Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-06-09
NEBRASKAN QUITS
CABINET AFTER A
. BREAK WITH CHIEF
COmmoner Opposed to Sending Of
Note to Germany, Fearing it
Will Result in Grave
Complications.
RESIGNATION EFFECTIVE TODAY
Letters Exchanged Show Feeling Of
Friendship Between President
and Secretary.
LANSING TO ACT IN HIS PLACE

WASHINGTON, June S.-William
Jennings Bryan, three times demo
cratic candidate for the presidency
of the United States and author OF
nearly thirty peace treaties with the
principal nations of the world, re-
signed today as secretary of state as
a dramatic sequel to his disagreement
with President Wilson over the gov
ernment's 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.
To support Wilson.
Secretary Bryan will return to private
life tomorrow, when his resignation
takes effect. 1t was learned that he
intends to continue his political support
of the president. Rather than sign the
document, which he believed might pos
sibly draw the United States into the
war. Mr.. Bryan sumbitted his resignation
in letter declaring that "the issue in
volved is of such moment that to re-
main a member of the cabinet would be
as unfair to you as II would be to the
cause which is nearest my heart, namely,
the prevention Of war"
The president accepted the resignation
in a letter Of regret, tinged with deep
personal feelings Of affection. The let
ters constituting the official announce
h.
cabinet to private life were made pub
lie at the Whit House at o'clock to-
night.
Comes Dramatically.
Dramatically the official relations OF
Mr. Bryan with the administration OF the
man whose nomination he assisted so
materially In bringing about at the Bal
timore convention OF 1912 came to an end.
IT caused sensation in the national
capital scarcely psralleled in recent
years. Ambassadors. ministers and dip
lomatlsts from foreign lands. officials Of
every. rank and station, heard the news
as It was flahed by Newspaper extra to-
night. They interpreted varlously it's ef-
fects on the delicate situation that had
arisen between Germany and the United
States. The resignation of the staunchest
advocate Of peace in the presidents Of
fetal family spread broadcast the belief
that the policy OF the United States defi-
nitely determined upon would assert and
defend the rights of the United States in
any eventuality that might arise.
News Leaks Out.
Originally 1t was the intention of the
president and Mr.. Bryan 10 have the an
nouncement OF the resignation made
simultaneously with the dispatch of the
note TO Germany. but when Mr.. Bryan
did not attend the cabinet meeting today
until President Wilson sent for him.
rumors that the president had been un-
able 10 bring the secretary of state to his
point of view filled the air. Finally
shortly before 6 O'Clock the news leaked
out and was confirmed.
Just when the subject was first
broached between the president and Mr..
Bryan Ia not known definitely, but the
fact that Mr.. Bryan would resign was
known to a small circle of officials as
curly as last Sunday. When the princi-
pies on which the note to Germany should
be based were discussed at the cabinet
meeting OF Friday. Mr.. Bryan found that
he could not reconcile his own position
(Continuad on Page Two Column one.)