The San Francisco call., 1913-07-16
Mr. Bryan's Bread and Butter

United States, the highest official OF the
presidents cabinet. going round the country prac-
tcaliy hat in hand and in effect begging for con
tributions for the support OF himself and his family
is one which reflects the greatest discredit the
nation and on the man who does it.
Suppose, for example. that such diplomatic in
cident occurred, like that which led to Secretary
Olneys declaration to England in the Venezuelan
affair under President Cleveland, and Mr.. Bryan
should be preaching peace on. the platform OF a
Chautauqua meeting in Hendersonville, S. G. Who
could tell what disaster might not befall the coun-
try when the responsible head of its foreign policy
was off on lecturing tour in remote country
town in a southern state. in which, if it is like
similar towns elsewhere, no telegraph office is open
after o'clock in the evening?
And suppose such event should happen when
President Wilson again had got lost in.the woods
near Cornish, NJ H.
These suppositions may be extreme but really
big men are needed for emergencies not for the
ordinary routine of affairs. which any competent
desk man may handle we'll
Mr. Bryan is quoted as saying at Henderson,
vile
AS this is my.first Chautauqua lecture since
becoming d member OF the CdDllltl ~ llfdN bol
be out OF place to say that find it necessary
to lecture in order to supplement the salary
which receive from the government.
AS have ectured for IS years, this method
Of adding to my income is the most natural
one to which to turn, and / regard it as ex
tremely letigimate
OF course, it is natural and legitimate for any
one to add to his income by lecturing; but the
question is, is it proper for the secretary Of state
OF the United States to do So
The answer obviously is no, and very posi-
lively no.
Mr. Bryan knew before he accepted the Office
what its obligations He knew very we'll that
the United States can not DEFY the whole world
even in the matter OF social obligations and con-
ventions and he knew. that social entertainment
and not with grape juice either is one of the chief
functions Of that representative OF the home govern
ment who deals with the representatives of foreign
governments on international matters
Mr. Bryan knew all this and he should have &C
cepted the position other secretaries of state have
done. by accepting the obligations and the self
sacrifices that might be necessary
Mr. Bryans last democratic predecessors Mr..
Bayard and Mr.. Olney were not rich men. Neither
reported weathier than Mr. Bryan is reputed
to be- Both of them entertained more extensively
than Mr. Bryan has done. Neither Of them COM
planned about his salary Neither OF them resorted
to the most natural and extremely legitimate
method OF appealing to the public to help out his
pay by paying to hear him. Both of them were on
the job all the time and Mr.. Oney in particular
proved one OF the ablest secretaries of state we
have had.
Congress ought to come to Mr. Brvan's relief
at Let him schedule the amounts he thinks
will meet the demands upon his purse made bv rea-
of his being secretary OF state and no doubt
Speaker Clark will be glad to jam such bill
through the house, and Senator Bankhead will nut
it through the senate
But perhaps Mr. Bryan prefers to lecture on
Chautauqua platforms, and let the Mexican and
other diplomatic matters wait until he has earned
few hundred dollars. There he is before the dear
people, and 1910 is only three years and a hall
away.