Omaha daily bee., 1918-05-05
V1ews, Revieavs and Intervieavs
Inside Story of aat Tariff Editorial Break Which Bryan
Tried to Capaalize an the 1908 Campaign

b Ucc l1UC 0UHtpUty6
sonal responsibility for everything that
appears in my paper than l would have of
! charging him with being responsible as
editor of the World Herald for the sale
in 1894 to the republicans of two columns
| of editorial page space at SIS day, or
with responsibility for Haunting the A. P.
A. emblem under his name as editor when
the same paper championed the A. P. A.
cause"
The Associated Ptess representative
shortly returned to me saying that, mas
much as there was some question as to the
personal character of this reply; my signature
was desired for vertifcation and protection.
rthereupon signed the statement, but the
Associated Press people changed it without
form, Transforming the last sentence into
the following meaningless verbiage:
81 do not think MFR. Bryan should
charge me with personal responsibility for
everything that appears in my paper any
more than + should charge Nr. Bryan with
everything that happened while he was
| engaged in daily journalism"
| set this out in detail because it will
throw light on one part of Hunters letter
of explanation, which came duly to hand the
next day and reads:
"Omaha, October a. sunday-Dear- Mr..
| Rosewater: So far as am concerned it is
clear case of the\boy that slept in the
middle-there is nothing left for me to
| say-but l may tell you the details The
| A. P. report of Bryan's speech at Fargo
was jumbled affair, but contained hint
| of peculiar utterance on the tariff. l watt
| ed for the fuller report and got it from
the St. Paul Dispateh-about four columns
| I clipped the reference to the tariff and the
| nection with other features of the demo-
cratic platform. 1t must have been quote
within a quote and / should have detected
it-but | didn't.
"As have always had some little pride
in being accurate in news work apd in other
lines I naturally feel considerably cut up
! over it, but cannot see how anything can
be done now except to fergit it. In this
connection however, it would seem to be
about time to protest to the A. P against
its violation of rules by making it Bryan
news service. c., who is following
Bryan for the A. P, is simply bughouse
over Bryan and the officials higher up
seem to stand for everything he sends out.
\ Yours cordially, w. H. HUNTER"
There is no question that Hunter was
"cut up" about it, but not half as much as |
was If inclined to doubt what had to stand
for, just read this sample appreciation which
appeared in the Indianapolis Newss
"Poor Mr.. Rosewater, busy at Chicago
in spreading the true gospel, can only
wiring his hands and take the guying that
the civil war, after hard battle and long
march, company, weary and dusty halted
to rest. The men were tired OF war and
homesick One private who had climbed
to the top rail of the roadside fence sat
for some time vith his head in his hands.
Nobody had spoken for many minutes.
Suddenly the disconsolate soldier burst
forth with: Say, men, I'm a d. fool
How SOP asked comrade on the grass.
Why came back the answer, here am,
far away from home; haven't seen my wife
and babies for year; hungry and dirty;
fghtin' like h for the constituton-and
I've never read itp Can, it be that Mr..
Rosewater is fighting in the same way for
the republican platform without ever hav-
ing read it?"
Or this piece Of poetry in which Bixby
down on the Lincoln Journal sought to I'M
mortalize me:
Stand up and do not be afraid
Rosewater;
! The foolish bunder that you made,
| Rosewater,
Was not, when all is done and said,
Because your heart was wrong; in
- stead. H.
\ 1t was blunder of the head,
RoseAater.
1t was case of someone lost
/ Rosewater;
Some one had his suspenders crossed,
| Rosewater.
If were you I'd put a ban
On these assaults simple plan
I'd soak saphead hired man.
! Rosewater.
I'd say that he was boiling tight"
Rosewater
I'd show him up in his true light,
/ Rosewater,
| I'd swear the wretch was on a toot,
I'd brand him as a blamed gaoot,
| And then I'd make him shoot the
+ shoot,
| rosewater
The break is hard 10 overlook,
Rosewater;
Somebody should be brought to
| book,
| Rosewater
Some hapless wretch must bear the
| blame,
| The deadly brand of guilt and
shame;
Jump on the hired man-he's lame,
R0sewater.
| But it all came out in the wash. Taft was
trimuphantly elected and Bryan decisively
beaten, even Missouri being brought, back
into the republican fold. The laugh, which
was on me in October, was mine in No
vember,
H. -