The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-13
BRYAN D0FFS HIS UNIFORM.
LAYS ASIDE HIS SWORD AND RE
TURNS TO PRIVATE LIFE TO-DAY.


Bryan Expected a Telegram But
None Had Reached Him Last Night.
Believed He VIII stop at Washing-
ton Before Returning West-TO
Prepare Statement for the Pub
lie.
To-day Col. William Jennings Bryan ex-
poets to lay aside his uniform as com
mander Of a volunteer regiment of the
United States Army and retire to private
life. The sword that circumstances left
undrawn against the enemies of his coun-
| try viii go back to its scabbard, never
again to flash on dress parade or rise in
salute on review.
After five months of military service, the
Nebraskan viii return to his home, 20 the
practice of law and the wider arena of
politics in which he has become so promi-
nent national figure. From Savannah 1t
is understood he may go to Washington for
a few days. There national questions of
moment are under discussion. 1t would be
but natural for him to visit the capital,
to confer with the other leaders of his
party, 70 exchange views with them and
by his influence to assist in shaping the
policy of the Democracy for the next few
years.
Col Br%an's resignation went to the
war department Saturday night When he
came from the camp TO the city Saturday
afternoon and to headquarters. he brought
il with him, ready TO mail. At headquar-
ters he placed it before Gen. Lee and Gen.
/ h
continue with the regiment to Cuba. Find
ing that he was not to be shaken in his de-
cision to quit the service they expressed
their regrets and wished him the greatest
success in the career in civic life to which
he was returning. Five minutes after Col
Bryan left the De Soto his resignation
was in the postoffice.
Yesterday morning Col. Bryan telegraph
ed the war department that he had sent
his resignation in by mail. He expected
that Secretary Alger would receive it yes
terday on his arrival at his office and that
! immediate action would be taken upon it.
AS matter of fact, the resignation did
not get into the secretary's hands until
| the afternoon, when a telegram was at
once directed sent to Coz. Bryan, notify
ing him of fits acceptance Up 10 Z
o'clock last night, though, he had not re-
ceived the official dispatch, and for that
reason did not feel justified in discussing
the reasons that prompted him to resign,
and his future plans
81 had expected an acceptance by this
! time" he said to a Morning News report
er at camp last night, land will probably
hear from the war department at least by
! tomorrow. ! viii then prepare a state
ment for the press which will give any
information that might be considered as
of interest to the general public AL
though I have sent in my resignation,
am stil in the army and do not feel the
freedom to talk that I will after the no
tice of my designations acceptance is re-
ceived. Then" he added, with a smile.
"the gag of military etiquette will be re-
moved, and l viii feel at freedom to
speak. While in the army, do as army
regulations would Indicate That has been
my rule for the past half year"
"Why have you been averse to discuss
ing the matter of your resignation before
this, colonel?"
Not from any desire to avoid taking the
pubic into my confidence, but because I
felt that the time TO talk about it was
after l had acted and my action had been
passed upon by those in authority There
was no use in discussing a possible or
probable intention until 1t had taken a
Oennlle form.
Col. Bryan intimated that the matter. of
resigninS had been given the most care
ful consideration by him before he took
the final step of preparing il and sending
1t on to Washington. Few, if any. of the
colOners personal friends were taken into
his confidence, it is understood, his action
being on his own volition. 1t was known
among his friend officers of his regiment
say that he did net aspire to a military
life for any mere glory that might come
QUE or ii, but from a strong patriotic be-
lew that duty called him to volunteer in
the war with Spain. War being over that
duty ceased,
q had concluded" said Col BRYAN last
night, that the time of the signing Of the
peace treaty was the time for me to get
out. Reaching that conclusion I notified
Gems. Lee. Keifer and Wheaton, and sent
in my resignation at once"
All three OF the commanding officers
mentioned by Col Bryan approved his
resignation before it was forwarded to
Secretary Alger. If he had not bvoue 1T
the paper TO Town on Saturday evening
and then mailed il he would, in all prob
ability, have been compelled 10 remain IN
the army for another fort
night, as Secretary AIger AMI
the President both leave Wash
ington tomorrow, and will not he back
there until probably Thursday of next
week. Ii was perhaps to avoid this an
necessary further detention in service
that led col. Bryan TO send the res:gna-
ton in on Saturday.
While Col Bryan will not yet discuss
any phase of his resignation, ii is known
from the remarks OF one or two close no
litical friends of his that he has never
been in the slightest degree aporehensice
that his withdrawal from the army would
injure him politically. This phase Of tho
resignation is The one that win probably
most enSross the pubIc's attention now
thar il has become an established fact that
Col. Bryan has resigned