The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-04-22
HOW MIR. BRYAN CAN SERVE.

Christian Science Monitor: For
years prior to his acceptance of a
place in President Wilson's cabinet.
William Jennings Bryan had been an
earnest advocate of international
peace. Upon becoming secretary of
state, he devoted himself very largely
to the negotiation of peace treaties
between the United States and other
nations. Finding that circumstances,
occasioned by the outbreak of war,
in the late summer of 1914, were fore
ing a reversal OF his policies, as sec
retary OF state, and after striving
for eleven months in opposition to the
trend of events he decided to relieve
the president of embarrassment by re-
signing. Notwithstanding this disa.
greement, he gave Mr. Wilson his un-
qualified support in the preconvention
and prediction campaigns Of 1916 By
Mr.. Bryan's work in the west and
northwest, in defense and support of
the administration, was Mr.. Wilson's
reelection greatly aided.
Following the reelection of the
president, following Mr.. Wilson's sec
ond inauguration, and up to the mo-
ment when Senators Stone, La Fol.
lette and others resorted to filibus-
tering in order to defeat the merchant
ship-arming bill Mr. Bryan stood firm.
ly in opposition to every move on the
part OF the white house, and on the
part of congress, that was likely or
calculated to involve the United States
in hostilities. He could not, however,
be a party to the tactics of the filibus.
ters. On the contrary, finding what
they were bent on doing, he left Wash.
ington.~
Between the final adjournment of
the old congress and the assembling
of the new. Mr.. Bryan preserved 81.
lence. In common with thousands of
other observant and reasonable paci.
fists, probably, he saw that it would
be impossible for the United States
longer to endure passively the insults
and aggressions Of the Prussian au.
tocracy, and that il would be equally
impossible for the president to resist
the overwhelming popular demand for
action consistent with national self.
respect on the part of the government.
At all events, he let events shape
themselves and take their course.
When state of war with Germany
was declared existent by congress he
was one of the first in the country TO
offer his services TO the president, de-
claring his Willingness to enlist in the
ranks or to accept any other assign.
ment for which he was fitted.
He has not attempted to explain or
to apologize for his former attitude.
II was not necessary, for, no matter
how il may have been regarded, II
must have appeared, to those who had
watched his whole course, entirely
consistent Now" he said at Colum.
bus, the discussion is ended, and the
people OF the entire country will stand
undivided behind the president. In no
other country shauld the people be so
willing to make extreme sacrifices as
in the United States"
A leaf is turned, and the book
awaits new entries. Few men in the
United States can do more than Mr.
Bryan toward making them worthy OF
the democracy which he has so often
and so eloquently eXtolled. for few
men in the country possess, in greater
degree than he, the power OF reaching
and holding the attention of the peo
pie, who, before the republic can do
its full part in upholding the presi
dent, must be convinced Of the neces
sity of making sacrifices to which he
refers.
The value of the service which Mr.
Bryan can render humanity as re
cruiting officer for civilization is
enormous