Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-06-11
BRYAN QUITS CABINET-CER-
Man NOTE Is FIRM

. Contlnred From Page One.
.diYlomatis,s from foreign lands. OH
.ciais Of every rank and station, heard
the news as ii was flashed by news
paper extras. They interpreted va
riously It's effect on the delicate sit
uation that had arisen between Ger
many and the Crited States
Just when the subject was first
preached between the president and
Mr.. Bryan is not known definitely.
but the fact chat Mr.. Bryan would
resign was known 10 a small circle OF
officials as early as last Sunday. That
there had been friction between the
president and Mr.. Bryan had been
the undercurrent Of comment for sew
eral weeks, but as the president here
tofore had always been able to secure
the acQuiescence of the secretary in
his point of view, talk OF resignation
was discounted generally.
The real disagreement dates back
to the famous session of the cabinet
when the note Of May 13, following
the sinking of the Lusitania, was
drafted, informing Germany that the |
United States would not omit ANY |
word or act" to protect its rights.
At that time Mr.. Bryan made
speech counseling peaceful measures
and cautious action. He gave his
consent to signing the note only after
it was tentatively arranged that a
statement at the White House should
be issued and transmitted to the Ger
man government announcing that, !
inasmuch as Germany had accepted
the principle Of the peace treaties ne
gotiated between the United States
and other countries, differences be- !
tween the two nations might be ad- |,
justed by a commission OF investiga- |
! ton.
| Opposition to this course was most
vehement in some cabinet quarters,
and the president, after having con-
sidered at length Mr.. Bryan's sugges-
ton. finally disapproved it at the hour
the note was sent.
Relations Since Strained.
Since then the official relations of
Mr.. Bryan with the president and the
other cabinet officers have been some
what strained, although the closest
! personal friendship has been main
tanned. Since his resignation it has
come to light that the position of Mr..
Bryan in the cabinet had become very
embarrassing-his advocacy Of peace
being SO pronounced that other men,
bers of the cabinet. who felt that the
! United States should assert itself,
irrespective of the consequences, were
understood on one occasion to have
declared their intention of resigning
If a policy Of firmness and vigor were
not adopted.
! Onicials of the administration were
unanimous in their expressions of
personal regret. Secretary Tumulty
issued a statement to that effect and
the president reflected the same, SEN
timent in his letter.
The strong personal attachment Of
the president and Mr.. Bryan has long
been noticeable in their everyday
conferences. Even Tuesday as they
met in the cabinet room their greet
ing was one of affection and regard.
Resignation Offered Twice Before.
: Twice before in the two years and
three months of his term Mr.. Bryan
offered to resign SO as to save the
. president from embarrassment and
each time the president refused to
. accept the resignation. Throughout
the constant newspaper lombard
: ment of Mr.. Bryan for his views on
] peace, his advocacy of prohibition,
and his speeches on the Chautauqua,
the president has stood by the secre'