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SECTION TWO
Pages 1 to 4
SECTION TWO
Pages 1 to 4
VOLUME 30
A ,
LA GRANDE, OREGON, THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1932
NUMBER 236 i
Is Not Candidate, But Might
Break Convention Deadlock
By Robert Talley
NEA Service lter)
(Copyright, 1032, NEA Service. Inc.)
CLEVELAND A quiet-manneera
little man with a luminous smile,
who has spent 30 of his 61 years In
publlo life, purrs contentedly on a
big pipe In his law offices here, ap
parently Indifferent to the fact that
he Is being discussed throughout
the nation as a "dork horse" presi
dential candidate. Moreover, he In-
ststs that he Is not a candidate and
does not wish to be considered one.
He Is Newton D. Baker, Wood row
Wilson's secretary of war back in
the hectic days of a dozen years ago.
Of the presidency. Baker has
said: ....
"The president Is the loneliest and
most defenseless prisoner In the
world, and I doubt very much
whether any president from, Wash
ington down has ever spent as many
happy hours in four years as I now
habitually spend in cacti month as
I practice law and grub potatoes."
Baker Is making no effort to get
the Democratic nomination, but his
closest friends say he will accept if
It, 1b offered to him. Aftor all, a
man Is merely human and a
chance at the presidency of " the
United States is nothing to be treat
ed lightly.
Since the Wilson administration
retired from Washington on March
4, 1921, Baker has been Cleveland's
"first citizen." He came back here,
resumed the practice of law, and
has taken a leading part In. civic
and public affairs. He still Is n na
tional figure. . President Coolldge
named him to the World Court at
The Hague and President Hoover
appointed him to the Wlckersham
Commission.
Except for a few gray halts and
deeper lines In his face, the Baker
of today is little different from the
Secretary of War Baker who spent
billions at the rate of $1,600,000 an
hour back In 1018. At 61, he still
Is slender and small of stature,
standing only a little over five feet
In height and weighing about 120
pounds. He still has that fighting
Jaw, that whimsical smile, that gra
cious manner, still wears those horn
rimmed glasses that give him on
owlish appearance of wisdom.
That ever-present pipe still Is one
of. hlo most distinguishing features.
His friends say he seems-' to' smoke-
it every waking hour. He puffs on
it constantly while talking with you
In his private office here.
The walls of this office are cov
ered with framed and autographed
photos of Wilson, Pershing, Foch,
Joffre, Clemenceau, Lloyd George
and other world notables of the war
days. .
Baker shows you one of his most
prized exhibits. It Is a framed copy
of a printed story of his life, sent
out by a newspaper service Just in
advance of his inspection trip to
Franco In 1018. At the top of the
first page its .boldly printed nota
tion explained: "For release In case
Secretary Baker's ship is sunk by a
submarine."
Baker gets a kick out of this.
Few men get the chance to read
their own obituary.
One of the most intellectual and
Bcholarly men in American public
life. Baker's recreations are almost
wholly mental. He does not play
golf, he cares little for sports, takes
practically no exercise.
An avid reader and a master of
languages, he devours Greek, Latin,
Hebrew and Arabic in the original.
Ha does not care for bridge, seldom
attends a theater, infrequently goes
to a concert, although he is a lover
of music.
Today, as when he first went to
Washington, his hobby Is flower
gardening. Old-timers recall that
when he took over the job in 1916
as head of the nation's mailed fist
he was twitted for confessing his
love for flowers, nicknamed "Pansy"
Baker because he had a big Jar of
fresh pansles on his desk.
Today, he grows flowers in a
(beautlful garden at his home In
Shaker Heights, . fashionable Cleve
land suburb. A golf course adjoins
and golfers often knock balls Into
the garden where Baker Is toiling
amid his frograntb lossoms.
Three men, all dead i now, played
big parts in molding Baker's career.
One was his father, who taught his
boy to enjoy the beauties of the
world's finest literature.
The second was Wood row Wilson,
who, as a lecturer at Johns Hopkins,
caused a young student to turn
from a contemplated career as a
doctor to that of a lawyer, and thus,
unwittingly, won his greatest politi
cal disciple of later years. .
Newton Dlehl Baker was born at
Martinsburg, W. Va., on Dec. 3, 1871,
the son of a country doctor of the
same name who had fought In the
Civil war as a Confederate cavalry
man - under General "Jeb" Stuart.
His father loved literature and in
spired the boy similarly.
When young Baker entered Johns
Hopkins, where he received his A. B.
degree In 1892, he considered medi
cine as a career. However, he decid
ed to become a lawyer after attend
ing lectures given by Wood row Wil
son. He studied law at Washington
and Lee university, being graduated
In 1694. ,
Baker returned to Martinsburg
and opened a law office. After a
year in which he had scarcely a
single client, the young barrister
decided he'd better quit and get n
Job. t From Washington came an
offer to be private secretary to Post
master General William Wilson, a
fellow West Virginian, and Baker ac
cepted. After a year, he had saved
enough money to make a trip to
Europe.
