The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-26
Bryan And WatterSon
On Presidents Note

ice to war-stricken world, civilian
Jennings Bryan wired President VIII
son today in reference to the note
which the president yesterday sen,
the belligerent powers; and Colone
Henry Watterson says that, aside
from the expression of friendly inter
ests, "the presidents note means Just
nothing at ALL" Mr.. Bryan congratu
lates the president on the action he
has taken; Colonel Watterson holds
to the view that the president has
merely taken shot into the air which
he hopes hostile criticism will not
take as an effort on his part to get
into the world war.
Aside from giving out for publica-
ton his congratulatory telegram to
the president, Mr.. Bryan declined to
make any comment. His telegram is
as follows: a.
6r. Bryan's Telegram.
"Hon Woodrow Wilson, President:
"You have rendered an Invaluable
service to war-stricken world in
asking the belligerent nations to set
forth in specific terms the conces-
sions and assurances which they deem
necessary to the establishment of a
lasting peace. 1t would be a refiec-
ton upon the nations at war to doubt
that they know the ends for which
they are fighting or to assume that
they have any purposes which they
are unwilling to reveal. A definite
statement by both sides, no matter
how far these statements may be
apart, will clear the air and afford
basis for negotiations, and, when ne
gotiations begin, they are not likely
to terminate until an agreement is
consent to assumysic-i.aS9. natifforn.- "a
reached, because neither side will
consent to assume responsibility for
the unspeakable horrors of
this conflict, If any reasonable terms
can be secured. Accept cordial con-
and my earnest wish for
the success of the movement which
you have had the honor to inaugu-
rate.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN"
When Colonel Watterson was asked
for an expression of opinion on the
sudden action by the president he
wrote for The Metropolis the follow
ing:
aside from the expression of friend
ly interest and the earnest desire of
all men for peace, the presidents
note means just nothing at all. Hos
tile criticism might take it as an ef-
fort on his part to get into the world
game. Taking it as wellintending
and sincere it is but an arrow shot
into the air. There can be no lasting
peace in Europe short of the complete
dissolution of Prussian militarism.
What could have been thought during
our war Of section Of let us say, Eng
land interposing to end it by q medi-
ated conference between Abraham
Lincoln and Jefferson Davis? There
There is now Observation-Disclosures
was then an irrepressible conflict.
There is now an irreconcilable issue.
In the one case as in the other this
must be fought to a logical finish. A i
patched up agreement to meet the ex-
lgencies Of the moment would be but
an illusionary truce. After such sac
rifices the Entente powers are bound
to press on and on until they drive !
he Teutons across the Rhine in the
west and back beyond the Danube on
he east, and from Berlin and Vienna
lictate their own terms of peace; the
our kingdoms embracing the German
Empire relegated each to its original |
sovereignty; the recession of A1sace,
Lorraine to France, with the return
Of the indemnity wrong from the
French in 1870 by Bismark; full re-
to Belgium; the same to
servia and Rumania with needful re-
adjustments in Poland. These alone |
will satisfy England, France and Rus
ia, which is to say will alone salts