The Washington herald., 1913-03-09
THE POLITICAL SITUATION

Many men are remembering two ad-
ministrations. One was the Harrison
administration, when Mr.. Blaine was
Secretary OF State, and the other was
the ting when Mr. Cleveland had
Congress on his hands
1t is no wonder that these two
periods i'll our political history arc re-
called President Wilson has as hi.
Secretary vi State man who, like
Mr. Blaine, cnJuys deserved popularity,
bat ha, never been able TO reach the
Presidency. There !, no doubt that
during the pI~t week Mr. BRYAN has
shared with President Wilson the plau-
dit, Of the multitude The enthusiasm
which hi presence created WAS espc-
rially noticeable when he appeared
upon the stand III front OF the Capitol,
and his daily walk from the State De
partmcnt to the White House and re-
turn i like triuinphdl procession
NIorc thIn this. il i, evident that Mr..
BRYAN IS 10 bc the real premier u the
administration lie j. to be apparent
y intru>tcI with the utmost power
in the sclccti"u Of our representatives
to foreign courts The word "app4--
entity" j. used ad,i>cdly. because it has
been iutin!4tcd that while Mr.. Bryan
will bear the responsibility of selection
he will III reality. have none OF the
authority To believe this. however.
is 10 doubt tho good faith OF tho
Presidents announcement. and certain
ly there Is no reason t" adopt this
view. Let it he taken i"r granted,
therefore. that Mr Bryan is really 10
he the dispenser Of the most cnvicd.
as we'll as the most important place
i'll the gilt OF the administration.
To fully appreciate the position
which Mr.. BRYAN HOW occupies, one
must recall also the editorial which
appeared in Henry Wattcrson's news
paper when it WAS stated that Mr.
Bryan would be made .Arnbas ador to
England. Mr. Wattcrson Wa, OF the
very emphatic opinion that Great
Britain or any other foreign country
WAS d good place for the Ncbra~kan',
exile Forthwith there appeared i'll the
that AIr Eryan was perfectly content
to stay 1T home lie did not intend
to lie transported Thcrcupon, so the
story goes, he was asked 10 be ScCrc-
tary Of State. He ought 10 ill that
position with eminent credit to HIM
self and To- the country. lie has travel
c,l around the world, he is / student
OF history, he has facility OF express
sion, his ability IS conceded. and his
patriotism sincere When TO these
qualities is added the fact that he Is
a cUn>ummate politician, il is easy TO
see that il he 50 desire he may become
a formidable factor in the next Presi-
dental contest. Mr. Blaine sought the
Presidency when he was Secretary OF
State. even though he knew that Prcsi-
date for denomination. He failed be-
cause then, Is now, it WAS in the power
Of a Republican administration to con-
troll the votes cf the delegates from
the Southern States. 1t may be that
Mr.. Bryan. believing that he has reach
cd the pinnacle OF his career. has
Il a.,
longer chcriShcS the hope OF being
President. If he has, there will be
peace; If he has not, there will be jcal-
ousy and croSS-purposes in the future.
It is an interesting fact that the po-
sition which Mr. Bryan now fills has
been occupied by men who hoped to
fill the highest oftice-Wcbster. Clay,
and Blaine. All these men were popu-
lar idols i'll their time. but the State
portfolio marked the zenith of their
careers 1t will be interesting to see
how the future will deal with Mr.
BRYAN
No one questions the wisdom OF the
President in declining TO be annoyed
by office-scekers. They and their
friends arc the banc OF any Prcsi-
dents existence In tho recent past.
Mr.. Taft was too eood-naturcd and
patient 10 drive them away and Mr..
Roosevelt endured them because he
was jealous of power and would not
allow anybody to do anything that he
could do himself. The oficc-scckers,
therefore, fockcd 10 the White House
for personal interviews with the Presi-
dent. Now they must seek the Cabinet
officers, beyond whom their appeals
may or may not go,
While the President la. very prop
criv relieved himself Of an immense
amount of annoyance, there is ns doubt
that fhs parfy wafLeFs ia mt tai n