The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-26

.~. .v GrrIined TO comment on whether
INV would confirm the nomination
ra.~lridge Colby, whom President
.-.4..a .oday surprised everyone by
-.......s him as secretary of state.
w. -hlagton. Feb. 25-Bainbridge
..ay &C New York, who was one
= .ae leaders in the progressive party
.rdec Theodore Roosevelt will sue
..I Robert Lansing as secretary. Of
..a-e. Announcement of his selection
President Wilson was made today
. he White House.
The selection of Mr.. Colby came as
surprise, most officials assuming
r7- Frank L. Polk, acting sec
rv. would he the presidents choice.
r-e first inkling that the president
-as 20 appoint some one outside of
AS official family came when Mr..
'e.ty visited the White House early
.riav in company with Raymond T.
Baker, director Of the mint.
Mr. Colby was taken to see the
,.o-tdent on the south lawn and n
.w minutes later the formal an
.ogaeement of his selection was made.
Ills nomination is expected to be sent
20 -he senate within day or two.
This is not the first office Mr.. Colby
.ss held under the presidents admin
s.ration. He was appointed a mem
4r Of the Shipping Board and the
Emergency Fleet Corporation in July
1917 and also was a member of the
american mission to the inter allied
tipping conference in Paris in the
.ame year. He retired from the Ship
ing Board more than a year ago.
Mr.. Colby was a lifelong republican
ntiI the famous Bull Moose bolt at
ne Chicago convention in 1912. He had
cen actively identified with the can
idacy Of Theodore Roosevelt for the
repubIican nomination for president
hat year and was in charge Of con-
.ests to seat the oosevelt delegates
IN the Chicago convention.
When Colonel Roosevelt bolted the
-o1vention. Mr.. Colby helped to found
i the progressive party and was a dele
sate to it's Chicago convention in 1912.
continued an active leader in that
" and in 1914 and again in 1916
was a progressive candidate for
tor from New York state.
When Colonel Roosevelt threw the
-ht of his influence to Charles,
ms Hughes in the 1916 presidential
.e. Mr.. Colby identified himself with
democratic party.
6, Colby was born at st. Louis 81
s ago and graduated from Williams
Age Mass. He spent one year at
Columbia law school and has prac-
law in New York since 1892. He
q member of the New York as
5lymen in 19O1-02.
"a leaving the White House, Mr..
y said:
had long and unhurried confer
with the president which i'm |
i I
as rcposed in me. 1 hope 1 shall !
ay. prove inadequate to these great
llties"
N Mr., Colby said that pending consid- |
ration Of his nomination by the SEN !
ie he did not desire to make a further |
4 statement.
a After Mr.. Colby has taken office, Mr.. !
Polk who has been secretary ad in |
n taTim since the resignation of Mr.. |
lansing nearly two weeks ago, is ex- |
Iected TO carry out his intention of re-
AFng from the state department. Mr.. !
f0k's health has not been at all good |
-7r more than a year and his phySl- |
"ans have advised him to take Il long |
Test
Should Mr.. Polk retire two import
nj posts in the state department
would be left vacant, that of under
secretary to which Mr.. Polk was ad- !
'aHced some months ago, and of assls-
ant secretary. The latter place was
~eld by William Phillips, the newly |
-2ponted minister to the Netherlands
News Of Mr.. Colby's selection was |
e'e!Ved with unconcealed surprise
among both democrats and repubh-
ans in the senate, which will be call
upon to confirm his nomination.
zone Of them. however, cared to ven
ue any public expression on the !
Sele't Of confirmation.
hen Mr.. Colby ives nominated in
T. membership on the shipping
ga his confirmation was accom-
Tt'ed only aftlr a prolonged fight.
Commerce committee voted by a
Unity OF l to report the nomination
ably, If being understood at the |
~ that Senator Reed, democrat of !
IA M ouri voted in the negative and
5,. Senator Johnson, republican of |
7-.0rnil, broke the tie.
d" that time Mr.. Colby's activities
'7h progressive party, where he
-' "een associated with Senator
->on and other republican senator's,
"Ee fresh in the minds of the
.." members
he nomination came to the
H. a2or Senators Wadsworth and |
u New York, the nominees
tate were understood to have
%'' ,o1f!rmation and to have been
i ON the roll call by most of
F+'Hcans. Again, as in the COM
sac progressive element was