The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-06-18
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

The Black Diamond: On Monday.
William Jennings Bryan resigned as
Secretary of State. The reason as
signed is that the President drafted
a note to Germany to which Mr.. Bry-
an objected He preferred policy
which would argue with Germany
for any length of time, rather than
go to war with her on any pretext.
The ultimates in Mr.. Wilson's and
Mr.. Bryan's policies were as far apart
as the poles. Mr.. Wilson might see
war at the end Of his path, but
he did not shrink from it. Mr. Bryan
saw a war ahead and advised his
! country to turn its back upon it. Un-
| der the circumstances, the cabinet
was in chaos Mr.. Wilson had fig
urehead premier, but wrote himself
the state papers and signed Mr..
Bryan's name to them. Thus over
Mr.. Bryan's signature policies were
announced with which he was not
in accord. All things considered, the
premier could not make room in the
cabinet for a man who could in good
faith sign Mr.. Wilson's strong docu-
ments because he was In harmony
with them.
Mr.. Bryan's resignation, under the
circumstances, is causing a tremen-
dous discussion. In that discussion
his character and point of view are
subject to analysis. To get a proper
understanding of the subject few
facts about Mr.. Bryan must be told.
He came into prominence by an in
flammatory speech delivered before
the democratic national convention
at Chicago in 1896. This resulted in
his nomination for the presidency. He
advocated the abandonment OF the
gold standard and advised fiat money.
His plan, which aimed at the destruc-
ton of the money trust by making
oh cap, was voted down because the
price paid by the country would have
, been out of proportion to the good
obtained 1t would have killed the
money trust a thing Mr.. Wilson has
done in a simpler way-but it would
have put the United States on the
same basis of financial insecurity as
countries today.
He followed this by another specta
cular recommendation, made at the
conclusion of his tour of the world
He advised the abandonment Of pri
vate ownership OF railways This
plan was voted down because the
people did not favor any sudder
5 plunge. They preferred an interven
ing stage of development that we
might learn thereby how to use gov
eminent ownership or railways and
other public utilities without falling
into those mistakes made by New
Zealand.
he was given the secretaryship oil
state as a reward for his spectacular
political maneuveT at Baltimore by
which he nominated Wilson for the
presidency. Instantly he began q
series of campaigns to have his peace
treaties adopted. He proposed fol
example, to settle the tedious series
of Mexican revolutions and to over
turn the reign of anarchy there By
diplomatic debate and moral suasior
rather than by the use OF power al
any stage. In pursuance of his policy
he overruled a vigorous act of the
navy department BY unskillful hand
: ling he led this country into a species
: of armed intervention which he de
, clared was not an act Of war, but
$ which Mexico could call by no other
name. The whole thing proved a
[ fiasco.
I Some months ago he made HIS de
lpartment ridiculous by issuing an in
a NIIdIlOu " Inc uaF y VI oNlIHeIIduu IL
/ participate in the opening of the Pa
} mama canal.
/ He overruled the Roosevelt policy
( in connection with Columbia by offer
ing an apology and an indemnity o.
I S25. O00, 900 for the seizure Of the Pa
Y mama Caaal Zone. This put the
: United States in position as admit
l ting that the act upon which it basec
!. the biggest development of centur,
was violent invasion of the right.