Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-09
MAY CALL BRYAN IN
LA TOILETTE INQUIRY
Light Sought on Circumstances
of Resignation From
Cabinet
BY a star Correspondent
WASUTNGTON DOT q

WASHINGTON, Oct ..
Interesting but hitherto undisclosed cir
cumstances connected with the resignation
of William Jennings Bryan from the port
folio of Secretary Of state in the Wilson
Cabinet may come to light through the
processes of the senatorial inquiry into the
loyalty OF Robert NJ. La Toilette, Senator
from Wisconsin.
The entire inquiry, under the terms of
the resolution adopted by the Committee
on Privileges and Elections concerns the
speech made by Senator La Toilette before
the Nonpartsan League at St Paul, Mimi
on September 90. After determining the
accuracy of the quoted portions of the ad-
dress the subcommittee must look into the
statements of fact set forth in the speech
one Of these statements Of fact alleged by
La Toilette is that Mr.. Bryan, while Sec
retary Of state, warned President Wilson
that large quantities of ammunition were
on board the Lusitania and urged him to
prohibit the vessel from sailing with Amer
leans on board
Mr.. Bryan himself has denied the state
ment and the committee is of a mind to
accept this denial without further to do,
saving, perhaps a request Of Mr. Bryan
that he repeat the denial i'm writing in
order that IL may be made n part of the
record. Whether Senator La Toilette will
accept it without further question, however,
cannot at this time be said. He is keep
ing his own counsel about the entire in
vestigation, but reports are persistent that
he will insist not only on having Mr. Bryan
summoned in person before the committee
and on questioning him, but on having rec
ords Of the state Department submitted in
evidence.
There are indications, TO be sure that the
committee will debar him from too deep a
delving into matters the publication of
.Vs1, aa1, ,fsW1,N Ia
country's interests, but no one denies that
la Toilette is resourCeful and may have
other means he will employ TO bring TO light
the origin and circumstances of Mr.. Bryan :
retirement from the Cabinet
Unquestionab!y there are many uncut
leaves in the story of that break, that are
not contained in the published correspond
ence between the President and Mr.. Bryan
From this correspondence it appears that
Mr.. Bryan did not consider the Lusitania
sinking cause for war, but did think that
the Government in the interest Of the main
tenance of peace should prohibit Americans
from travelling on bellgerent ships carrying
munitions. Regarding the La Toilette speech
Mr.. Bryan has only denied that he kne y
beforehand that the Lusitania carried muni-
tions and warned the President not TO let
her sail.
That the President and Mr.. Bryan diff.
fered subsequently as to the right Of Amer.-
ships is well known. although Mr.. Bryan
based his view on moral rather than tech
nical grounds. Behind all this, however, Is
undoubtedly mine of information concern
ing the pachst activities Of the former
Secretary of State. whose 2ealousness L.
behalf of peace caused him ever and again
unwittingly TO embarrass the efforts of the
President to force upon Germany and
Austria realization of the fact that
| America was truly resentful of their VIC
! lations of neutral rights.
Should Senator La Toilette. for example
! insist upon inquiring into the precise cir
cumstances of that heart-to-heart chat be
| tween Mr.. Bryan and DR.. Constants
! Dumba, it is probable that interestinl
angles of the interview, hitherto cast II
| a shadow might come to light As general.
| understood, Secretary Bryan at this inter
| view, which took place during one of tn
| most acute stages of the submarine con
| troversy, assured Doctor Dumba that tn
| sharp language used by the United State
| in its protests was principally for "hom
consumption" and that the American Gov
| ernment did not actually mean what it
| threats indicated. Subsequently Docto
| Dumba, who duly reported this converse
| tion To- his Government and to Count vO
| Bernstorff, the German Ambassador here
| was recalled at the request of the Unite
| States Government for having conspire
| to blow up factories in this country makin
arms and ammunitions for the Allies.