South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-17
HON. WILLIAM ALDEN SMITH AND
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
Hon. William Alien Smiths Kala-
mazoo Telegrap PHI Press. newly ac-
guired TO assist him in fixing for him
self. the Michigan delegation To the
republican national convention next
year-before which ne hopes to be a
candidate for the presidency hav-
ing the time Of its life over the recent
resignation of Secy Of state Bryan,
summing him up this way:
William Jennings Bryan is
gone. lie has refused to make
speech in Chicago. even after be-
ing offered $3.50 for his effort IL
is reported from Washington that
his spirit Is broken, that he is no
longer able TO face the criticism
which has been hurled at him
from every corner Of the nation
His passing is as spectacular as
his entrance 10 public life. He
rode in on a wave and that wave
has broken over a rock leaving
Bryan high and dry, alone 10 be
moan what might have been a
career spent in behalf of the pub
lie. But Bryans aim has been
personal gain and when one
enters public life with that object
in view a similar fate can be eX-
pected.
For any newspaper. the policy OF
which is controlled by Sen William
Alden Smith. to presume 10 criticise
anyone in public life as being there
for personal gain" is a demagoguery
that calls for analysis Of the Michigan
senator's own public life. He entered
congress &c years ago. Then he was
worth approximately thirty cents. To-
day he schedules half million dol
lars His salary during this period Of
service TO the pee-pul' has aggre-
gated approximately $4,000, out of
which a public servant would ord
inarily need to live, and Sen. William
Alden Smiths family by no means
lives on crumbs.
The "newsboy senator" as Lee likes
TO be introduced 10 Michigan audi
ences,-but who instead Of selling
newspapers really sold peanuts when
lad, as a ftting preparation for the
peanut politics that he has practiced
ever sinca.-has been one grand bluff
for personal gain" from the moment
his public life began.
he put TIE Spanish army to rout by
brandishing his umbrella before it at
Havana. when he went over TO per
sopally investigate" the Maine disas-
ter: say nothing of his spectacular
probe of the Titanic catastrophe; say
nothing of Gregg" his "sobriquet'
employed when writing nice articles
about himself. distributed from Wash
ington. these things to gain uoto-
riety; there is plenty to William
Aldens career. if laid bare. 20 illus
trate the demagoguery of any effort
on his part 10 criticise the personal
gain" element in anybody's life
II is true that Mr. Bryan i'm his
propaganda work has pursued a line
of thought. and . way of presenting
il. that has oeen ia public demand.
and for which the public has been
willing Ia pay. That he should have
accumulated something of a fortune
in return for efficient service. is 20 his
credit rather than to his discredit. His
line Of thought however. has been
such that nobody can accuse him OF
having sold himself. body. soul and
britches. TO any special interests, rem
dering them special service in his pub
lie life. after any such manner as has
marked this Michigan senator's ca
resr. bringing him fortune through
repayment in opportunities like those
that have marked the financial eyolu-
ton OF the great Smith properties.
Mr. Bryan may have gained person
ally through the collection of divi-
dends on his ideas and his personality,
but that is different than making
capital of public office, and using it
or even permitting it To Zoe used TO
create official obligations compensa-
tory only. or even mainly. 20 the Off
cial himself and his obligators. This
charge of public life for personal
gain. so frequently heard against Mr..
Bryan, especially from republican and
arti-grapc juice sources. can have no
other corollary than the brains of men
Jealous OF his accomplishments, and
who are trying 80 draw him down in
the public estimation 10 the level of
their own sordidness.
We are selfish enough ourselves 10
conceive OF man who never had an
ounce of public spirit in his cosmos
wanting 10 believe that everybody
else is just like him. and being
ashamed OF himself trying 20 build
himself up by pulling the other fell
low down 90 his level
FEELING BETTER.
Since the sinking OF the Lusitania