New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-12
WILSON'S NOTE
HARDENS STOCKS
Bryan's Position Called
Ridiculous by Bankers
and Public Men.

On the Stock Exchange the mild and
friendly tone Of the Presidents sec
ond note TO Germany was reflected in
an active buying movement, which car
ried war and metal stocks in some in
stances az nigh as and 10 points,
while the standard railroad and indus
trial issues in the majority Of cases
recorded material gains. The rise in
the metals was based largely on the
increasing prices for copper and lead.
Trading was on more active scale
than has prevailed thus far this week,
the days transactions being in excess
of $4,000 shares.
In the opinions expressed by bank
ors yesterday on the note there was
Noticeable an absence of the remark
able unanimity Of approval which char
ecterized the first enunciation of the
American position regarding neutral
rights.
Those bankers who were not opposed
to having their views publicly ex-
pressed confined themselves chiefly to
the ridiculous position in which Mr..
Bryan placed himself by refusing to
sign a note admittedly more temperate
in tone than the previous one.
"The Presidents note was <rm, dig
nifed and commendable. but what the
outcome will be no one can tell" said
A. Barton Hepburn, chairman of the
Chase National Bank. 81 hope that
Germany will give the assurances re-
quested by the United States govern
ment that the laws of humanity will be
sustained in warfare on the high seas.
"As TO Mr.. Bryan's resignation as
Secretary Of State, | think 1t was dis
loyal to the Democratic party and dis
loyal TO the nation, but the American
people know Mr.. Bryan. He is essen
TALLY politician and is ready to adopt
any ism which he thinks may benefit
strated when he came to downtown
New York the last time he ran for
President with the proposition for the
guarantee of bank deposits
There was nothing in the Presi
dents note that should have warranted
Mr.. Bryan's resignation at this time, es-
the preceding note, which was much
more forcible. The only conclusion,
therefore, that can be arrived at from
Mr.. Bryan's action is that he saw a
splendid opportunity to put himself at
the head of the so-called pro- German
or German-American element and to
enlist the religious sentiment of the
country, thus making himself a die
tator TO the Democratic party.
Undoubtedly he believes he can
place himself in such a position that
President Wilson cannot be renomi-
mated without his sanction. But, as
have said before, the American people
knew Mr.. Bryan, and | believe he will
have a very sad awakening"
Otto T. Barnard. former candidate
OF the Republican party for Mayor Of
New York and president Of the New
York Trust Company, said:
~ think the Presidents note Is ex-
cellent. Bryan had probably made up
his mind to resign before he read it;
otherwise he could have found no rea-
son for resigning. ! think the note is
firm and yet friendly"
A passage from Hamlet" was the
answer given yesterday by Judge
Swami, of the Court of General SEES
sions, when asked for his opinion of
William Jennings Bryan's resignation
from the Presidents Cabinet.
The Judge sad "The President
must have inwardly voiced the senti-
ment Of Hamlet when that other Prime
Minister, Polonius, said I beg to take
my lenve' Hamlet's reply was: You