Evening star., 1932-02-29


| out that his critics in aSSalllng MT
for taking the case were in substance
DENYING the power companies the righ
to competent counsel Baker unqueS
tionably had a strong argument in M
| favor.
! But although the issue has an i'm
portant bearing on his chances for Tn
Democratic Presidential nomination, b
| declined to make reply or to perml
| his friend to do so in his name. I'M
passive attitude toward critics ha
characterized his whole life.
Gibed for Velvet Jacket.
As a boy he was teased by the othe
boys in the neighborhood for the dappe
manner in which his mother dresse
him. He was sent to Sunday schoc
| in a velvet Jacket and broad white col
lar. The youthful Baker was quit
unconcerned at the joshing.
As a brilliant student at Johns Hop
kins University, he again was unmove'
when he was called grind" He wen
calmly about his studies, favorite will
the faculty, and the honor graduate o
his class.
When he Joined Tom johnson in hi
epic struggles against the Clevelant
utilities and their control OF the cit.
government, Baker remained unmovet
at the fierce lampoons the opposition
directed against him. Below medium
height, very slight in build-he has
never weighed more than 110-Baker
then only few years out OF law school,
was a favorite target of the opposition
johnson and others of his associate:
would often become outraged at the at.
tacks on them, but Baker never gave
any indication that he cared. This
aloofness to personal criticism he pre-
served throughout his term as Secretary
of War.
Capacity for Work.
No less characteristic than his iron
control over his temper is Bakers pro-
digious capacity for work. This Is al
the more marked because Of his frail
physique. In the War Department they
still tell stories of his enormous
industry
His day began at o'clock and ended
at midnight or later. Regardless OF
what time he quit at night, he was back
at his desk by 8 the next morning. He
not only mastered the details of the
department, but he had an officer Of
the War College assigned to teach him
military strategy.
On trip to France during the war,
Baker literally exhausted the staff he
took with him by his energy. Col
Leonard P. Ayres. his aide, relates that
the party had been at sea only one day
when Baker summoned him and asked
him to learn what made the waves
break over the prov in a peculiar curl
the ship, and the exact power charge
used in a particular artillery piece and
why this was better than another kind
Late that day, when Ayres wearily re-
ported back to Baker and was looking
forward to an evening and night OF
leisure and rest, his chief handed him
a very serious work on international
affairs and asked him If he had read
it. Ayres said he had not Baker then
suggested that he do so, and said they
would discuss it at breakfast next morn
ing. AyreS spent most of the night
reading the book so he could talk il
over with Baker the next day.
Banker Tells Characteristic Story.
This same calm driving industry he
has displayed in his brilliant legal
career since retiring from the War De-
partment A banker tells how Baker
prepared for an important case. The
eral Reserve System. Baker represented
influential banking interests. and be-
cause of the importance of the litiga-
tion 1t was widely watched by the bank
ing community of the country.
The banker who tells the story. one
of those involved in the case. met Baker
and anxiouslv inquired how he was
progressing with his preparations.
1--WE been doing bit of reading,
Baker answered. Tive been going over
all the important decisions relating to
national banks"
an the decisions?" gasped the banker
unbelievinglv.
Eyes, all" Baker said quietly.
And he had, from the beginning OF
the national banking system down to
the present as he graphically demon
strated when the case came to trial
His indefatigable thoroughness and
vast knowledge of the subject were sc
outstanding that they played an i'm
portant part in the winning of his suit
Although he is known as an Ohioan
and made his repute in Cleveland
Baker is Southerner. the son of a
Confederate soldier. He was born in
Martinsburg, w. Va, in 1871. His
father. also Newton D. Baker. had
been soldier in the famous cavalry
brigade of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. After
the war the father studied medicine
and became country doctor. He and
his only child were devoted compan-
ions. Together they read the
Encyclopaedia Britannica from A to z
Pet Student of Wilson.
Baker first knew Woodrow Wilson
when Wilson was young professor at
Johns Hopkins. Wilson gave a course
| in American history and Baker was
one of his students. Baker stood high
| in the class and was a favorite oi
| Wilson's, but outside of school work
| there was no relation between them