Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-06-10
METCALFE IS LONE
BRYAN ADHERENT
Practically Only Man Who Publicly
Sides with Nebraskan in
Washington Press.
TALKS OF STATE CONTROVERSY
CFrom a staff Correspondent.l }

WASHINGTON, June 9.-NSpe-
cial Telegram. with Mr.. Bryan
out of the cabinet, what will be the
status of Senator Hitchcock with the
administration so far as Nebraska
patronage goes? This question was
uppermost among Nebraskans here
today.
The consensus of opinion was that the
retirement Of Bryan from President VIII
sons official family will make the senior
senator from Nebraska all-powerful,
especially with reference to positions
wherein a senate confirmation is a pre-
requisite for holding office.
Richard L. Metcalfe OF Omaha. who
has given loyal service to both Mr..
Bryan and Senator Hitchcock in by-gone
years, emphasized this conclusion today,
when he said "Bryans resignation will
rebound TO Senator Hitchcock's advan-
tage However Senator Hitchcock has
seemed to antagonize the administration
on certain measures, It must be plain
TO every careful observer that the presi-
dent has never regarded MIR. Hitchcock
exactly as he did. say. Reed Of Missouri
OF O'Gorman of New York.
''As a matter of fact, in the distribu-
tion of patronage in Nebraska, Mr. Hitch
cock has obtained heretofore distinctly
the advantage over Bryan, and from
now on he will get pretty nearly what
he wants 1t is no secret that President
Wilson likes Hitchcock, and he under
stands very well that in spite Of all that
may be said and in spite of all Hitoh-
cock may have done, the Nebraska SEN
ator is not really a reactionary.
Whatever differences there have been
between the administration and the Ne
braska senator, it is plain that he is in
a different position from that held by
some other anti-administration men.
don't look for a speedy settlement of
Nebraska patronage. but expect a
gradual disposition OF the difficulties, and
II Senator Hitchcock were TO wire me
today an e4dorusmspt for one OF the
federal Jobs IN Nebraska I would feel
like padIzing my trunk and Fastening to
the greatest state In the union, prepared
to draw my pay like a thoroughbred'
and spend It to my entire satisfaction"
MIR. Metcalfe, who arrived in Washing
ton . few days ago on business connected
with his newspaper enterprise. could not
have been more universally sought for
when the resignation of Mr.. Bryan was
announced last night than if he had been
governor Of the canal zone, with the un-
questioned backing of the secretary OF
state.
This morning the newspapers generally
printed an interview wit hhim in which
he clearly took the side Of Mr. Bryan
lalthoush, as is well known. there had
been a distinct estrangement between the
two old-time friends for some time
iGenerally the newspaper editorials and
interviews this morning condemned
Bryan, but Nets interview was the
one bright spot for the former secretary
of state. so far as the newspaper pages
are concerned.
Mr.. Metcalfe saidi ''The resignation OF
Mr.. Bryan is of the most tremendous I'm.
portance. Eastern newspaper editors and
politicians, who are proverbially pro,
vfneial. imagine that with Bryan's resig
nation they have swept him from public
life. In all literature there Is nothinl
more interesting than Thomas Jefferson,
satire on The Antics Of Kings but Il
Jefferson had lived to this day he wouli
have died from side-ache in the reading
of some OF the opinions expressed by 80
called statesmen and editors who cannot
see, so far as public sentiment Is con
oerned beyond the ends Of their noses
'In Washington the average man ovel
Bryan's resignation Is saying in effect
Good riddanceto bad rubbish
Bryan Is one Of tn estrongest indi
viduals in all the world today and be
cause of his personal merits he is secur,
in the affections of the homes o.
America
After paying a sincere compliment q
both Bryan and Hitchcock as the out
growth of questions by The Bee CORE
spondent. Mr.. AIetcalfe touched upon tn,
purely personal side of his relations will
these two well known Nebraskans b!
ststins:
Thirty years ago. Bryan. Hitchcocl
and myself started out together. w
were all poor at that time and I have tn
. honor of being poorer than either Of m,
comrades even at this moment. Standinl
as DO in tn emidst of this tremendou
international fact. find myself lookin
backward with great intensity.
TT is rather interesting to remember
that Senator Hitchcock obtained whs
he wanted in the form Of the senator
ship, and that Mr.. Bryan obtained tn
7 second place in his aspirations
: Last year. when I tried to realiz
3 the height of my own ambition. the am
8 lbition to be governor OF Nebraska.
: found both Bryan and Hitchcock oppos
3 ling me. and throwing all their influenc
6 against me. OF course. that was pol
. tics and they had their reasons for thei
0 attitude. do not hold it against then
I They are both good men. an dthe pit
4 of It IL that they cannot at this tim
z be found working together as earnestl
for the public good. as when in III
. days OF Aud Lang Syne.'
y Both poor and struggling politician
y they co-operated for the triumph {
n democratic principles. But that's the wa
= of politics. and now really take prid
n in the fact. In that line. I am a moi
II leonspicuous failure. However. the resi-
. nation OF Bryan. is the most tremendoI
incident in the history of American pol
IS tics and 1t will tell very heavily. wht
the votes come 20 be counted"
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