On the ship returning from
abroad, Martin L. Foran, a Cleveland
politician, and a fellow passenger
were having a hot argument on
Irish home rule. Baker joined the
argument, helped Foran win It. He
so Impressed Foran with his ability
that Foran Invited him to move to
Cleveland and Join his law firm.
A short time later Foran found
himself unable to deliver a political
speech because of illness and sent
the youthful and undersized Baker
to substitute for him. Baker "stood
the crowd on its ears" and from
that day his reputation as a politi
cal debater grew.
Baker passed Into politics under
the wing of Mayor Tom. Johnson,
served three terms as city solicitor
and succeeded Johnson as mayor,
being elected first in 1911 and again
in 1913.
At the Baltimore convention In
1912 Baker led a successful fight to
release the Ohio delegation from the
unit rule that bound It to Judson
Harmon and thereby won 18 votes
for Wilson. The latter never forgot.
As president-elect in 1913 he offered
Baker a cabinet post as secretary of
interior, but Baker declined. When
Secretary of War Garrison retired In
March, 1916, Wilson offered Baker
this Job and Baker accepted.
Baker had no military training or
experience he told Wilson that he
had not even played with lead sol
diers when a boy. Wjllson, however.
Wanted an executive not a soldier
and Baker fitted the' bill.
On the very day Baker took office,
Villa and his Mexican bandits raid
ed Columbus, N. M. Pershing's ex
pedition ln(o Mexico and the con
centration of 100,000: American
troops on the Mexican border fol
lowed, i
Europe was In flames and It was
clear- the war would soon Involve
the United States. , Baker, who loved
flowers, was a pacifist but, as he
told reporters, "I love peace so well
that I am willing to fight for it."
He began laying plans for a war
that he knew was sure to come.
On March 4, 1917, Congress ad
Journed without passing either the
deficiency bill or the army appro
priation bill. Though war was de
clared on April 6, billions needed
for . the army were ..not authorized
until June 16 and the mpney did
not become available until July 1.
Thus for a month before the war
and for two months thereafter the
War department was without funds.
But Baker went boldly ahead. In
April, contracts were let for 13 offi
cers' training camps and In May for
32 cantonments, a matter of $800,
000,000. "I assume full responsibility,"
Baker told assistants when they
warned him that he was violating
the law by spending money before
It was available.
He also fathered the selective ser
vice act, as opposed to the volunteer
system on the one hand and down
right conscription on the other, ,
Baker c&se Pershing, whom he
had never met face to face, as commander-in-chief
of the A. E. F. He
sent him to France with only two
orders. The first was "Go there";
the second, "Return." Lessons of
the Union army in the Civil war had
taught Baker that too much civil
ian Interference with the military
was dangerous.
The allies had expected not more
than 500,000 American troops in
France by the fall of 1918. Baker
had 2,000,000 there and several mil
lions more under armfe In this country-.
Frederick Palmer, In his book,
says that If the war had continued
Baker would have had 5,000,000 men
In France in 1919. The task was gi
gantic ... every one of these mil
lions of men had to be recruited,
clothed, equipped, trained and fed.
In 1918, the War department spent
12 billion dollars; In 1919. the
amount was 18 billions. There was
a .time when Baker was spending
money at the rate of $1,500,000
overy hour,
The war won, Baker declined
President Wilson's invitation to ac
company him to the peace confer
ence In 1919 and remained at home
to direct the vast program of de
mobilization. There followed, un
der Republican administration, the
long series of . congressional Investi
gations In an attempt to prove
rumors of huge "war grafts.'
After several years of investiga
tion costing $3,000,000, the records
showed only four cases ofc usabil
ity the most serious of which was
the theft of an army truck worth
$2400 by a man in Texas.
On July 5, 1902, Baker, an Episco
palian, wasm arrled to Miss Eliza
beth Leopold, a Presbyterian. They
have three children, all of whom
were confirmed . In tho Episcopal
church. They are Mrs. John P. Mc
Gean, of Cleveland; Newton D. Bak
er III and Miss Margaret Baker.
Such are high spots in the career
of .Newton D. Baker the militant
pacifist who still loves 'his flowers
and is regarded as. a leading "dark
horse" In the 1932 race.
U9i
pipe wo books! ' tt l2
FLOWER.
P W S Gardening- his
j. . Hosev.
NOW CLEVELAND!
PAYNE BEATS LEXILART
SAN FRANCISCO. June 2 m
Taking the lead from the opening
gong, "Tiger" Jack Payne, 178, Omaha
negro, defeated Denny Lenhart, 172,
Portland, by a technical knockout in
the fifth round of a scheduled six-
round main event here last night.
Hans Birkie, 193, Germany, de-
clsloned Chet Shondel, 221, San
Francisco, In a six-round semi-wind-up.
are leaving for an extended visit in
Missouri.
Mrs. Walter Furman and children,
Dale and Deva, Mr. and Mrs. McCoy
and sons, Mack and Warren, and Mrs.
Charles McFall were Imbler people
visiting in Alicel Thursday,
The Prlscllla club met at the home
of Mrs. Alvln Westenskow In Imbler
last Thursday. The next meeting
will be held at the park In La Grande
DUFFY WINS NOD
OAKLAND, Cal., June 2 W Jimmy
Duffy, 152, Oakland, took a ten-round
decision over Ralph Chong, 153, New
Orleans, here last night after being
knocked down for a nine count in
the first Round.
