The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-18
Says Country Is Shocked at
Neglect of State Affairs.
CALLS HIM A "MORAL ISSUE"
Fears Bad Precedent Being Set
Which Others May Follow.
Should Either Live Within Sal
airy or Resign Position.

washington, July 1S.-"Aside from
the technical and legal question or the
right of a public servant to sell his
services twice, the public announce
ment by Mr.. Bryan that a man OF MS
we'll advertised democratic tastes can
not live on an income Of $12,OOO pre-
sents a moral question for considera-
tion for the American people" de-
cIared senator Townsend. Republican
of Michigan, in a speech in the senate
today. ,o+1,
''The question is simply this, wheth-
er under the circumstances 1t is tne
d1+1 of the citizen and the public ser
want 70 modify this style of living TO
bring it within his legitimate income
or whether it is his privilege to re-
sell his services in order to cover the
cost of the style of living ne mas
adopted"
senator Townsend's speech was an
attack 11pon the secretary Of state for
his proposal of making paid lectures
during his tenure of office to increase
his income.
He declared other cabinet officers
were living on $4,000 salaries; tnat
subordinates in the government oe-
partments would not be allowed 10 uo
other work while holding their posi-
tious. and that because of his pre-
vious attitude before the people MI.
Rrvan should have felt an obligation
TO live within more rigid lines.
Posed as Public Censor.
For more than Is years Mr.. Bryan
has posed as a public censor OF man man
and measures" said Senator Town
end He has preached the duties OF
citizenship and assumed to establish
standards of public service. his pup
lie acts therefore, more than those OF
any one man. except the president are
of influence in the fixing of standards
of public service and public pollcy. II
the American people remain silent at
this time and by their SILENCE give
their influential approval OF assent 10
the policy Mr.. Bryan has announced,
that attftude of an official toward his
duties must be assumed to be per- /,
manent feature of our governmental
institutions.
For my part I feel impelled to |
voice a protest. I am no respecter OF
persons. I see no reason why the
head of a department should be per-
nitted to make private gains by meth
DDS that are forbidden to his subordf-
Mates"
Shocked at DesertiOn of Post.
"At a time when most unusual for
eign complications confront US, when
the Japanese question is before US,
whe nOur relations with the urbed
republic to the south of US are most
grave and fraught with mighty re-
Sponsibility, indeed at this time above
=
that he proposed to desert his office
for the purpose of personal financial
gains comes as a shock to all thought
full people.
This action is even more inexcusa-
BILE when it is known that the secre-
tary has been in office but a few
months and from the nature of things,
he cannot have become familiar with
all of the responsibilities of his great
position. The secretary OF state is re-
garded as the most important execu-
tive office of government below the
president He is premier of the cabi-
net, he should be the first example of
faithful, intelligent servant to duty
"lf he had resigned as secretary
giving as his reason the one he did
give, that he could not live on his
salary and by inference that he owed
q higher duty to his desire for wealth
than he did to public service, there
would have been less reason for pub
lie complaint. But to hold his office
and draw the full salary for only a
part of the time he rendered service
is, in my judgment, improper and in
eXcuSable.'