Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1898-06-10
HON. WILLIAM ]. BRYAN.
Republican Criticism Of the Attitude
Of the Administration.

OF the Administration.
The Minneapolis Tribune, one of tn.
most rabid Republican newspapers il
the United States, has seen the grea
blunder made by the administration
and, the Republican newspapers in thei1
treatment Of William j. Bryan. Tht
following editorial is severe arraign
ment Of the petty narrowness which
has characterized the Republicans il
this matter:
"Telegraphic reports are to the effect
that William j. Bryan has at last se
cured his commission as colonel and
will go to the front with the Third
Nebraska regiment. The war depart.
ment has notified Nebraska that the
regiment will be accepted and that il
will be added to the contingent going
to the Philippines. This will take Mr..
Bryan good ways from home and re.
move him as a political factor for some
time to come.
Mr.. Bryan has been accused of seek.
ing to enter the military service for ad.
vertising purposes, but if he accepts
this command and sails with it to the
other side Of the world, where he is
liable to remain for q year or two and
to take his chances with the climate
and the Spaniards, this accusation will
in all fairness have to be withdrawn.
In answer to the current charge
made against him, Mr.. Bryan's friends
in Nebraska recently gave out an. ex-
planation of his course with reference
to the war. They say that when the
war was declared he Immediately tels-
graphed to the president rendering
his services in any capacity where he
might be considered useful. In doing
this. they aver, he simply strove to act
as good citizen desirous of setting an
example Of loyal and earnest support Of
the government. They also aver that
no word of acknowledgement was ever
received by Mr.. Bryan from the presi-
dent. Consequently, in his desire to
enter the service, he turned to the au-
thorities Of his state, and in the belief
that more troops would be called for,
Gov. Holcomb commissioned him to
raise an extra regiment, Of which he
might or might not be an officer, ac-
cording as the governor, OF the men
themselves, should decide. He began
operations by enlisting in this regi-
ment as private, avowing his purpose
to go to the front as a private if the
regiment did not see fit to elect him an
officer.
"The Springfield Republican, COM
mentjng on the facts in the case, very
justly says: There does not appear to
be much political capital-seeking in all
this. To one in Mr.. Bryan's position
it was a choice either of keeping per
fectly still aud being accused Of luke
warmness or hostility to the war, or of
speaking out or rendering his services,
and being consequently accused of har-
boring ulterior and selfish motives
Referring to the statement that Mr..
Bryan's tender Of service was complete
" ignored by the president, the Repub-
lican says it is hard to believe, and
adds: But we do know that while this
volunteer who, though ignorant and
inexperienced in q military way, had
proved himself a natural leader Of
men, was passed over without recogni-
tion, many others, equally ignorant, and
inexperienced, and not even known to
possess the faculty of leadership sons
and grandsons of ex-presidents, sena-
tors, rich men and others-favorites of
social and official fortune-have been
picked up by the president and been
passed over the heads of trained mill
5ary officers to positions of command in
;he volunteer army
"Mr, Bryan's reputation rs volun-
:eer soldier will now rest entirely upon
lis own conduct. He is entitled to
;redit for the same patriotic motives
hat have influenced other men to vol
lnteer for military service in the pres
mt war"