Evening journal., 1915-06-09
WEDNESDAY JUNE 9. 1915
THE PASSING OF BRYAN.

~ LILLIAN JENNINGS BRYAN, creator Of the viii |
w son national administration. has resigned
Secretary of State.
His resignation has been accepted by President Will
son, the whom he placed at the head Of the Fed
eral Government
Robert Lansing, Counsellor to the State Department
has been appointed Acting Secretary of State. the
President having decided take his good time in the
matter Of permanently filling the vacancy caused by
the detection of Bryan.
The resignation of Mr.. Bryan was precpItated by
the refusal President Wilson to accept his views
relative TO the terms in which the note TO Germany
should be couched. In the rejection of the Bryan
views, the President supported by other members
Of his Cabinet
The letter Of resignation and the letter of acceptance
were framed in the friendlies possible words The
understanding is, however that the two communica-
tions cloak dissonsion and lfeelng that has existed
for weeks a result Of Bryan's desire to pursue
conclatory policy in dealing with Germany and to the
firm determination of President Wilson to have his
notes to the German Government express emphat-
cally the demand that the lives persons and prop
critics Of Americans be respected and protected and
that in the present European struggle Germany fight
with due regard to international law and usage
Bryan wished to submit all questions to arbitra-
ton Wilson and his other advisors refused to pursue
such policy They insisted that Germany make
proper reparaton the events Of the past and give
ample assurances relative to the future take the
consequences The natural result that Bryan
resigned from cabinet the policy of which he could
control with respect to the intimate affairs of his
department It required certain amount of cour-
age do it, but Bryan has been lacking in that
quality in standing up for his convictions, matter
whether the question at issue free silver or Ger
submarine warfare. In fact, as a rule, the more
erroneous his the greater the he has dis
played in standing up for them
1t is expected that he will seek to organize an
active opposition to the Wilson policies and follow
Inv ATTIC IN hiq n
President fact the sensational development of yes
terday opens up many of action and produces
split in the Democratic party that will have far
reaching effect from until the next national eec-
ton has been held.
In view Of what had occurred. Bryan could con
in the Cabinet and preserve his sef-respect The
President practically had taken the German negotia
tions out of his hands and working with Lansing
instead Of with his own Cabinet member to whom for
eign relations matters naturally belonged. Bryan ad
vanced his views. They were rejected. He protested
His protests went unheedod. Nothing remained TO
him to do but to get out He did it. Now the hgh
in the Democratic ranks begins
ut falls to your lot TO speak officially for the ma
ton" Bryan wrote TO Wilson in his letter of resigns
ton Il consider it to be none the less my duty {
endoavor as a private citizen promote the end whic
you have in view by means which you do not feel
liberty TO use we find ourselves differing rreconcl'
bly, as to the methods which should be employed
Notwithstanding the friendly tone in which Brya
and Wilson write no one need be surprised II, With
few days. Bryan opens his fight upon the Wilson az
minstration Once started. there is no telling whe
Il will stop, what its result will be.
Many friends OF President Wilson will rejoice tn
Bryan has left the Cabinet and confessed, in doin
that he could not dominate the President and the oth
Cabinet members They have asserted for montl
that the administration handicapped by the ia
that Bryan held the portfolio of state and that the
was prevailing opinion that he dominated Presdei
Wilson. The present crisis. they assert, will place
President a different light before the people,
AS the matter stands now President Wilson is II
real head of the Department State, with Lansing
his assistant He seemingly is willing to- tai
responsibility for whatever results may attend Il
Negotiations with Germany relative 20 submarine wa
fare Bryan intmates in hs letter that if Preside
Wilson persists in his policy It may lead to war.
advanced that argument the Cabinet meeting.
unheeded. The events of the few days shou
demonstrate whether his sinister predictions
realized and whether Germany will face a resort
arms rather than accede TO the American deman
relative to German observance of international Il
and usage with respect to methods Of warfare.
The situation is clarified by the resignation Bry
With him out of the Cabinet and with other me
oers in accord with the Presidents views the negot
lions should proceed rapidly and to conclusive
suit Realizing that American sentiment favors ?
icy that will compel Germany to respect Ameri'
rights on land and the President will pur'
that policy regardless of consequences. The gr
mass of the American people regardless of Bryan v
support him in whatever step he may take with t
end In view.
It is generally recognized that Mr.. Bryan, temper