The sun., 1916-08-28
WILSON'S EXCUSE
Is BRYAN DID IT"
Presidents Blunders Are BE.
ing Blamed Wholesale on
the Former Secretary.
HE IS CAMPAIGN "GOAT"
Every Trail to Administra.
ton Failures Is Led Up
to COmmOner.

wAsHINGroN. AUG. 2~7.-"Bryan did
IT," This is the whispered explanation
that close friends Of the President give
Of the Administrations policy Of forbid
ding American marines and bluejackets
from firing until fred upon during the
In April. 1914.
II dovetails with other explanations.
indicating that past mistakes in the Ad-
ministration's foreign policy. wherever
possible. are to be laid In the course Of
the campaign on the shoulders 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 Tampico on
April 10, 1914. when American men,
women and children were left at the
mercy Of an cnraged mob and later res
cucd by officers OF the German cruiser
Dresden. 1t Is likewise whispered Bryan
did IT,"
The President. II Is explained, never
would have permitted the American flag
to have been disgraceh nor have shown
the white feather at such a time when
American lives were In peril. 1t In
limited now that the President realizes the
mistake he made In permitting his for
mer Secretary Of State to dictate a policy
which led to the Tampico AFFAIR. But IL
was Bryan's fault. 1t Is declared.
Taught at Peace Treaties.
State Department officials now smile
or openly LAUGH whenever complications
resulting from the famous Bryan peace
treaties are mentioned. These treaties
are never referred to seriously either Mt
the White House CT al the state Depart
ment. and when II has beer suggested
that they forbid any form OF reprisal
against the British blockade officials
smile and say: That's Bryan's work /.
he did It,"
The letter showing the promise OF
epolls for deserving Democrats in Santo
Domingo Is calmly met by the Admins
tration with the same reply:
I'VE no longer are responsible for
what poor old Bryan did"
Minister Sullivan's presence and
record In Santo Domingo are laid Mt
Rryan's door when as a matter OF IA .,
Bryan had absolutely nothing to do with
his selection. Sullivan was chosen by
tho White House and bryan in indorsiry
him was merely carrying out the orders
he had received from the President.
Ear Eastern Diplomacy.
Likewise the collapse Of American inter
csts In the Far Fast owing to the Ad-
minist'a'ion's withdrawal Of supper to
the American bankers is now laid at
Bryans door. II was BryaD's miscon-
c%eptlon. friends OF the President say
The President did not wish TO interfere
and realised too late that he had made
a vital mistake.
As proof OF this the Administration
now points TO the fact that the Presi-
dent has completely repudlated the
policy and is practically begging the
American bankers to return to their
former position.
Tho plan to shoulder on Bryan many
Of the mistakes OF tho Wilson Admins
~tration. most Of which he had nothing
10 DO with. IL also dominant in explain
ing the Presidents sudden switch 10
preparedness, When tho President told
former Secretary Garrison that "A ma.
jority Of the American people were
against preparedness and when he char.
actcrized preparedness talk as "hys.
terra" that was because OF the h1ac.ul
influence OF Bryan. When he saw ,hc
light IT was because Bryap's influence
had waned.
Tn general all the cardinal b,undrrs
81 tho Administrators foreign mol! "
are now laid at Bryan's door by The Ad.
min!strat!on.