New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-14
Washington Observers Trying
to Guess When Secretary of
State Will Tire of Be-
ing Subordinate.
IGNORED BY THE PRESIDENT
Friends Point Out That in Every
Important Step SO Far Taken
Mr.. Wilson, and Not
His Premier, Has
Acted.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

Washington, April 13.-How long will
William Jennings Bryan consent 10 re-
main in the Wilson Cabinet?
This question is being asked with in
creasing persistency by those who en-
JOY an opportunity TO observe at close
range the operations OF this admin
istration, who are familiar with the
aspirations and ambitions with which
the distinguished Nebraskan entered
the Cabinet, and who have noted not
without some degree of surprise, the
consistent course pursued by President
Wilson in all matters having TO do with
the nations foreign affairs.
Mr.. Bryan would never have entered
the Wilson Cabinet had he not been
prepared 10 subordinate himself TO
some extent. and the mere fact that
every one is looking for q break be-
tween him and the President viii
doubtless prove the most effective de-
terrent TO such an event, according to
some prominent Democrats. There are
others, men equally informed as 10 the
inside workings Of the party, who take
q somewhat different view. These men
and they include some close TO the
Secretary Of State-assert that MI
Bryan entered the Wilson Cabinet
wholly prepared TO act in unison with
his chief, entirely willing TO play rea-
sonably subordinatc part and that he
IS even now exhibiting extraordinary
j.
ticns.
These men also declare that in ac-
oepting the portfolio OF state Mr..
Bryan cherished the reasonable and
Iaudable ambition of demonstrating 10
the country that he was a statesman
as well as a politician. an efficient ad-
ministrator as well rs ar orator Of
note. 2 man of broad and catholic
views as well as a student Of finance
As TO whether or not when he wrote
into the Baltimore platform the sin
sie term" plank. Mr.. Bryan stir cher
iehed personal Presidential ambitions
opjnion differs, but that he took the
oath Of Office as Secretary Of state
with deep and well defined ambition
20 rroye 10 his fellow Countrymcn ihdt
ne was a man Of parts. eminently fitted
70 flI the prem,,r place in the Cabinet
all are agreed
Since Mr.. Bryan has been Secretary
Of state. however, President Wilson
has consciously or unconsclously pur-
sued course which has seemed strih-
ChdTGS
the editorial opinion somewhat un-
fortunately expressed in the hght OF
,ihseouent evcnts-of Walter ii. Page
now chosen 10 c Ambassador 10 Great
E,itain. Who declared i'm his review OF
the Wilson Cabinet:
The state portfolio the President
must himself hold whenever important
foreign questions come up
Wilson tire Real Secretary.
In The five important steps connected
with the state portfolio taken by inc
Wilson administration the President
and not the Secretary Of State. has act
cd. and in some instances Mr.. Wllso'i
has not even taken his Secretary 81
State into his confidence.
On the other hand, aside from hard
ing to the press a medley of mclodlous
excerpts from his former utterances on
foreign relations. Mr.. Bryan has done
nothing Of importance. with possibly
the single exception of his faux pas in
connection with the recognition of
Continued on fourth page. ,ffth column.