The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-06-10

WASHINGTON, June s. - William
Jennings Bryan, three times Demo
cratic candidate for the presidency Of
the United State, and author of
nearly thirty peace treaties with the
principal nations of the world, resigned
today as secretary of state as
dramatic sequel to his disagreement
with President Wilson over the govern
ment 8 policy toward Germany.
The resignation was accepted by the
president The cabinet then approved
the response which had been prepared
to the German reply to the Lusitania
note. Acting Secretary Robert Lansing
will sign the document and tomorrow
it will be cabled to Berlin.
Secretary Bryan will return to private
life tomorrow, when his resignation
takes effect. 1t was learned that he in
tends to continue his political support
Of the president.
Accepted With Regret
Rather than sign the document which
he believed might possibly draw the
United States in war, Mr.. Bryan sub
mitted his resignation in letter declar
ing that 'the issue involved is of such
moment that to remain member of the
tcaDlHGt WOull ne DIS uHldlf W NOu DIS IL
would be to the cause which is nearest
my heart, namely, the preventing of
war.
The president accepted the resigna-
ton in letter of regret, tinged with
deep personal feeling of affection. The
letters constituting the official announ-
cement of Mr.. Bryan's departure from
the cabinet to private life were made
% AZ % Ia IL
tonight. They follow:
Letter of Resignation.
Secretary Bryan s letter of resignation
was as follows:
, Ny Dear Mr.. President 1t is
} with sincere regret that I have
reached the conclusion that l should
return to you the commissions of
secretary Of state with which you
honored me at the beginning of
your administration.
Obedient to your sense of duty
and actuated by the highest mo-
tives you have prepared for trans
mission to the German government
! note in which ! cannot join with
out violating what l deem to be an
obligation to my country, and the
issue involved is Of such moment
$ cabinet would be as unfair to you
9 as it would be to the cause which
is nearest my heart, namely, the
prevention of war.
| therefore respectfully tender my
resignation, to take effect when
the note is sent, unless you pre-
fer an earlier hour. Alike DESTROYS
of reaching peaceful solution of
the problems arising out of the use
of submarines against merchant
men, we find ourselves differing ir-
reconciliably as to the methods
which should be employed.
Views are Expressed.
1t falls to your lot to speak of
ficially for the nation; ! consider it
, to be none the less my duty to en-
deavor, as a private citizen, to
promote the end which you have in
view by means which you do not
feel at liberty to use.
In severing the intimate and
pleasant relations which have eX-
, listed between use during the past
two years. permit me to acknow
= ledge the profound satisfaction
which it has given me to be asso
} ciated with you in the important
NOfh WHICH Has come before the
state department and to thank
you for the courtesies extended.
With the heartiest good wishes
l for your personal welfare and for
the success of your administration.
| am, my dear Mr.. President, very
truly yours, w. J. BRYAN.
Acceptance of President.
The president S letter to to Mr.
2 Bryan was as follows:
r My Dear Mr.. Bryant accept
I your resignation only because YOU
insist upon its acceptance; and I
accept it with much more than
deep regret, with a feeling of per-
? sonal sorrow. Our two years of
close association have been very
. delightful to me. Our judgments
have accorded in practically every
matter of official duty and of
public policy until now; your sup
port of the work and purpose of
the administration has been gen
erous and loyal beyond all praise
your devotion to the duties of your
great office and your eagerness to
Y take advantage of every great OPP
p portunity for service it offered
- has been an example to the rest of
us; you have earned ohr affectonate
admiration and friendship. Even
now we are not separated in the
/, object we seek, but only in the
+ method by which we seek it.
r 1t is for these reasons my feeling
hn