Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1915-06-18
BELIEVES REPLY TO GERMANY
MIGHT POSSIBLY DRAW
UNITED STATES INTO
WAR--PRESlDENT
ACCEPTS.
ACTING SECRETARY WILL
CABLE ANSWER TO BERLIN
Lansing VIII Sign Document at Once.
Cabinet Approves Response Pre-
pared to Teuton Reply on LII
sitania.~-Bryan to Return
to Private Life.

Washington, June 9.--William Jen-
nings Bryan, three-time Democratic
candidate for the presidency Of the
United States and author OF nearly
thirty peace treaties with the principal
nations Of the world. has resigned as
Secretary Of State as a dramatic Sc
Quel to his disagreement with Presi-
dent Wilson over the governments
policy toward Germany.
The resignation was accepted by the
President The cabinet then approved
the response which had been pre-
pared to the German reply to the Lusi-
tania note. Acting Secretary Robert
Lansing will sign the document and
1t will be cabled to Berlin at once.
Returns to Private Life.
Secretary Bryan will return to pri-
vate life 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 possibly draw
the United States into war, Mr. Bry-
an submitted his resignation in a let
ter declaring that "The issue involved
Is Of such moment that to remain a.
member Of the cabinet would be as
unfair to you as it would be to the
cause which is nearest my heart.
namely, the prevention Of war
Wilson Regrets Resignation.
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
departure from the cabinet to private
life, were made public at the White
House at 6 o'clock in the evening
Causes Sensation in Capital.
Dramatically the official relation of
Mr.. Bryan with the administration of
the man whose nomination he assisted
30 materially in bringing about at the
Baltimore convention Of 1912, came to
an end. It caused sensation in the
national capital, scarcely paralleled in
recent years, Ambassadors, ministers
officials of every rank and station,
beard the news as it was flashed by
newspaper extras. They interpreted
yariOusly its effect on the delicate
situation that had arisen between Ger
many and the United States. The
resignation Of the staunchest advocate
Of peace In the Presidents official fam
lily spread broadcast the belief that the
policy Of the United States as defn-
ltely determined upon would assert
and defend the rights of the United
States in any eventuality that might
arise.
Originally it was the intention of
the President and Mr.. Bryan to have
the announcement of the resignation
made simultaneously with the dis
patch Of the note to Germany, but
when Mr.. Bryan did not attend the
cabinet meeting until President Will
son sent for him, rumors that the
President had been unable to bring
the Secretary of State to his point of
view filled the air. Finally, shortly
before o'clock, the news leaked out
and was confirmed.
Bryan Keeps Secret.
When the principles on which the
note 70 Germany should be based were
discussed at the cabinet meeting OF
Friday, Mr.. Bryan found that he could
not reconcile his own position with
that of the administration. Work on
the note went forward, however, Mr..
Bryan keeping his secret, as did other
officials, awaiting the hour when the
communication would be ready to be
cabled
The cabinet assembled for final
reading of the note. Mr.. Bryan was
absent. He declined to receive news
paper men or callers and sent out
word that he had been delayed on ac-
count of important business. At the
White House no word as to the reasons
for his failure to appear at the meet
ing were given, but after the cabinet
had been discussing the note for an
hour, Mr.. Bryan arrived, telling the
newspaper men at the White House
that he regretted being late.
President Sends Invitation.
1t was learned that with the kn0wl-
edge that his resignation had already