The Raymer enterprise., 1915-11-25

~ succeeded sue tan BY mae,s. ae9 loaa oso Wsn Fos
j. Bryan resigned his position
as secretary of state in the cabinet OF President
Wilson. He was succeeded by Robert Lansing
These two statements of fact are put together
because IL may be justified by the human inter
est which seems to exist In the fact that John
W. Foster is the fatherin,law OF Robert Lansing
1t Is probable that no two men more entirely
dinerent In temperament and in manifestations
thereof ever existed than William j. Bryan and
MS successor In Office, Robert Lansing. Mr.
Bryan was more or less inclined TO be hail fel
low well met with men. Mr.. Lansing has little
OF the hail fellow well met in him. but never.
theless he is approachable, genial and almost
Without question the best listener that the state
department has had for great many years
NOW II Is said frequently that the man who 10
sooo listener is more AT 10 get results than
tne man who is, We shall not say a good
out great talker. Those who know the pres.
ent secretary OF state say that there is no chan.
mel connecting one OF his ears with the other
This simply is their way OF expressing the fact
that nothing that goes into one OF Mr. Lansinr.s
ears hnds exit from the other. He holds fast
what be hears and later he acts on his knowl.
edge or refuses to act on II as seems better to
his understanding OF the case.
Ordinarily speaking, persons Ike to hear
stories about men IN high positions I, Is prob
ably no exagEeration TO say that there ara A
thousand stories about Mr., Bryan, about Mr.,
Knox about Mr.. Root and about one or an.
other OF the predecessors In Office OF the present
incumbent TO one about the present incumben,
himself When one says stories of course he
means human interest and humorous stories Mr..
Lansing does not lend himself readily to the ex
ploitation of fun making. He Is a grave man. a
receptive man and therefore not al all an ex.
uberant man. His sense OF humor however ia
keen and he enjoys q good story well told and
enjoys II With an evident. II quiet. showing OF
appreciation.
The kind OF story they tell about Mr. Lansing
when story is demanded 10 In character some.
thing like that OF the man himself grave and
dignihed. and not possessing the qualities which
make up the more or less substantial story with
g substratum OF humor.
For instance, not long ago TWO ambassador,
representing foreign countries and one high
Official Of the United States government, ex.
pressed a desire for an audience with Mr., Ian.
sing on certain Thursday evening Mr.. Ian.
sing said that he would be happy to see the
gentlemen at almost an other time but on
Thursday evening ! must 80 to church"
Now, Robert Lansing 10 a Presbyterian, and a
good one Il took real sincerity o. purpose for
q secretary OF state. who is supposed to be ready
at any hours OF the day or night TO listen TO
the plenipotentiar.es Of foreign powers. to say
In effect, No. state matters must wait until
after prayer meeting"
When Mr.. Bryan was secretary OF state hs
saw the newspaper men frequently, and his inter.
course with them was rather Of the free and
easy sort because the Nebraska gentleman was
and is newspaper man himself The corrc.
spondents however did not get any extrsor.
dinary amount o! news out OF Mr.. Bryan DESPITE
his arahility. Mr., Lansing has regular business
meetings with the correspondents. There are
few stories TO ay back and forth. few ou,ps 0.
humor, and there Is the usual reticence on many
subjects which marks diplomacy. but Mr. Ian.
sing. nevertheless. always gives up a story A
news item OF minor or greater Importance, when.
ever |, is proper fos him so 10 do and. moreover,
he is pretty keen Judge o. news values despue
the fact that be Is a lawyer and probably doe.
not know sem dash from a linotype machine,
Some people say that Mr.. Lansing had several
months tralring as secretary OF state before he
took Office actually These are the people who
think thal be did mos, o. Mr. Bryans work.
This probably Is unjust to Mr.. Lansings prede-
cessor. but It Is known definitely that the pres.
ent secretary was consulted constantly ana con.
esleAtA asea most o! tas matters relating 10 our
foreign Intercourse, which recently, as everybody
knows. has been In state net only delicate. but
pericpa
II Is pretty definitely known now that when
Mr. Lansing was counselor for the state depart.
ment he aided the president materially in writing
the note TO Germany which was penned June ..
II was the tone Of this note which Mr. Bryan
thought was too militant, and II was this note In
way which caused the Nebrasksn to resign hts
position as chief Of the presidents cabinet
When II - said that man 10 grave. q rood
listener and no, oyergven to taking. the i'm
preston received 10 perhaps that hs 10 lacking