Evening journal., 1915-01-19
Our Secretary of State
lFrom No NeW York sum .

Almost exactly two years ago it
became the duty and the privilege of
Tho Sun TO point out TO Mr.. Woodrow
Wilson uhen engaged in making his
Cabinet for the Presidential term
soon TO begin) the certain conse-
qrences OF the proposed appointment
OF Mr. Bryan to be Secretary of State.
The warning was explicit as TO The
pctcntialities of scandal and national
humiliation which Mr.. Bryan's well
understood idi0syncrasies promised
TO provide. Our entreaty to Mr.. Will
son TO avert the public calamity
which seemed imminent was made in
good faith and in no spirit Of un-
friondlincss TO the person whose su-
porlative disquaifcations for the OF
fee of Secretary of State we des-
crihed with all possible moderation
OF language and tone. We may per
haps be pardoncd for repeating what
The Sun said at that time. i'm con-
clusion, after having exhibited the
appalling specifications of undtness.
III the primacy Of the Cabinet is
offered TO Mr.. Bryan it will be be-
cause he has been thrice defeated for
7 N'nlMIMNf UA ihnNi nv ~ ~ iNUnlAhN~
Gus figure with a considerable fol-
lowing. in the Democracy at present;
because he is yet able. ir offended or
slighted. to occasion a good deal Of
trouble to the Wilson Administration
and. perhaps. because Mr. Wilson
feels himself under more or less
obligation to Mr.. Bryan for what oc-
Cured at Baltimore.
"If the post of Secretary of state
is accepted by Mr.. Bryan il will not
| be- because he yeans for tho oppOr-
| tunity to test his diplomatic genius
! IN the presence OF all the chancel-
! lcries, but because he wants 10 keep
! himself in the bright light Of pub
! licity for tho next four years, 10 have
! the opportunity TO speak TO the
/ President and TO the party through
a more effective megapbOne than the
CCmmoner to be on hand when dis
cussiOns arise as to the binding force
OF the single term plank i'm the Bal
timOro platform In short. who
doubts that it Mr.. Bryan takes this
place az the council mahogany of
/ the Wilson Administration il will not
be so much that he may sit at the
Presidents right as In order that the
President may sit at his left. within
striking range Of his aquiline eye?
Most disinterested observers will
foresee in a relation of this sort sure
disaster either to DR.. Wilson or tc
Mn Bryan. and perhaps TO both. That
However. is of comparatively small
importance. The grave concern 0
the American people is with the
possibility that for such personal
anG partisan reasons our incoming
President. in the exercise Of one oil
the 0rst and one OF the most serious
responsibilities of his entire term
may deliberately entrust the Depart
ment of State TO so ignorant and sc
rlCtorical and so unfit a person as
is Mr. Bryan
We recall this forecast. not Z,
invite admiration of its accuracy, bu
rather to express surprise that Thu
Suns proenostications should have
been so inadequate.
Every man in the country witt
unbiased vision now perceives hov
stupcndous a miscalculation of th'
main chance was Mr.. Wilson's whei
he figured that with Mr.. Bryan II
the Cabinet the balance of profit ant
advantage would be on the Presi
dents side.
Ine President has gained som
things it is true. in the way Of par
tisan convenience and personal com
fort Undoubtedly Mr. Bryan's inhu
oncc on some Of the Western an
Southern legislators has counted 70
the success of Administration meas
urcs that have gone before the Con
grcss This service ought not 4
be underestimated. Moreover. ther
has been up to this time no scissio
OF the distinctly Bryan faction of III
Democracy. circumstance du
partly to the previously calculate
relationship now existing and partl
TO the fact that the hands of Tn
political clock have not yet reache
the hour for the open clash of amh
tions. I'm addition TO these benefit
the President has had the satisfaC
tion OF reading from time TO time i
the Commoner remarks in approv'
OF his political intelligence and mor'
ideals, phrased in molagscs, signe
by the Secretary of State. and II
tered i'm that tone OF sOnhisticatc