Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-06-09
BRYAN AS SECRETARY
Chautauqua Iodeler Junkets Out
shone His Statecraft in
Great Crisis

Washington, June 9-Wi!liam Jen-
nings Bryan was Secretary of State
Just two years, two months and four
DAYS to the minute. Like John Sher-
man in his last days as Secretary OF
State, MIR. Bryan wore the mantle of
the Office only, President Wilson and
MIR. Bryan's. subordinates doing the
actual work, particularly the big
WORK
Chronologically, Mr.. Bryan's re-
cord as Secretary Of State chiefly
! consists of the following acts:
In less than three weeks after TAX
ing the oath he signed a message adj
dressed to Henry Lane Wilson, the
then Ambassador to Mexico, congratu-
| Iating him upon the administration
/ of the duties of his Office. The indor-
semcnt contained in this now memoir
able dispatch was contrary to the
policy adopted by Wilson soon at
ter taking office and enunclated by
| him. Huntingdon Wilson, Repub-
Iican hold-over Assistant Secretary
of State, prepared this telegram and
obtained Mr.. Bryan's signature. A
few days later, Ambassador Wilson's
RESIGNATION was demanded by Sec
rotary Bryan and it was rendered
forthwith.
Within few days following the
Henry Lane Wilson episode, Mr..
Bryan inauguratcd his Secretary Of
State Chautauqua lectures and ao-
sented himself from the State De-
partmcnt and the Cabinet Councils
for considerable period.
During the summer Of 1913, less
than six months after taking his oath
of office, Mr.. Bryan was absent from
the State Department more than ~
DAYS, travelling all the time with a
troop of Alpine yodclers in one day
stands in Chautauqua circuit. In
the fall of 1913, after absenting him.
self for more than so days, Mr..
Bryan announced his lectures had
Melted MIN thousands of dollars.
The late fall Of 1913 saw greater
difficulties in Mexico. AS was the case
early in the beginning Of the Secre-
tary's administration, the counsellor
Cor the State Department handled the
heavy diplomatic work.
October, 1918 saw Mr.. Bryan III
the Middle West making campaign
speeches.
During the Mexican trouble M.
Bryan unloadcd so much work on his
first assistant, Counsellor Moore,
that the latter resigned. Mr.. Lansing
the present counsellor, has been do
ing the bulk Of the important wori:
since Moore quit.
Mr.. Bryan did not seem to mind
the action Of the President in rcilcv-
ing him Of the greater part OF the M
portant work, as that left Mr.. Bryan
comparatively free to lecture and ne
gotiatc his peace treaties. In thus lat
ter effort Mr.. Bryan was prominent
" successful. He negotiated III INC
last year more than II peace ana At
bitration treaties with as many ma
tons.
Soon after the breaking out OF war
in Europc the burdens of the State
Department increased many times
over. The greater part OF inns m
creased work fell on the shoulders Of
subordinatcs. That part OF 1t appeF-
tanning to the policy Of the United
States President Wilson assumed
himself and actually did the lmpor-
tant work.
Then came the sinking Of the LuSi-
laria. Without comforting with Nj.
Hryan or any other member OF the
Cabinet President Wilson prepared
statement for the German Govcrnmc"
defining the position Of the Ancri'
can Government regarding the loss
r. ,,pv American lives and the