The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-08-31
SOW'S EXCUSE
IS BRYAN Dill IT.
Presidents BIunderS Are Being
Blamed Wholesale on
Former Secretary.

NsAoIlLNI S.Ns HNb, 81. - ~ Nhh
did IT," This is the whispered eX-
PLANTATION that close friends OF the
president give OF the administrations
policy of forbidding American ma
rInes and bluejackets from firing I'M
til fired upon during the initial stag
es of the Vera Cruz campaign in
April, 1914.
1t doyetails with other eXplana-
lions. indicating that past mistakes
in the administrations foreign policy,
wherever possible, are to lie laid in
course Of the campaign on the should
ers of the former secretary of state.
In other words, Bryan is to be the
goat"
IN connection with the withdrawal
OF the American ships from TamD!co
on April l9, 1914, when American
men, women and children were LEFT
at the mercy of an enraged mob and
later rescued by officers OF the Ger
man cruiser Dresden. 1t is likewise
whispered BRYAN did It,"
The president, it is explained, never
would have permitted the American
flag to be disgraced nor have
shown the white feather at such a
time when American lives were in
paril. It is limited that the pres
ident realizes the mistake he made in
permitting his former secretary Of
state to dictate a policy which led to
the Tampico affair. But it was Bry-
ans fault, it is declared.
Laugh ut Peace Treaties.
State department officials now
smile or openly laugh whenever com
plications resulting from the famous
Bryan peace treaties are mentioned.
These treaties are never referred TO
seriously either at the White House
or at the state department, and when
it has been suggested that they forbid
any form Of reprisal against the Brit
ish blockade officials smile and say:
That's Bryan's work; he did It,
The letter showing the promise Of
spoils for deserving Democrats III
Santo Domingo is calmly met by the
administration with the same reply,
we no longer are responsible for
what poor old Bryan did,
Minister S|ullivan's presence and
record in Santo Domingo are laid at
Bryan's door when as a matter OF
fact Bryan had absolutely nothing to
do with his election. Sullivan was
chosen by the White House and Bry-
an in indosIng him was merely carry
ing out the orders he had received
from the president.
Far Eastern Diplomacy.
Likewise the collapse Of American
Interests in the far East owing to the
administrators withdrawal of sup
port to the American bankers is now
laid at Bryan's door. 1t was Bryan's
misconception, friends Of the presi-
dent say. The president did not wish
to interfere and realized too late that
he had made a vital mistake.
AS proof Of this the administration
no wpoints to the fact that the pres
ldent has completely repudiated the
policy and Is practically begging the
American bankers to return to their
former position.
The plan to shoulder on Bryan
many Of the mistakes Of the WILSON,
administration, most Of which he had
nothing to do with, Is also dominant
in explaining the presidents sudden
switch to preparedness. When the
president told former Secretary Garri-
son that a majority Of the American
people were against preparedness and
when he characterized preparedness
talk as "hysteria" that was because
of the baneful influence of Bryan
When he saw the light 1t vas because
Bryan's influence had waned.
In general all the cardinal plumbers
nj the administrations foreign policy
are now laid at Bryan's door by the
administration.