Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-16
ENEMIES 70 TEST
POWER Of BRYAN
uNIMPoRrANT ISSUE OF DIS.
TRicr MARsHALsHIP ASSUMES
LARGE PROPORTIONS.
SECRETARY OF STATE
WANTS FRIEND NAMED
Antaaonistie Element Among Cabinet
Msmbers and Others in High Stations
See Opportunity to Create Breeeh
Between President and State Ssere.
tary.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Washington. Jan. 16.-A test of
strength between, Secretary Of State
William J. Bryan and some of his near
enemies in the cabinet and elsewhere
is likely to be made soon over the
seemingly unimportant issue Of the APP
pointment Of the United States marshal
for the District Of Columbia. The cur
rent stories Of Conspiracy" against
Secretary Bryan and Of efforts in the
newE1,.pers and otherwise to discredit
him with President Wilson may be
brought to focus over this appoint
ment. and unless the president arranges
a compromise which in itself may be
a victory for one side or the other, a
situation may arise in the cabinet
which will rival the celebrated Blaine
Harrison feud Of the sos.
Friends Of Mr.. Bryan are coming into
the open with charges that secret eff
forts long have been made to bring
about a breach between the president
and his secretary of state. Some of
SiiCSC TNsiAcA 8Co 40 SS4y SlOSS W SI10 OOOES
of cabinet members, altho the secre-
tary's friends are saying that certain
members Of the cabinet who have been
critical Of Mr.. Bryan may have. been
Influenced partly by what they declare
to be the erroneous belief that Presi.
dent Wilson. thru his silence, has
sympathized moro or less with the
popular criticism of the secretary of
state for his lecturing activities.
Bryan Favors Old Friend.
However this may be, an issue will
be made over the United States mar
shalship for the District of Columbia.
The term of Aulick Palmer. who has
held the position since the time of Nc
Kinley, will expire within a very short
time. and Secretary Bryan desires the
appointment Of Cotter T. Bride, a well
known democratic politician of Wash.
ington with whom Mr.. Bryan and his
family boarded when the secretary of
state was a congressman good many
years ago. The two families have re-
tanned the intimacy of old days and
Mrs. Bryan IL understood to be equally
interested with her husband that Mr.,
Bride shall be recognized by the pres.
ent administration.
Attorney General McReynolds has a
candidate In the person of Paul e.
Jabnson, 9 former, secretary of the
Metropolitan Club-the Hmillionaires'
club" as it IL popularity called-and d
practicing attorney Of Washington. Mr..
Johnson's appointment is particularly
desired because OF his high social posi-
ton and one Of the purposes of his
candidacy is to restore the prestige of
the marshals office. -
While the facts may have been for
gotten. the position Of United States
marshal for the District Of Columbia
once was one of the most desirable of
government berths and was eagerly
sought by men Of means and social
power who desired brilliant career in
Washington. In the time Of Chester A.
Arthur, the best dressed president we
ever had. the place was held by Clay.
ton McMichael. one of the leading
social lights of Philadelphia. Cleveland
appointed John M. Wilson, and Harri-
son brought from Indiana Daniel M.
enough in the position to be elected later
sergeant-at-arms of the United States
senate. One Of the great functions of
the United States marshal was to pre-
sent guests to the president at the
White House receptions, and naturally
man entrusted with this important
duty stood high in the social world. /.
Roosevelt Takes Away Glory.
Mckinley appointed Aulic r. Palmer.
who has held the office ever since but
President Roosevelt broke the custom
by designating the superintendent of
public buildings and grounds, always
an army officer, to bawl out the names
Of the many thousands Of men and
women whom every devoted president
is compelled to greet four times a year,
Meantime. Capt. Archibald w. Butt.
became military aide to the president.
and as his voice and presence were a
little more imposing than Of Col.
Spencer Cosby (now the partly orna.
mental military attache Of the United
States embassy at Paris, Captain Butt
was assigned to his White House duty.
and later died as hero Of the Titanic
disaster. The marshal for the District
of Columbia never has been reassigned
to his old time duties. The friends of
Mr.. Johnson would be pleased, II he
could receive the appointment ana
President Wilson should see fit to give
the marshal again his historic place in
the White House. Some OF them are
accustomed to refer to Mr.. Bride al
the ex-plumber." with the inference
that his days Of toll with the soldering
iron, have. not tended to develop sthe
friends Of Mr.. Bryan into an arbiter
efegantiae.
Cause Of elaine's Resignation.
But the secretary of state is not wor.
rying over the social qualities, or lack
Of them, Of Mr.. Bride. That worthy
citizen IL q Bryan man, he Is one Of
the many leaders in the ludicrous poll
tics Of the District of Columbia, and,
moreover. the whole Bryan family want
him appointed marshal It will be- re-
called that the terrible break between
President Ben tamin Harrison and Sec
rotary Of State James G. Blaine grew
out of the threat of Mrs. Blaine that IL
Colonel Coppinger were not promoted
over the heads Of some Of his superiors
Mr.. Blaine would resign as secretary
Of state-which he dutifully did. Mrs.
Bryan may not go to such lengths but
she IL q very resourceful and adroit
woman and the OerSona1 relations NJ