Arizona republican., 1916-10-30
A Startlinq Accusation.

Startling Accusation
 If the charge is true that made by United States Senator Lodge Saturday night Woodrow Wilson should receive the vote November of any self respecting American. The enormty, the meauness. the cowardice the dishonesty of the con duct alleged we think requires discussion We do not believe that in all the United States there can be found a man who would raise his voice in excuse of such act
 The charge briefly is that when the president framed the second Lusania note with it's bold words will omit word deed" there afterward added a confidential postscript informing Germany should take the previous seriously; that Mir. Bryan as secretary of state would not append his signature the note without the post script; that Secretary Garrison having been informed by MT. Bryan of the postscript which had been secretly added after the note had been discussed and agreed upon in the cabinet went the president and threatened him with public exposure unless the postscript should be withdrawn; that in fear of exposure the president withdrew it. The defense of the president must be a sweeping denial nothing. In support of the charge the alleged word of former Assistant Secretary War Breckenridge who was service at that time and been cogni- zaut of the happenings in the department This word a letter a member of the faculty of Tufts Medical college to Senator Lodge detailing the statement of Mir Breckenridge and the circumstances under which it made.
 We have now the denial of Mir Breckenridge that he made the attributed to him. thus raising point Of veraciey between him and Dr. Charles H Bailey gentleman of emnence and conceded reliabll- ity- In a controversy of this sort take the interest of the parties it. Dr. Bailey is scientist a member of the faculty of an important medical school Mir Breckenridge is a young man. politician whose future in the democratic party would be seriously affected by persistence in statement which must necessarily have disastrous effect upon his party and which would contribute largely to the defeat of it's candidate. He would be placed too in The position of having betrayed not merely party secret; but also secret unforgivabe offense
 We have yet to hear from Mir. Bryan and Mir Garri- son the only two members of the cabinet who found their positions there incompatible with their ideas of American manhood. What they will say we do not know. Their confirmation of the statement Of Mir. Breckenridge would the certain overthrow of the democratic party eight days hence.
 But this disclosure throws light on a certain matter that has been inexplieable the retirement of MT Bryan from the cabinet in circumstances that did not appear cTeditable to him His position was not made the more favorable by yelled criticism of the administration in which then indulged at a time when the American people believed that NIT. Wilson meant what he said and felt that Mir Bryans de- serton of him at what appeared to be critical ment was contemptible. The Breckenridge statement would fully explain and not only justify the course of Mir Bryan. but would leave to his credit great measure of forbearance in withholding facts which would clear him and condemn Mir. Wilson.
 We have also the circumstance that the Germans did not take the too seriously" and for a year afterward they assumed and still assume that the
 
 tribunal after the war; was suggested in the post script There has yet been no settlement and no dsavowal of the act of sinking the Lusitania was demanded in that iart the note intended for con sumption by the American public
 Another fact, though not directly bearing upon this matter is the resignation of Secretary Garrison under circumstances which remind us of those which sur rounded the alleged postscript In the matter of mi iary legislation the secretary of had been de- ceived by the president just he is alleged to have been deceived in the matter of the postscript There were two plans of preparedness under consideration one proposed by the secretary of war and the other the product of pacfsts and politicians The president had pledged his support of the former but suddenly on his return from western trip without consultation with Mir Garrison threw his influence favor of the other which has become our present nadequate and ridiculous law
 As partisans Messers Bryan and Garrison may deny the Breckenridge statement. Again, they may only refuse to speak concerning It. but their silence must be accepted full and complete confirmation of this narrative Of national disgrace. of the standing of MT Lodge would not precipitate such a charge unless he believed t to be true and furthermore un- less he believed it could be proved Failure would mean his political destruction the loss of his great influence in his state and the nation
 Moreover who would make such a cbarga fl false or unsusceptble of proof should be given the severest punishment under the laws against libel for such an accusation of nfamy has not until now beer