Evening star., 1915-06-10
BELIEVE EX-SECRETARY
TN 'WRETCHED BAD TASTE
Some Persons Even Use the Word
"Treachery" in Discussing
the Sensation.
FEAR NO LABOR OPPOSITION
Administration Friends Do Not
Think Unions Will Join Nebras-
kan's Faction-Watch German
American Newspapers Attitude.

Hardly anything was talked
about in Washington last night
and today but the cabinet resig-
nation, Mr.. Bryan's statement of
yesterday afternoon furnishing an
additional topic. Administration
officials, politicians of all parties
and the great army of lay-poli-
ticians in this town were amazed
at the tenor of the pronuncia-
mento and the circumstances of
its issue.
To officials it seemed incredible
that Mr.. Bryan should have fore
stalled the Presidents note to
Germany by disclosing and criti-
cising its purport in advance Of
its publication, taking advantage
of his knowledge of its contents
gained in his official capacity as
Secretary of State. No official
utterance from the administration
was made upon this feature, but
there was bitter private comment
upon it.
Politicians saw in the statement in
tention upon Mr.. Bryan's part to fore
reach upon the President. an attempt
ar,1 tot
sympathy to his side before the Presi-
dents side could be presented. Mr..
Bryan's closing sentence fairly leaped
from the type and struck every one
in the eyesS but as a private citizen
am free to urge both of these propo-
sitions. and to call public attention to
these remedies in the hope of securing
such an expression of public sentiment
ploying these if in the future he finds
it consistent with his sense of duty to
favor them"
Expect Fight by Bryan.
But one inference was drawn from
that declaration, namely. that Mr.
Bryan proposes otake the chautauqua
circuit and kind1e a backf1re against
the administration No other construc-
tion seemed possible: he is to appeal to
the people against the united admins
tration of the government and the
head of the democratic party.
But what further astonished officials
and politicians was his assumption that
the Presidents policy must necessarily
lead to war. with his own as the only
path to peace. He gave the President
credit for good intentions in the direc-
tion of preserving peace, but set his
judgment of the result against that of
the President and nine of 'his former
colleagues in the cabinet, thereupon
fore the logic of the others is pre-
sented for public consideration
In the comments upon his action
heard about town today from all sorts
and conditions Of men the expressions
varied all the way from "wretched
"treachery." There was widespread
that the President had
not made public the note to Germany
so that the official document could be
read with the personal pronuncia-
mento.
Some interest was manifested by the
in the tone of the German
newspapers published in the United
ing rather general support of Mr..
Bryan's stand 1t will be recalled that
the German American press opposed
him in 1896 the German-American pop
uldlloii III lHIS country 1aSOr1nR sound
money. There was further speculation
as to how the German americans will
reconcile his radical views fayorine
prohibition. in case he makes an an
peal for German Anne merican support
Bryan to Build Faction.
All these things are being considered
by the politicians as the conviction
grows. based upon deductions from Mr.
Bryan's statement. that he is intent
upon building UP a faction In this conn
try in. support of himself as against
the President.
: President Wilson has some pre,.v
good politicians in his own camp and
they have been taking stock ~ the
situation in the past forty eight bonrs
They say that while Mr.. Bryan's resia.
nation has unquestionably presented
an awkward situation politically and
a dangerous one Internationally there
is every prospect of the internstionaI
danger being removed and poiittcal
damage averted. and that politically
the situation will work itself out in
natural order following the solving of
the international problem.
In the first place, men close to the
President do not believe the note to
Germany will lead to war, but thai on
the contrary IT will clear the st,nos.
phere by giving Germany better m
derstanding Of the position NJ the
United States government and lead 70
negotiations which will end in a neace