The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-14
Story Says He Will Be Con-
tent to Be Heard Around
Cabinet Table Only
MUCH SATISFACTION
CAUSED BY THE NEWS
Friends Declare It to Be Wise Thing
to Do-Very Few Entertain
Least Apprehension on
Subject Now
Nv q n STEWART

washington, March 13.-(Special)--Ine
one absorbing topic of conversation; the
one greatest matter of speculation among
both members of Congress and newspaper
men, The subject of numerous editorials
all over the country and even in foreign
countries has been the probable attitude
of William J. Bryan toward legislation.
and the amount of influence he would ex-
ert with the administration as Secretary
of State.
1T has been said that Mr.. Bryan would
meddle with Congress; lin fact. that he had
been already laying plans and Matching
schemes with members of the House and
Senate looking toward the promulgation
of the kind OF legislation he is known to
favor. 1t was, and is the general i'm
preston, that if he were to elect to follow
such a course, that the Wilson admins
traton would fail in its purposes.
Today there is a story in circulation
to the effect that Mr.. Bryan will not
urge personally, or through members in
Congress, who acknowledge his leader
ship, any of his views regarding free raw
materials or other matters, but that he
will be content to be heard only around
the cabinet table or when his advice and
counsel is solicited by the President.
This news. whether it be authentic or
otherwise, is accepted by members of Con-
gress and the well wishers of the adminis-
tration, as we'll as those of Mr.. Bryan,
with great satisfaction. Certainly, they
declare it to be the wise thing for him to
do As Secretary of State in the Wilson
90 ic.o fo,
son than when the editor of the Com
moner and thrice the candidate of his
party for the presidency, and free to urge
upon Congress such legislation as he
thought proper. He could then with pro-
priety attempt to influence Congress- to
do so now would not only be highly inn
proper and be proof of unfaithfulness to
the man under whom he has accepted SER
vice, but would also be resented by Con-
gress and create far more trouble in that
body, if possible, than was created when
the famous Bryan Underwood incident oc-
CURED over free raw wool and free raw
sugar.
Certainly the President does not expect
Mr.. Bryan to follow such a course, or
he would never have asked him to become
a member of the cabinet. Those who know
the President best believe that these mat
ters We're thoroughly thrashed out before
that the Nebraskan was to become
member of the official family. 1t is de-
clared by those close to the President
that while he fully recognizes all that Mr.,
Bryan contributed toward his nomination,
and fully appreciates the commoner's
great ability and his friendship, that the
thought uppermost in the mind of Wood
row Wilson is to make his administra-
tion success, and by so doing render
the greatest possible service to the coun-
try. He knows that this could not be
accomplished if Mr.. Bryan, being Secre-
tary OF State, were to attempt in any way
to exert any influence over Congress on
the tariff or/any other subject of legis-
lation.
If Mr. Bryan desires TO attempt any such
thing, he should have remained out of the
cabinet, where he would be free to act.
If he does attempt it. 1t is more than
likely that he will not long remain the
premier of the Wilson administration,
Very few now entertain the least appre-
hension upon the subject.
One remarkable thing in this connection
| is, that while there is no question of
doubt but what Mr. Bryan is exceed
ingly popular with the people of the
United States in spite of the fact that
he met defeat three times, retaining his
hold upon the people as probably no other
man could have done, or has ever done,
| he hasn't such a strong following in the
House of Representatives. His popularity
in the Senate is probably greater than
in the House, but even IN that body there
is by no means majority of the demo-
Gratis who share his views
If he were free to act and did throw
himself into the fight for the issues which
formerly existed between him and the
ways and means committee. he would
now, as then, lose. While it is consul
nation looked forward 70 in the course
of time as desirable, there is not chance
to get measure providing free raw sugar
and free raw wool enacted into law if the