The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-04-26

NCOnIlnOeO from first 13ge-J
soon would be taken. Representative
Ray chairman of the military affairs
committee. conferred today with Sec
rotary of War Garrison with refer
ence to the situation
BRYAN DENIES RESIGNATION.
Secretary of State Bryan today en-
phatically denied widespread and per
sistent reports that he would resign
from the cabinet. When inforld ed of
published reports that he would reIin-
quish his post should war be declared
against Mexico, Mr. Bryan said:
The subject of my resignation has
never been discussed with anybody nor
thought of by me
White House officials pointed to the
general denial issued a few days ago
of the story that Secretary Bryan
would resign, saying that statement
was sufficient to cover all rumors of
cabinet dissensfon.
They said they did not regard 1t as
necessary to repeat the denial with
each published report.
CABINET Is DIVIDED.
Outside of the White House there
has been considerable discussion of
the individual views known to be held
by members of the cabinet on the
present situation. None Of these is
said to be serious or approaching any
breach in the presidents official fam
lily but there have been natural diff
sive measures should be pursued. The
president himself, it is said, has in
vited the widest range of suggestions
from his advisers and has steered a
middle course between those who favor
a quickly aggressive policy and those
who believe war can be best avErted
by patient observation and carefully
deliberated action.
DEPARTMENTS ANXIOUS.
Persons close to the administration
Il L Nc
the product of natural differences
among those charged with RESPONSE
bility for executive action. Omcials
point out, for instance that the war
department is naturally anxious to
take every reasonable precautton with
it's military forces and the navy is
bending its energies likewise to per-
fecting its preparations for actual
warfare. They say also that the state
department, which is directly respon-
sible for relations with other foreign
governments and which is trying
through diplomacy to prevent agrees
sive movements which might aggra-
vate action by the Constitutionalists
and the Mexican people as a whole Is
busily occupied in friendly repreN5ion
of the war spirits Of its allied depart
ments.
All the cabinet secretaries them
selves denied that there is any Sc
rious division and point to their close
of their cooperation. !
BRYAN WILL STICK.
1t is stated on authority that in no |
case has Secretary Bryan declared that |
he would resign his office in case
It became necessary for the United |
States to engage in war and he had |
let 1t be known to his personal friends !
that he could be relied upon to do his |
full duty to the administration and to |
remain at his post under present con- |
diTinnG and others that he Thought |
could possibly arise.
The rumors Of Mr.. Bryan's intention |
to retire from the cabinet in various |
contingencies, are ascribed by his |
secretary early in his incumbency. |
among other things, in speaking on |
the subject of universal peace. he has |
said there would be no war while he /
was secretary of state. The secre- !
tary's purpose, it is explained. was to |
emphasize his general conviction that |
the growing feeling of disapproval of |
warfare could be relied upon to pre- |
vent the country from drifting into !
war.
It is further stated on the authority |
of the members of the cabinet that |
nothing has occurred in any cabinet |
meeting to develop any dissatisfac-
ton It is true, they state. that va
certain subjects from different angles, |
but that invariably has applied to the |
preliminary phases.
In every case. however. according
TO this authoritative view, when the
discussion of the subject was con-
Guided and the views of the cabinet |
had crystaIlized. the ensuing line of |
action has received the united sup
port of every member Of the cabinet.
Secretary Daniels. discussing news
paper reports of cabinet friction, said:
''There isn't now, and hasn't been |
the least scintilla of friction in the |
At a time like this my pri-
vate judgment as newspaper man
is that the press owes it as a pa
triotic duty not to spread such re-
ports"