Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-20
Explanation of Secretary of State
More Amazing Than His Acts,
Declares Bristow, Who Intro
duced Resolution to Investigate
Wilson's Premier CapitaIizing His
Position, Asserts Representa-
tive WiIIis-Much Work To Be
Done in His Department,

WASHINGTON, July 19.-The con-
sensus of opinion among public and
private persons in the National Capt.
tai is that If Secretary Bryan can not
live on his salary of $4,000 a year
he ought to resign and continue his
lecture tours as private individual.
Mr.. Bryan to-day gave evidence Of
the fact that the country wide criti-
cism had got under his skin. That he
was irritated and impatient and real
lied the bad break he has made was
apparent to his subordinates through
out the day. Somewhat petulantly he
declared that the press of the coun-
try might have assumed that my
lecture engagements are subject to
cancellation"
Publicly Mr. Bryan announced to
the country that he could not live on
q salary about which his fellow Cab
met members have not complained.
and in a second statement, given out
authoritatively, complained that crit
Icism was groundless.
Evades Papers Questions.
The American to-day endeavored to
obtain from Mr. Bryan more in de-
tail the reasons that actuated him to
arrange to leave his post of duty at
time when very grave matters per-
tanning to our relations with foreign
powers were pending. He declined to
answer certain questions and refused
to discuss the subject of his official
pronunciamento.
Mr.. Bryan was asked these ques-
lions by The American:
'Tf you feel your duty is TO your
private pocketbook rather than to
the great common people to whom
YOU have preached simplicity for
the last seventeen years, why do
YOU not resign and devote your en-
tire time to the lecture platform
and literary pursuits?
'If you believe the people have
called you to the great office you
can fill so ably do you not believe
that it is your duty as an American
and a patriot to sacrifice your per-
sonaI interests for the interests Of
your country? The more so from
the fact that you admit you have
saved about 100000, which is con-
siderably more than a competence
when invested shrewdly?
You say that you entered one
campaign from the Chautauqua
platform. Is it not a fact that you
look upon the present and future
engagements as the best opportu-
nifty to get in direct touch with the
people, who, you contend, will elect
the next President by direct voter"
Bryan Leaves to Lecture.
No answer was returned to the
questions. Later in the day he left
Washington to keep an engagement
to lecture.
Senator Bristow, author of the reso-
luton calling upon the President for
information as to what salary ought
to be paid to enable Mr.. Bryan tC
stay in Washington and attend to his
public duties, to-day came back with
= rejoinder to Mr.. Bryan's explanation
of last night.
SECRETARY Brya7's second state
rent has astounded me even more
than his first one" said Mr.. Brstow.
THAT the present Secretary of State
should have such a sordid view Of
the Governmtnt service is amazing.
Secretary Bryan says he has a
right to use his vacation for lectur.
ing if he sees fit. But he is to be
away on one tour of six weeks, and
there is no telling where his vacation
will end.
Needed at His Post.
Besides, since he has been Secre-
tary of State he has been in Wash
ington only about one-half the time
so far. If ever there was a time
when the Secretary of State was
needed On the job it is now, when so
many important questions are up for
consideration. To cause the people
to pay money to hear the Secretary
of State, the highest officer in the
Cabinet, deliver addresses is all
Continued on Page II, Column I.