The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1915-06-11
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
RESIGNS FROM CABINET
Commoner Opposes War Program of
President Wilson.

Jul tue OHlLeu OIdIeS anu duluOT vi
neary thirty peace treaties with the
principal nations of the world, re.
Isigned to-day as Secretary of State
as dramatic sequel to his disagree.
ment with President Wilson over the
governments policy toward Ger
many.
The resignation was accepted by
the President. The cabinet then ap-
proved the response which had been
prepared to the German reply to the
Lusitania note. Acting Secretary
Robert Lansing will sign the docu-
ment, and tomorrow it will be
cabled to Berlin.
Secretary Bryan will return to
private life tomorrow, when his res
| ignation takes effect. 1t was learned
| that he intends to continue his pc
litical support of the President.
Rather than sign the document,
which he believed might possibly
draw the United States into war,
Mr.. Bryan submitted his resignation
in letter declaring that "the issue
involved is of such moment that to
remain a member of the cabinet
would be as unfair to you as t
would be to the cause which is near
est my heart, namely the proven
ton of war"
The President accepted the resig-
nation in a letter of regret, tinged
with deep personal feeling. The let
tiers constituting the official an
nouncement of Mr.. Bryan's depart
ure from the cabinet to private life
were made public at the White
House at 6 O'Clock tonight.
BRYAN'S LETTER.
Secretary Bryan's letter of resig-
nation was as follows:
"My Dear Mr.. President:
ut is with sincere regret that I
have reached the conclusion that
should return to you the commission
of Secretary of State with which
you honored me at the beginning of
your administration.
"Obedient to your sense of duty
and actuated by the highest mo-
tives, you have prepared for trans
mission to the German government
note in which 1 cannot join with
out violating what l deem to be an
obligation to my country, and the
issue involved is of such moment
that to remain a member of the cabi-
net would be as unfair to you as it
would be to the cause which is near
est my heart, namely the prevention
of war.
81, therefore, respectfully tender
my resignation, to take effect when
the note is sent, unless you prefer
an earlier hour. Alike DESTROYS of
reaching a peaceful solution of the
problems arising out of the use of
submarines againse merchantmen,
we find ourselves differing irrecon-
cilably as to the methods which
should be employed.
''It falls to your lot to speak Of
ficially for the nation; I consider it
to be none the less my duty to en-
deavor as private citizen to pro-
mote the end which you have in
view by means which you do not feel
at liberty to use.
"In serving the intimate and
pleasant relations which have exist
ed between us during the past two
years, permit me to acknowledge the
profound satisfaction which it has
given me to be associated with you
in the important work which has
come before the State department,
and to thank you for the courtesies
extended.
with the heartiest good wishes
for your personal welfare and for
the success of your administration,
1 am, my dear Mr.. Presiden,
VERY truly yours,
(Signed) "W. ]. BRYAN"
The Presidents letter to Mr.. Bry-
an was as follows:
my dear Mr.. Bryan:
81 accept your resignation only be-
cause you insist upon its acceptance;
and / accept it with much more than
deep regret, with a feeling of per-
sonal sorrow. Our two years of
close association have been very de-
lightful to me. Our judgments
have accorded in practically every
matter of official duty and of public
policy until now; your support of
the work and purposes of the adj
has been generous and
loyal beyond praise; your devotion
to the duties of your great Office and
your eagerness to take advantage of
every great opportunity for service
it offered has been an example to
the rest of us; you have earned our
admiration and friend
ship. Even now we are not sepa
rated in the object we seek, but only
in the method by which we seek it.