Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-06-12
Secretary in Name Only;
Work Fell on Others Shoulders
Absent Much of His Time on Lecture Circuit and President and
subordinates in State Department Attended to Most
Important Matters; Issues That Arose.

Jennings Bryan was Secretary Of
State just two years, two months and
four days. Like John Sherman in
his last days as Secretary of State.
Mr.. Bryan wore the mantle of the
office only, President Wilson and Mr..
Bryan's subordinates doing the act
ual work, particularly the big work.
Chronologically Mr.. Bryan's record
as Secretary of State chiefly consists
Of the following acts:
In less than three weeks after tax
ing the oath he signed a message ad.
dressed to Henry Lane Wilson, then
American Ambassador to Mexico, con-
graduating him upon the administra-
ton of the duties of his office. The
Endorsement contained in this DIS
patch was contrary to the policy
adopted by President Wilson soon af-
ter taking office and enunciated by
him.
Huntington Wilson, a Republican
holdover, Assistant Secretary Of
State. prepared this telegram and OBJ
tanned Mr.. Bryan's signature. A few
udJo AdLCl AlLUASoCuOl "lIoo" . lCC-
ignation was demanded by Sccretar;
Bryan and it was rendered forthwith.
K Absent on Lectures.
Within a few days following this
episode Mr.. Bryan inaugurated his
Secretary Of te.Chautauqua lee
lures and absented himself from the
State Department and the&SCabinet
councils for a considerable period.
While Mr.. Bryan was absent on one
of his early lectures the controversy
between the United States and Japan
arose and became acute. Mr.. Bryan
,hurriedly cancelled his engagements,
which were in the middle West, and
came to Washington.
Immediately upon his arrival at the
State Department he conferred with
the then Counsellor Of the State De-
partment. John Bassett Moore, and
aided him in the preparation Of some
OF the details concerning the first
note OF the American Government to
the Japanese Government.
President Wilson and Counsello
Moore actually wrote the answer Of
the United State Government to the
Japanese Governments note protest
ing against the alien land law legis-
lation then pending in the California
Legislature. Mr.. Bryan as Secretary
Of State merely signed the note. ....
Following the despatch Of the note
Mr. Bryan made a trip to California
in the hope OF inducing the, Califor.
MIA Legislature to abandon its EFF
forts to exclude T. Japanese citizens
from owning land in that. State Be-
fore departing on this trip Mr.. Bryan
underwent a course Of instruction .sat
the hands of Counsellor Moore re-
garding the finer points of the con.
troversy. .,s ..ra r9q.l yotqgge s,lalI
Mr.. Bryan concluded his Ilabors in
behalf OF the Government in Califor.
MIA in about a week. He then; started
on his return to Washington. ~ En-
route he made several speeches. p,5-
A.. .@ Toured With YodIersdT an,
Meanwhile the Mexican situation,
which President Wilson had inherited
from the Taft Administration, was
demanding considerable attention.
President ,a Wilson and Counsellor
Moore handled, the bulk Of this work.
In the summer OF 1913, less than
six months after taking his oath Of
office Mr.. Bryan was absent from the
State Department more than forty
days, travelling all the time with a
troupe of Alpine yodlers in one-day
stands in a Chautauqua circuit. In
the fall of 1913, after %absenting him.
self for more than fifty days, Mr.. Bry'
an announced his lectures had netted
him thousands Of dollars. r
The late fall of 1913 saw greater
difficulties in Mexico. AS early in the
beginning Of the %Secretary's admins
tration, the Counsellor for the State
Department handled the heavy diplo'
matte work. ~.
October. 1918, saw Mr.. Bryan in the
Middle West . making ~ campaign
speeches.. ~ 4s.. ,,aa. 80, {}arr al.
In the early spring Of 1914 the re
lations between the United States
and Mexico became strained. Ameri
can sailors and marines were arrest
ed in Tampico. Admiral Mayo, the
officer commanding the American ma
val forces at Tampico, sent an ulti
matum to the Mexican Commander
ashore, giving him a few hours ir
Which to saluae the American flag as
re%paration for the arrest Of the naVa
men. r
OverruIed by Wilson.
Upon receipt of Admiral Mayo's re
port in Washington President VIII
son demanded of Dictator Huerta tina
the demand of Admiral Mayo be com
piled with. SECRETARY Bryan, an ar
dent peace advocate argued in the
Cabinet councils against any drastic
action. President Wilson then ant
there dictated the American Govern
ment's definite policy with regard t
the incident, and ordered, over Mr.
Bryan's objections, the great Atlantic
Fleet, in command Of Admiral Bad
ger, to Vera Cruz to enforce the re
paration for the arrest Of the Ameri
can sailors and marines.
General Huerta deied the United
| States and President Wilson deter
mined to order the landing Of marines
and the seizure Of the Mcvican Gov
eminent property in Vera Cruz. The
orders Of Admiral Fletcher, then a
Vera Cruz, to carry out the direction!
Of the President were sent by the
Navy Department contrary to ths
urgings Of Secretary Bryan.
At the time the relations between
the United States and Mexico became
acute Mr.. Bryan was away on n o
his lecture trips. He was summoned
to Washington by the President
| While the situation was still acute
Mr.. Bryan continued preparations fol