The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-06-16
HE DECLINES TO ENDORSE
NOTE TO GERMANY AND
QUITS HIS OFFICE
SUPPORTS wilson in
HIS POLITICAL WORK
DIFFERING In IDEAS LEADERS
PART WITHOUT HARSH
PERSONAL FEELING

ASo%SAN&AA = Ak<AkANN
William Jennings Bryan, three
times Democratic candidate for the
presidency of the United States, and
author of nearly thirty peace treaties
with the principal nations of the
world, resigned Tuesday as secretary
Of state as dramatic sequel to his
disagreement with President Wilson
over the governments policy toward
Germany.
The resignation vas accepted by
the president The cabinet then ap-
proved the response which had been
prepared to the German reply to the
Lusitania note. Acting Secretary
Robert Lansing will sign the docu-
ment and it will be cabled 70 Berlin.
Secretary Bryan will return to pri-
vate life when his resignation takes
effect. It was learned that he in
tends to continue his political sup
port Of the president.
Rather than sign the document
which he believed might possibly
draw the United States into war, Mr..
Bryan submitted his resignation in a
letter declaring that ''the issue in
voIved is of such moment that to re-
main a member Of the cabinet would
be as unfair to you as it would be to
the cause which is nearest my heart,
the prevention Of war
The president accepted the resig-
nation in a letter OF regret, tinged
with deep personal feeling Of affec-
ton. The letters constituting the Of
fetal announcement Of Mr.. Bryan's
departrre~from the cabinet to pri-
vate lie, were made public at the
White HcRse at six O'Clock Tuesday.
They follow:
Letter OF Resignation.
Secretary Bryan's letter Of resig-
nation was as follows:
''My Dear Mr.. President: 1t is
with sincere regret that have reach
ed the conclusion that I should re-
turn to you the commission of secre-
tary of state with which you honored
me at the beginning Of your admins
tration.
stObedient to your sense OF duty
and actuated by the highest motives,
you have prepared for transmission
to the German government note in
which can not join without violat-
ing what deem to be an obligation
to my country, and the issue involved
is of such moment that to remain a
member Of the cabinet would be rs
unfair to you as it would be to the
cause which is nearest my heart,
namely, the prevention of war.
t'I, therefore. respectfully tender
my resignation, to take effect when
the note is sent, unless you prefer an
earlier hour Alike desirous of reach
ing a peaceful solution Of the prob
lens arising out of the use of sub
marines against merchantmen, we
find ourselves differing irreconcilably
as to the methods which should be
employed.
TT falls to your lot to speak Off
cially for the nation; consider it &c
be none the less to be my duty to en-
Sdeavor as a private citizen to pro-
mote the end which you have in view
by means which you do not feel at
liberty to use.
s.In severing the intimate and
pleasant relations which have existed
between us during the past two years,
permit me to acknowledge the pro-
found satisfaction which it has given
me to be associated with you il the
important work which has come be-
fore the state department, and to
thank you for the courtesies extend
ed.
with the heartiest good wishes
for your personal welfare and for the
success of your administration, I am,
my dear Mr.. President,
Every truly yours,
(Signed) "W. J. Bryan"
The presidents letter to Mr.. Bryan
was as follows:
Presidents Acceptance.
"My Dear Mr.. Bryan: I accept
your resignation only because you in
sist upon its acceptance; and accept
it with much more than deep regret,
with. feeling of personal sorrow.
Our two years of close association
have been very delightful to me. Our
judgments have accorded in practi-
caIly every matter of official duty
and Of public policy until now; your
seaport of the work and purposes of
the administration has been generous
and loyal beyond praise; your deyo-
ton to the duties of your great office
and your eaSerneSS to take advantage
OF every great opportunity for SER
vice it offered has been an example to
the rest of us; you have earned our
affectionate admiration and friend
ship. Even now we are not separat-
ed in the object we seek, but only in
the method by which we seek it.
cit is for these reasons my feel
ing about your retirement from the
secretaryship of state goes so much
deeper than regret. sincerely de-
plore it.. Our objects are the same
and we ought to pursue them togeth-
er. I must and wish to bid you Cod
speed in the parting. We shall con-
tinue to work for the same causes
even when we do not work in the
same way.
with adectionate regard, sincere
ly yours,
Woodrow wilson
Came as Great Surprise.
LII duldS&SC-ILs sIlS OAIStGl NOii
of Mr.. Bryan with the administration
of the man whose nomination he as
sisted so materially in bringing about
at the Baltimore convention Of 1912
came to an end. 1t caused a sensa-
ton in the national capital scarcely
reasons for his failure to appear at
the meeting were given, but after the
cabinet had been discussing the note
an hour Mr.. Bryan arrived, telling
the newspaper men at the White
House that he regretted being late.
It was learned that with the knowl
edge that his resignation had already
been accepted by the president. Mr..
Bryan felt it would be indelicate to
attend the session unless his presence
was desired by the president.
When Mr.. Wilson telephoned an
invitation the secretary hurried to
the White House, his face somewhat
drawn and male When the cabinet