The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-19

50 iotHlNg III MS i'iicNHted po!lcS
mat is not equally available TO any
man or woman in the government.
employ. ard certainly no one will
question tho assertion that the gen
eral application OF that policy would
mean the absolut. ruin OF public ser
Vice
why Discrimination:
1T has ocen ordered by another
member Of the Cabinet that postmas-
iers shall not engage in any other
business than that relating to their
Offices as postmasters Tho same rule
is applied to other subordinate Fed
cral otnceholders. Why this discrim-
lnation III favor of high salaried Of
hccr against tie low salaricd one?
MIR. Bryan says lie is selling his
time energies and talents 10 private
individuals or organizations because
his official salary is not enough for
him TO live upon. He is receiving
$1,000 a year. In the government
service there are thousands OF en-
ployes who receive less than one tenth
OF that sum, and who. in these days
OF high cost Of living, find ii difficult
TO live within their income. Not one
Of these thousands. however. is per-
mittcd to abandon mis- post of duty
and sell his tim, and energies and
talents 10 others for the reason that
MIR. Bryan has given for his action.
II Mr.. Eiyans example shall be fol-
lowed BY public employees generally.
who can Sc 'hc extent ri injury 70
the public service?
II We are to adopt the policy of
placing the dollar above public duty.
thcn the door OF opportunity should
not be opened to one citizen and closed
TO another. II there is TO be discrm
ination. II should De in favor Of the
poorly paid man. hut / sec no reason
why distinction should he made.
Foreign Questions Grave.
at a time when most unusual for
eign complications confront us. when
the Japanese question is before us:
when our relations with the disturbed
republic TO the south OF us are most
grave and frauEht with mighty re
sponsibilities, when treaties affecting
our relations with various nations of
action OF this nation when the ques-
tion of Panama Canal tolls is press
ing hard upon us when the alleged
claims OF Colombia are being urged:
when the Congress is dealing with the
tariff containing provisions which may
affect our diplomatic relations with
other countries. indeed, at this time.
above all others, the statement OF Mr..
Bryan that ne proposed to desert his
Office for the purpose OF personal
financial gain comes a shock 10 all
thoughtful people.
This action is even more nexcus-
able when il is known that the secre-
tary has been in Office but few
months, and from the nature Of things
he cannot have become familiar with
all OF the responsibilities of his great
position The Secretary OF State is re
garded as the most important exec
uiive officer OF the government below
the President He is premier OF the
Cabinet He should he the first exam
pie OF faithful, intelligent devotion 10
duty
Il know OF nothing more unfortunate
to the cause OF public virtue and sin
Sleness of purpose for high ideals than
this expressed determination OF MI
Bryan, upheld by the reasons which
he gives When he entered into the
implied contract with the government
10 serve as Secretary OF state he knew
what the salary OF that position was
He had for years proclaimed the doc
trine of the simple lite--of pure de-
mocracy. He knew that $1,000 per
month was the compensation he would
receive from the government To
of people in public and pr-
waite life that compensation seems
ciares TO the country that il is in
sufficient 10 meet his expenses as Sec
rotary OF State
40 One Else Complains.
His salary is the same as that re-
ceived by the other Cabinet officers
and no one of them has complained
that il is inadequate. How now are the
virtues or economy and simplicity to
be impressed upon the people when
their great advocate states that it is
necessary for him to capitalize for
financial gain his great ability as n
Chautauqua lecturer because he cam
not support himself and family upon
$1,000 year?
If he had resigned rs secretary,
giving as his reason the one he did
give. viz, that he could not live OH
his salary. and by inference that he
owed a higher duty to his desire for
wealth than he did TO pubiic service,
there WOULD have been less reason for
public complaint but TO hold his Of
nee and draw the full salary for only
a part Of the time he rendered ser
vice. is. in my Judgment, improper
and incXcusablc.
MIR. Bryan was one Of the highest
priced lecturers in the country before
he became Secretary OF state. His SUI
pcrior ability as an orator, plus the
notoriety he secured as a several
times candidate for President, gave MIN
great drawing powers at Chautalquas.
ana he had a right to improve the op-
portunities thus opened 10 him, but no
man has right to exploit the public
Office which he is holding tor private
gain, especially not when
such exploitation must OF necessity
interfere with the performance Of the