San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-31

Of New Jersey. There was no mark
Of the recruit about him.
After brief pause, he said: Gen
ficmen, / thought we should come to-
gether and talk about getting started
on our way
After a few good stories and some
witty remarks from the President,
Bryan, and others. we discussed when
we should take the oath OF office. Ii
was agreed that as many as possible
should be sworn in that afternoon, If
the Senate had acted and confirmed
our nominations. Each Of the others
said that, in conformity with custom,
the head OF his department had called
and had asked his pleasure about as
Stunning his duties. As yet had had
no word Of any kind from Secretary
Wilson of the Department Of Agricul-
ture.
Some matters Of patronage were
mentioned. but nothing of consequence
was considered. The President decid-
ed that the first regular cabinet meet
ing would be held the next day,
Thursday, at IL o'clock.
As / sat at my place at the table,
found myself looking constantly at
the man at the big end of it and al
the man at his right, his secretary OF
state. / had long known and watched
both Of them. / knew that they wefe
about as different as it was possible
for men to be.
/ had watched Bryan for over twen-
Il years. Ny attention was first call
ed to him when he made speech on
the tariff in Congress about 1892.
Some time afterward / was visiting in
Darlington, S. c. l called to see an
old friend. Congressman George W,
Darzan. This gentleman belonged to
one of the old Carolina families and
70 the old school. and was one or Ics
finest types. He was a charming man,
q fine lawyer and student Of az
fairs. He had great self-respect and
therefore. great courage.
He was one of the best representa-
fives South Carolina or any other
state ever had. He was a Cleveland
Democrat. Nearly every precinct IN
his district. after the free silver now
ment got well under way. instructed
Mr.. Dargan to vote for the free coin.
age Of silver at 16 TO 1. He not only
did not do so, but he made one Of
the three best speeches against tbs
proposal that were heard in Congress
during that struggle. Of course, he
was left at home in the next election
much to the loss Of the state and ths
nation.
ESTIMATE OF BRYAN.
When I raw Mr.. Darrsn. smoke
Of the Mr.. Bryan who had made 2
speech on the tariff. and asked hin
what he thought Of him. He answer
ed: He has a fine voice and a gcot
presence, but he really doesn't know
anything at ALL
was to be reminded of this opinion
many times-the first time in For
Worth, Texas. early In 1895, when
heard Bryan for more than two hour
on the silver question. ] discovers
that one could drive a prairie schoou
or through any part OF his srgumen
snd never scrape against q fact or ,
sound statement.
Wen. this man was now sitting ri
woodrow Wilson's right as his secre
tsry OF state-on the right Of the maj
who had almost leeped into the plac
which Bran had tried for invent,
years to reach. He had never beef
successful, or tried out, in anything
except N speaking or writing. Will
Wilson eIcelled him certainly ct /;
writer and had demonstrated his abil
ity also to act, and 20 act wisely.
Wilson, reflected, IL a student
Bryan ~ not. Wilson searches fol
facts, masters them and interpret
them. He knows history and has IL
teachings at bis command. Bryan ha,
never been a student. BE has naturs
ability, but ie unframed. BE doe
not examine a question with a view q
getting all the pertinent facts, 10 an
sly,e them, 10 interpret them, and Z
draw the fair and sound conclusion
from them. Rather he has impulse,
mainly in the field Of morals. and j
constantly on the alert to get some
thing which has been represented I
him az q fact 10 support or TO sustai
his impulses. Wilson has keen sens
a direction. Bryan an uncanny sens
for the wrong direction. Both. / be
lieve, are men Of high character an
good intention. Bryan. / believe, ]
honest. think be is merely iZnoran
and impractical. They are among III
best public speakers in America. eac
in his own field, Bryan shining befor
a popular audience, Wilson before
discriminating one. Both are r.