The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, June 11, 1915, Image 1
I
Lin, > HIRER i>S DEWBERRY, S. C* FRIDAY, Jt'XE 11, 191 ->. TWICE A WEEK, $L50 A YEAR.
William Jennin
H Quits W
f YIELDS POSITION I
BECAUSE OF NUlfcj
ft I'MiiBLE TO INDORSE STAND REW
GARDING LUSITAMA
Finds iThat Principles Do >"ot Allow
Him to Sign the New
F Xessasre.
1 Washington, June 8.?William Jennings
Bryan, three times Democratic
candidate for the presidency of the
United States, and author of nearly
30 peace treaties with the principle^
nations of the world, resigned today
as secretary of state, as a dramatic
sequel to I'cis disagreement with President
Wilson over the government's
policy towards Germany.
The resignation was accepted uy
|H the president. The cabinet then apn
proved the response which ftad been
K prepared to the German reply to the
R Lusitania (note. Acting Secretary
Robert. Lansing will sign the docukment
and tomorrow it will be cabled
Vto Berlin.
V Secretary Bryan will return to priU
vate life tomorrow, when his resig- {
B nation takes effect. It was learned
that he intends to continue It is politBF
ical support of the president.
I| Rather than sign the document
which he believed might possibly draw
B the United States into war, Mr. Bryan
V submitted his resignation in a letter
declaring that "the issue involved is
B of such moment. that to remain a
member of tile cabinet would be as
B unfair to you as it would be to the
^ -cause which is nearest my heart,
HL namely, the prevention of war."
The president accepted the resigK
nation in a letter of regret tinged j
r Tc-i+h o T>Ar<5fkn?.l fpplinc nf af- !
ifeoticm. The letters constituting the |
official announcement of 'Mr. Bryan's
departure from the cabinet to private
life were made public at the White
House at 6 o'clock tonight.
Secretary Bryan's letter of resignation
was as follows:
"My Dear Mr. President:
"It is with sincere regret that I
Jbave reached the conclusion that I
should return to you the commission
of secretary of state with which you
honored me at tibe beginning of your
a m i n i TSt it i *vn
[Both on Principle.
f "Obedient to your sense of duty
and actuated by the highest motives,
you have prepared for transmission to
J the German government a note in.
i which I can not join without violating
J -what I deem to be an obligation to
r my coiintry, and the issue involved is
of such, moment that to remain a
I member of the cabinet would be as
f unfair to you as it would be to -the
cause which is nearest my heart,
-namelv. the nrevention of war.
i"I therefore respectfully tender my
I resignation to take effect when the
[ note is sent, unless you prefer an
I earlier hour. Alike desirous of reach?
ing a peaceful solution of the problem
arising out of the use of suhma- 1
Tines against merchantmen, we find j
I ourselves differing irreconcilably as!
t to the methods which should be em-:
P "It falls to your lot to speak offi-1
cially for the nation; I consider it to!
K "be none the less my duty to endeavor j
|L as a private citizen to promote tihe end ,
WL which you have in view by means
gg which, you do not feel at liberty to
V use.
V "In severing the intimate and
pleasant relations which ftave existed
"between us..during the past two years,
permit me to acknowledge the pro
found satisfaction which is has given
mo tn hp a ssopiatpri with vnn in fhp
I important work which has come be-J
fore the state department, and to;
thank you for the courtesies extended.
"With t):e heartiest good wishes for
yc^ur personal welfare and for the
success of your adminstration, I am,j
my dear Mr. President,
I. "Very truly yours.
* (Signed) "W. J. Bryan." j
The president's letter to 'Mr. Bryan
was as follows:
\ Real Personal Regret.
r'My Dear Mr. Bryan:
? << T n rv > n ^ nr*> o f 1 n 1 Tf Vv a i
pygyr jl :coi5uaauii viii> ut:- j
r~
igs Bryan
Vilson Cabinet
cause you insist upon its acceptance;
and I accept it with much more than
deep regret with a feeling of personal
sorrow. Our two years of close association
have been very delightful to
me. Our judgments have accorded in
practically every matter of official
duty and of public policy until now;
your support of tfte work and purposes
of the administration has been )
generous ana loyai Deyouu preu&e,
your devotion to the duties of your
great office and your eagerness to;
take advantage of every great opportunity
for service it offered has been
an example to the rest of us; you
tiave earned our affectionate admiration
and friendship. Even now we are
not separated in the object we seek,
but only in the method by which we
seek it.
