New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-16
Glad TO Have Public Know
He Seeks Rewards for
Political Workers.
HOUSE TO DISCUSS
MESSAGE TO WICK
Testimony in Sullivan Case May
Begin Effort TO Dust Secre-
tary of State.
From Tho Tr,bun. Bor.,u

Washington. Jan. 10 Secretary OF
State Bryan frankly acknowledge to-
day that the letter produced as evi-
dence by Walker W. Wick, in the i
vestigation Of the conduct of Minister
James VI. Sullivan was his own, and
supplcmented that acknowledgment with
the following statement:
81 am glad TO have the public know
that I appreciate the services OF those
who work in politics. and that ] feel
an interest in seeing them rewarded. |
think that is the only charge that can
be based on that letter, and, as Mr..
Wick received his appointment as re
ward for political work, ! thought he
was a good man to address in express
ing my opinion on the subject"
The Secretary Of State seemed to re-
card the entire matter as huge Joke.
The suggestion that the State Depart
ment had been made since his entrance
into office sort Of employment bureau
OF the faithful machine politicians
from various quarters of the United
States did not interest the Secretary IN
the least. He listened TO the further
suggestion that the Offices parcelled CIT
in Santo Domingo were in no sense po-
litical plums. in view of the fact that
the salaries were paid, not out OF the
United States but from the Dominican
Treasury, without comment.
House TO Discuss II.
Secretary Of War Garrison, asked
about the appointment OF Wick and MS
assistant. Vance, said:
81 recommended the appointment OF
Wick. and | recommended the appoint
ment of Vance; and that is all nave
to relate on that subject
Secretary Bryan's patronage letter 10
Wick is TO be the target OF Republican
attack in the House. II was learned
to-day that Mann. the minority leader
Representative Moore and other ne
publcans Will make speeches on what
they regard as an extraordinary letleI
from the Secretary of State.
Because of the plan among kepuo-
leans to discuss the letter FOR lhe
Congressional Record several MINOR
ity members to-day resisted the tempt
alton merely TO insert the speech IN
the record during the debate on the
rivers and harbors bill. Instead Bry-
ans request for patronage probably
will be the subject Of extended discus
sion later.
Weeks yelled attack on Bryan through
the publication of the patronage letter
is hailed here as the entering wedge
to one of the bitterest fights the Dem
ocratic party has had to contend with.
Wick is a personal fraiend OF william
+. McCombs. chairman OF the Demo
cratic National Committee, who since
President Wilson's inauguration has
been gradually edged away from nav
IN n a
ton affairs by Secretary Bryan and MS
friends.
Want TO Force Bryan Out.
The publication of the patronage let
tor is believed to mark the beginning
of an effort on the part of the ma
tional chairman's friends to show up
BRYAN in such a light that he will find
Il inconvenent TO continue as mem
Der of President Wilson's CABINET
While this fight has been going on un-
der the surface for the last two years,
the publication of the letter to Nick Is
the first sign that the contest VIII go
on in the open. A..
II is considered no secret here that
the BRYAN and McAdoo influences nave
been responsible for McComos pecoIn-
ing only an occasional caller at the
White House. McCombs himself has
said little or nothing about the mat
ter. He has kept his troubles to him.
self and put up the best fight he knew
how for those of his friends whom ne
thought we're entitled to recognition by
the administration.
Wick. who was Chairman McCompss
associate in the conduct Of the last ma
tional campaign, is known here to be
closer to the chairman than any, other
democrat. Hence it is believed that,
while Wick may be acting on his own
initiative. he nevertheless has started
on the path to repay some of the things
which are said to be due TO Secretary
Bryan.