge Colby has been ap-
pointed Secretary of State to sue
ceed Robert Lansing, it was an
nouncer at the White House today.
Colby's appointment came as even
more of a surprise than the resig-
nation of Lansing at request of
President Wilson.
Visits White House.
The first hint of Colby's appoint
ment came a few minutes before the
formal announcement by Secretary
Tumulty. The early reports that he
would get the place were not gener-
ally credited.
Following the announcement OF the
appointment, Colby appeared at the
White House and was taken to see
President Wilson.
Confers With Wilson.
Following his conference with VIII
son Colby refused to state what his
political affiliations are at present.
Good taste. he said, I think. coun-
sells the briefest of statements until
such time as the Senate has acted
upon my nomination of Secretary OF
State
81 may say that I had long and
unhurried conference with the Presi-
dent which impressed me with the
great confidence he reposed in me.
hope i shall not prove inadequate in
perft rmance of the great duties be-
fore me-"
May Mean Shake-up.
The circumstances of Lansing's
haI n "a hQan
discussed at the conference this
morning, at which time Wilson went
over with the new Secretary the
policy he expects him to pursue, it
was learned.
1t was suggested that a house
cleaning may be in prospect in the
State Department, which will put the
handling OF Americas foreign affairs
in the hands of an entirely new group
of men, as a result Of the clash with
Lansing. The present State Depart
ment staff co-operated with Lansing
in the international dealings to which
the President is believed to have OBJ
jccted.
When Colby's appointment gets on
the Senate floor for confirmation, de-
bate on the Lansing-W Wilson clash Is
expected to result. Immediately after
Lansing resigned, a number Of SEN
ators stated privately they intended
10 look into the AFFAIR when submis-
sion OF the name OF new Secretary
for Congressional approval gave
them an opportunity to do so.
As the appointment may be taken
UP in executive session, this debate is
likely TO take place in the committee
which will consider the nomination.
Colby's appointment was believed
to have been decided upon very re-
Gently. Friends who talked with him
in New York last Sunday declared he
had no intimation of his appointment
at that time.
When Colby was a member OF the
Shipping Board he was listed as an
independent" in politics. In other
official records he is called a PRO
gressive Republican"
Appointment Surprises.
It had been confidently expected
that either Acting Secretary of State
Polk or Secretary of War Baker
would get the portfolio.
Colby's selection Is understood to
be In the nature of a compromise. The
President has been besieged by sup
porters OF both Polk and Baker. and
IL is understood that he selected a
man outside of the present Cabinet in
order that ho might not create any
conflict in his own circle.
Neither Polk nor Baker have sought
the office themselves, but their friends
have been strong in urging their APP
pointment. There were supporters for
both, who were very close to the
President, and had he chosen between
Polk and Baker he would have at
least injured some feelings.
Active in Politics.
Colby's latest connection with the
Wilson Administration was when he
was member of the United States
Shipping Board. He resigned from
this position a few months ago.
During the Republican national
convention OF 1912 Colby was In
charge OF the contest to seat Roose-
velt delegates. He was one of the
founders OF the Progressive party and
n delegate to its first convention.
During the war he was a commits
sioner of the Federal Shipping Board
and n member OF the Emergency
Fleet Corporation. He was mem
ber OF the American mission TO the
interaIlied conference at Paris in
1917.
The new Secretary OF State was n
personal friend OF the late Samuel
clemens MARK Twain, and repre-
scented the author in settling UP the
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