The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-31
But Bryan Refuses to Con-
firm or Deny It's
Truth.
NO INFORMATION
GIVEN BY WILSON
Florida Paper Prints Story That
Nebraskan Has Been Offered
and Has Accepted Portfolio
of Secretary Of State-He
Declines to Discuss Gun
authorized Reports"

Miami. Fla. January S0.--"I do not
care 70 discuss unauthorized reports,
was the only statement William j.
Bryan would make tonight when
asked 70 confirm or deny a story
published to-day in the Miami Herald.
stating that Mr.. Bryan had been offered
and had accepted the portfolio of
Secretary of State in the Wilson
Cabinet.
After conferences here between Bryan
and other prominent Democratic lead
ers. including Henry +. Alexander. OF
Trenton. y J.. last night, tho Herald
to-day published a story 70 the effect
that Mr.. Bryan had given positive
assurance that he would accept the
portfolio OF Secretary OF State in the
Wilson Cabinet. Mr.. Alexander left
early to-day to return to Trenton and
the belief was expressed that he was
taking Mr.. Bryan's answer to Mr..
Wilson.
Others who called on Mr.. Bryan in
Guided Colonel r. NJ. House. of Texas.
and Hugh c. Wallace. of Washington.
one of the leading Democrats OF the
Northwest. To-day Mr. Bryan as
serted that Mr.. Alexander did not call
upon him on political business He also
dictated the following statement re-
garding the report circulated
NO attention whatever should be
paid to such reports as sent out from
Miami. No friend would presume to
speak for me in such matter, and no
man who would assume to speak for
me can be considered d friend. take
it for granted that President Elect
Wilson will give out anything he wants
pu blished. and / will give out anything
l want published. Neither of us should
be held responsible for what anybody
says. Speaking for myself do not care
to discuss unauthorized reports Mr..
Alexander did not call upon political
business and our conversation was
about an entirelu different matter"
Washington Believes 1t.
Washington, January 30.-Thc re-
port from Miami. Fla. concerning
William J. Bryan's place in the Wilson
Cabinet spread through the Capital
to-day and aroused widespread in
terest and comment among Senators
and Representatives. There was some
misgiving at the outset as to accepting
the report in the absence of an authorf-
tative statement and because of the
frequency of Cabinet states appearing
of late.
However, the prevailing view was
that the report was in line with what
had been expected for some time by
those leaders having close relations
with the President Elect and Mr-
Bryan. Some of the leaders in the
conference of both the President
Elect and Mr.. Bryan asserted their
belief in the accuracy of the state
ment that Mr. Bryan had accepted
the portfolio
1t was said that Mr. Bryan had con-
fded TO prominent Democratic Sena-
tors some time ago the fact that ne
had been offered the position and had
determined 10 accept It. but none Of
the leaders to-day was willing to permit
the use of his name in connection
with il.
Members OF the Senate and House
who recently talked with President
Elect Wilson declined to-day to make
any statement as TO the Information
they had received from him