The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-16
CRITIC1ZING BRYAN.

CRITIClZING BRYAN.
When man enters Office with a large per-
fonai following and equally large number of
people who regard him as a marplot and incom-
petent bent upon accomplishing his own ends and
determined to make trouble for his chief that he
may build upon the wrecks greater power and
place for h ~ sit is inevitable that whatever
he may do e seS'e highly praised on hand
and that hopn m well and conscientiously he
may perform Us duties blame and censure
of the strongest kind will be directed at him.
There will be escape No man Is perfect and
every man makes mistakes and when implacable
enemies watching him It is impossible for
him to do anything that will not receive their
criticism.
IN such q position does Secretary of State
Bryan find himself He was censured even be.
fore he entered ofice-censured for what his
enemies declared he would do That he has done
of the things they predicted has made no
difference they criticize him now for doing
something else, when that something else is
the opposite Of what they pretended to believe
he would do.
Mr. Bryan was going to make trouble for Presi-
dent Wilson. He and his chief were to be at
loggerheads within "a few months. There would
be dissension in the cabinet caused by treachery
on the part OF the then prospective secretary OF
state. The VfrgiHidn expressed the opinion at
the time that Mr. Bryan too patriotic to
cause needless trouble that he was too DESTROYS
OF seeing the practical workings of some OF the
reforms he had long advocated TO create division
and that Mr. Wilson was too experienced In deal
ing with and too anxious to make his ad-
ministration a success to permit pickering over
small matters. That two wise. able and patriotic
men working for the same end would find means
for harmony opinion. Nearly five months
have passed and see no reason for a revision
OF that opinion. Rather has it been strengthened
by events.
Mr. Bryan would prove an incompetent
dreamer. Joseph. the OF Jacob a
dreamer but he organized the greatest monopoly
the world has ever known. Mr.. Bryan has
created no monopoly but his dreaming has not
prevented him from pushing toward success his
dream of peace among nations, His peace plan"
jeered at from the beginning. has been accepted
by twenty nations and promises to lessen the
probabilities of war Unable to find fault with
the way this plan was handled his critics laughed
at his grape Juice dinner Some others laughed
with them. but toeranty and many while they
laughed approved the motives at the bottom and
rejoiced that the cause OF temperar had been
advanced by his action.
Mr. Bryan knew nothing of diplomacy. The
state department would become the laughing
stock OF the nations. It did not. The diplomacy
OF the United States is respected today as 1t has
never been respected before. Carpng critics
could find some fault, but not enough TO satisfy
and forthwith they began 10 point out that Mr.
Wilson was responsible for all the diplomatic
victories gained and that he was ignoring Bryan
No praise due Mr. Wilson win be withheld by
The Tir0tntaa, which regards him of the
greatest Of cur presidents and the greatest man
In public life today but it has no evidence
that Mr.. Bryan has nothing to do. with the
inner workings of the state department
Now the critics have found particularly juicy
morsel. Mr. Bryan will leave Washington for
six weeks Horrors, Did anyone ever hear of
the like. Mr.. Taft. while president, spent all
his days In Washington with few exceptions
leaving only for few days rest in the summer
but never making speaking tours OF the coun.
try Elihu Root was never known to leave Wash
ington day while in the cabinet except on gov.
ernmental business and was never known to go
to South America. No cabinet officer ever left
bis desk except TO take short vacation for the
purpose of recruiting his health for more
strenuous work afterwards On, no; no presi-
dent cabinet ofncer or other government Official