"it is fnr thpsp reasons mv feelins
about your retirement from the secretaryship
of state goes so much deeper
than regret. I sincerely deplore it.
Our objects are the same and we
ought to pursue them together, I yield
to your desire only because I must
and wish to bid you godspeed in the
parting. We shall continue to work
for the saail causes even when we do
not work in the same way. With affectionate
regard,
"Sincerely yours,
"Woodrow Wilson."
ftfincotiAn in PsnJffl 1
a^U^HIivii x im.
Dramatically the official relations
of Mr. ?ryan with the administration
of the man whose nomination he assisted
so materially in bringing about
at the Baltimore convention of 1912
came to an end. It caused a sensation
in <J:e national capital scarcely
paralleled in recent years. Ambassadors,
ministers and diplomatists
from foreign lands, officials of every
rank and station, heard the news as it
was flashed by/newspaper extras tonight.
They interpreted variously its
-* x/u '4>v?n +
tJIiect OH 'Uie ueiiCttLt; Miuauuu mai
had risen between Germany and the
United States. The resignation of the
staunchest advocate of peace in the
president's official family spread
broadcast and strengthened belief that
the policy of tfce United States as
definitely determined upon would assert
and defend the rights of the
TTn4+^? 5+flfoc onv ovonhiflHtv thai
VUAbVU k/WMrl Vk7 AAA V ? V**VVtvn*v^ V*AWW
might arise.
Originally it wa?v the intention of
the president and Mr. Bryan to have
the announcement of the resignation
made simultaneously with the dis
patch of tfce note to Germany but
when Mr. Bryan did not attend tJbe
cabinet meeting today until President
TXTilcA-n cflnf fn r? V?im rnm ai?c f V?<i f f n/i 1
TV iiOvii OVllL L\Jl .U1LLLy I'UUIV/X O UJLL CLl* tUU
president had heen unable to bring
the secretary of state to his point of
view filled the air. Finally, shortly
before 6 o'clock, the news leaked out,
and was confirmed.
Known Last Sunday.
Just when the subject was first
broached between the president and
Mr. Bryan is not known definitely,
but tihe fact that Mr. Bryan would re
sign was known to a small circle of
officials as early as last Sunday. WT:en
the principles on which the note to'
Germany should be based were discussed
at the cabinet meeting of Fri- i
day 'Mr. Bryan found that he could
not reconcile his own position with
that of the administration. Work on
tfie note went forward, Ihowever, Mr.
Bryan keeping his stand secret, as did
other officials, awaiting the hour when j
the communication would be ready to
be cabled.
Today the cabinet assembled for a
final reading of the note Mr. Bryan
was absent. He declined to receive
newspaper men or callers and sent out
word that he had been delayed on ac- j
count of important business. At the f
White House no word as to the rea-!
sons for fcis failure to appear at the
meeting were given, but after the cabinet
had been discussing the note for ;
an hour Mr. Bryan arrived, telling!
the newspaper men at the White1
House that he regretted being late. !
;
It was learned tonight that with
the knowledge that 'his resignation j
l ad already been accepted by tne
president, Air. r>ryan reit u. would ne
indelicate to attend the discussion unless
his presence was desired by the'
president. When Mr. TVi'snn tele-:
(COXTIXUED OX PAGE 2.) j
SHOULD STAY OFF !
BELLIGERbNT SHIPS
?
AMERICANS SHOULD BE WARNED
TO KEEP OFF.
Former Secretary William J. Bryan
Gives Out Statement On His
Position.