Duffy quickly recovered from the
knockdown and pressed the fight
ing. He took six of the remaining
nlno rounds.
$ $ q $
ALICEL
PERSONALS
By Mrs. Otis Buchanan
(Observer Correspondent)
ALICEL ( Special) Mrs. Otis Bu
chanan was given a farewell shower
surprise party by the Prlscllla club
last week, as she Is leaving for La
Grande to make her home. The
members brought a delicious lunch
of fruit salad, cake and coffee. The
club presented Mrs. Buchanan with a
beautiful water set.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stewart and
Mel Stewart went to Portland Friday.
They returned Sunday bringing Mr.
Stewart 'a mother, who had been
spending a few weeks with her daugh
ter, Mrs. A. J. Oliver.
Mrs. Roy Redman, Mrs. Lawson
Webster, and Mrs. Frank Gibson en
tertained at dinner last Sunday at
the latter 's home In honor of Mr.
and Mrs. Otis Buchanan and Junior,
who are moving to La Grande and
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Buchanan who
If weather permits. If not, they will
meet with Mrs. Buchanan at 1909
First street.
As Mrs. Buchanan has completed
her work as Observer correspondent
from Alicel, Mrs, Carl Fuller, who for
many years looked after news from
that locality again takes up the pen.
Alicel residents are asked to Beo that
Mrs. Fuller hears of Interesting news
Items from that part of tho valley.
New National Y. W. C. A. Heads
Our Anniversary
DOLLAR
Canned Goods S
Mr, iiarrie rnamitenain (iert or Toledo, (.. and Mis mini N.
Stanton (rljcht) of .m f'nl., are sern here nflrr thrlr elrr-
loit as president and first vice prmlilent, rrwct1vly, of the Knllomil
Young Women S ChrllUtn Anoc-laOon. The organization miitly
held a convention in Mlrmeapnllft, Minn. Membership throughout
the In It (il Mutes fviwlii uoo.OOO.
at these SALE Prices
ale
Sale opens June 3d, continues until the 11th
$1.00
FRUITS
RED & WHITE FANCY
COFFEE
lied & White
S-lbs.
Vac. Tin
GRAPEFRUIT
APRICOTS
PEACHES
PEARS
PINEAPPLE
PINEAPPLE
FRUIT SALAD
Sliced or Hnlvca
6
4
5
4
5
10
5
(2)
(214)
(214)
(214)
(24)
(1)
$1.00
$1.00
$1.00
$1.00
$1.00
$1.00
$1.66
lted & White
TOMATO JUICE
10 ,., $100
19qu!s $1.00
MILK
Kcd & White
BLUE & WHITE
APRICOTS ' 5 (21jj) $1.00
GRAPEFRUIT 7 (2) $1.00
PEACHES 6 (2i2) $1.00
PEARS 5 (2i2) $1.00
PINEAPPLE 7 (22) $1.00
TOMATO SOUP
, Kud & White .1 C
: . : lo i-r
VEGETABLES
$1.00
RED & WHITE
FISH
RED & WHITE
SALMON 4
SALMON 5
SHRIMP 5
CRAB MEAT 3
TUNA 5
in
P4)
(l)
J4)
(!4
BLUE & WHITE
$1.00
$1.00
$1.00
$1.00
$1.00
SALMON 10 , $1.00
OYSTERS 10 . $1.00
SHRIMP 7 $1.00
NOHSEMAN
Tuna Flakes 7 m $1.00
ASPARAGUS 4 a, $1.00
BEANS Cut 5 (2) $1.00
BEANS Asparagus Btylo 4 (2) $1.00
CORN Wliolo Kernel 5 (2) $1.09
CORN Cremo 6 (2) $1.00
PEAS Sifted 6 ,2, $1.00
PEAS Ex. Sifted .5 (2) $1.00
SPINACH 6 2., $1.00
TOMATOES 6 $1.00
HOMINY 9 2,, $1.00
KRAUT 9 2V4, $1.00
California DRY BEANS
Small White 20 lbs. $1.00
Limas 14 lbs. $1.00
Red Mex. 17 lbs. $1.00
BLUE & WHITE
BEANS Cut Green
CORN Golden
PEAS Tender Sweet
SLICED BEETS
-TOMATOES
7 Cans $1.00
Tomato Sauce 16 cans $1.00
GREEN & WHITE
CORN
PORK & BEANS
OVEN BAKED
PORK & BEANS
WIlIU!
Sweot
Van
Cumpn
Red &
Whlto
14
No. 2
Chiih
1 ft
19 Cans
28-oz.
Carta
$1.00
$1.00
$1.00
CORN - Golden ,
BEANS Cut Green
PEAS
TOMATOES (Victor)
Assorted if you like.
10 Cans .... $1.00
Depenable Foods at Dependable Stores.
"2 The Sign of a Dependable Store fg
Many Bargains Listed on Want Ad Page: