Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1920 — J. BARTON PAYNE IN THE CABINET [ARTICLE]

J. BARTON PAYNE IN THE CABINET

Chicagoan Selected to Succeed Lane as Secretary of the . Interior. IS CHAIRMAN OF SHIP BOARD Wilson to Preside at Next Session of Cabinet—Secretary Tumulty Says He Has Never Seen President Looking Better.* Washington, Feb. 13. —John Barton Payne of Chicago has been selected by President Wilson to be secretary of tlie Interior to succeed Franklin K. Lane. Mr. Payne is now chairman of the United States shipping board. Mr. Payne will take over his new duties March 1, when Mr. Lane retires at his own request. Mr. Payne’s successor as chairman of tlie shipping board has not yet been announced. Before becoming chairman of the shipping board on August 7, 1919, Mr. Payne was general counsel of the railroad administration and before that he was general counsel of the emergency fleet corporation. lie is a native of Virginia and is sixty-five years old. Formerly Railroad Lawyer. John Barton Payne has been active in Democratic politics In Chicago for a number of years, and since 1911 has been president of the south park commission. He was a judge of the superior court from 1893 to 1898 and -has practiced law in Chicago since 1883, being counsel for the Chicago Great Western and other railroads. He was born at Pruyntown, Va., January *26. 1855. Wilson at Next Cabinet Meet. The next meeting of the cabinet probably will be called and presided over by President Wilson. Secretary Lansing, who has been issuing the calls for the meetings for several months, said today he had written cabinet officers that there would be no more regular sessions of the president’s official family for the present. He would offer no explanation, but it was understood that his letter was written by direction of Mr. Wilson. Throughout the president’s Illness the cabinet has met regularly, and when the coal strike Situation became acute the meetings were increased from one to two weekly. There was no meeting Wednesday and none will be held Friday. For several weeks now the president has been taking more and more of a had'd in the conduct of official business. Secretary Tumulty said today he had never seen Mr. Wilson looking better. /