Washington, June 9.?Just as the
American note to Germany was started
on its way over the telegraph wires,
Mr. Bryan, at his home, gave out a
statement on ft is position.
/
Secretary Bryan's statement contends
the difficulties between Germany
and the United States should be investigated
bv an international com
mittee and that Americans should be
warned to keep off belligerent snips
or those carrying ammunition through
the danger zone.
At the White House Secretary Tumulty
stated positively that no comment
would be made on Mr. Bryan's
statement.
The statement of Secretary Bryan
follows:
"My reason for resigning is clearly
stated in my letter of resignation,
namely, that I may employ as a private
citizen the means wihich the
president does not feel at liberty to
employ. I honor him for doing what
he believes to be rigLt, and I am sure
that hp desirek. as I do. to find a
peaceful solution or tne problem which
has been created by the action of the
submarines.
"Two of the points on which we differ,
each conscientious in convictions,
are, first, as to the suggestion of investigation
by an international commission,
and, second as to warning
Americans against travelling on belligerent
vessels or with cargoes of ammunition.
I believe that tJ':is nation
should frankly state to Germany that
we are willing to apply in this case
the principle which we are bound by
treaty to apply to disputes between
the United States an 3 the 30 countries
with wibicb w.e h ive made treaties providing
for investigation -of all disputes
of every character and nature. These
treaties, negotiated under this administration,
make war practically impossible
between tfcis country and
these "30 governments, representing
nearly three-fourths of all the people
of the world.
"Among thfe nations with which we
have these^treaties are Great Britain,
France and Russia. No matter wihat
disputes may arise between us an<^
these treaty nations, we agree that
there shall be no declaration and no
commencement of hostilities until the
matters in dispute ihave been investi
gated by an international commission j
and a year's time is allowed for in- i
vestigation and report. This plan was j
offered to all the nations without any
exceptions whatever, and Germany
was one of the nations that accepted
the principle, being the 12th, I think,
to accept. No treaty vas actually en-1
tered into with Germany, but I can
not see that that should stand in the
way wfren both nations endorsed the
principle. I do not know whether
Germany would accept the offer, but
our country should, in my judgment, j
make the offer.
"Sucft an offer, if accepted, would:
at once relieve the tension and silence
all the jingoes who are demanding
war. Germany has always been ,
a friendly nation and a great manv
of our people are of German ancestry.
Why should we not deal with
Germany according to this plan to
which t?e nation ha? pledged its support?
|
Citizen to Involve Nation.
"The second point of difference is ;
as to the course which should be
pursued in regard to Americans traveling
on belligerent ships or with i
cargoes of ammunition.
"Why should an American citizen j
be permitted to involve his country
in war by traveling upon a belliger-1
ent ship when he knows that t)%.e ship ,
will pass through a danger zone? The j
i|UCdLiUll iiui vvumiici ciii nniui i^aii
citizen has a right under intimation-;
a! law, to travel on a belligerent shin;
the question is whether he ougi't not, ,
out of consideration for his country,,
if not for his own safety, avoid dan- |
srer when avoidance is possible.
~ " I
"It is a very one-sided citizenship j
tf at compels a government to go to j
i
r
war over a citizen's lights and yet
relieve the citizen of all obligations to
consider his nation's welfare. I do
not know just how far the president
can lesrallv 20 in actually preventing
Americans from traveling on belligerent
ships, but I believe the government
should go as far as it can,
and that in case of doubt it should
give the benefit of the doubt to the
government.
"But even if the government could
not legally prevent' citizens from
traveling on belligerent ships, it
could, and in my judgment should,
earnestly advise American citizens
not to risk themselves or the peace of
their country, and I have no doubt
that these warnings would be heeded.
"President Taft advised Americans
to lea/ve Mexico when insurrection
broke out t):ere and President Wilson
has repeated the advice. This advice
in my judgment, was eminently wise
and I think the same cjarse should
be followed in regard to warning Americans
to keep off vessels subject to
attack.
"1 think, too, that American passen
ger ships should be prohibited from
carrying ammunition. The lives of
passengers ought not to be endangered
by cargoes of ammunition whether j
that danger comes from possible explosions
witl'iin or from possible . attacks
from without. Passengers and
ammunition should not traivel together.
The attempt to prevent American
citiz?ns from incurring these
risks is entirely consistent with the
effort which our government is making
to prevent attacks from subma
rines. "T're
use of one remedy does not |
exclude the use of the other. The
most familiar illustration is to be
found in the action taken by municipal
authorities during a riot. It is
I tJ e duty of the mayor to suppress the
mob sand to prevent violence, but he
does not hesitate to warn citizens to
keep off the streets during the riots.
He does not question t'-eir right to
use the streets but for tfieir own protection
and in the interest of order,
he warns them not to incur the risks
involved in going upon the streets
when men are shooting at each otfter.
"The president does not feel justified
in taking the action above suggested;
that is, he does not feel justified,
first, in suggesting tne submission
of the controversy to investiga!
tion, or second, in warning tihe people
not to incur the extra hazards in
traveling on belligerent ships or od
ships carrying ammunition. And he
may be right in tl':e position he has
taken, but as a private citizen, I am
free to urge both of these propositions
and to call nublic attention to
| these remedies in the hope of securing
such an expression of public sentiment
as will support the president
in employing tsbese remedies if, in the
; future, he finds it consistent with his
J sense of duty to favor them."
CHILDREN BURIED ALITE
j Two Little Ones Smothered to Death
by Earth Slide.
News and Courier.
Spartanburg, June 9.?-Valley Tay\
lor, age 9, and Evelyn Taylor, age 6,
| were buried alive and smothered to
! aeam oeneam an avaiancne or uin
from the side of a deep pulley near the
home of their father, Ed Taylor, of the
Enoree section in Laurens county tJ.:is
afternoon. The two little girls were
; playing along the edge of the gulley,
i which is an old abandoned road washed
by rains to a depth of about fifteen
j feet. It is believed that they slipped
; over the edge, dislodging a quantity
| of dirt, which fell upon them. They
; were buried to a depth of about four
| feet, and were dead when finally unco.
ered witfr shovels. Evelyn's left
leg was broken. The news of the
tragedy was brought to the mother of
the girls, who was hoeing cotton in
the field by Raxton. their 4-year-old
brother. He had been at play with,
them during the afternoon. About 6
I ^
o'clock he ran up to is mother crying
and between sobs told her that
the girls had fallen into the gully. She j
immediately gave the alarm and a
party of rescuers went to the spot. A
physician made every effort to resusci- J
tate the victims, but was ttnsuecess- j
?._ i -i r? *"n 1 y - ? i _
iui. i>ir. laviors piace is a nan nine
from T van ford Station, n^r Enoree.
Repeats Its D
For Pa
NEW LUSITANIA NOTE I
HAS GONE FORWARD:
ONLY WARLIKE ACT WILL PRO- j
YOKE WAR.
Message Still Leaves Door Open
for Easy Acquiescence by Germany.
(
I
Washington, June 9.?The United
States today sent to Germany a note
reiterating its demand for reparation
for tl:e loss of American lives
' in the sinking of the Lusitania and
setting forth clearly the earnest desire
! of the American government that Gerj
many signify her early adherence to
I the principles of international law?
teat neutrals be permitted to travel on
unarmed ships without being subject
to dangers of submarine warfare.
Couched in much more friendly
terms than it was believed would
be used when tfte unsatisfactory answer
to the American note of May
13 arrived from Germany, the communication
was cabled to Ambassador
Gerard for presentation to the German
foreign office. It will be given
| out tomorrow night for publication in
I the morning papers of Friday.
As the all-important document on
| which President Wilson and -his adj
visers have worked for ten days went
forward, it had behind it the united
support of the cabinet.
One Opponent Out.
Tl e one man who had opposed its
terms because ,-he believes it might i
precipitate war?William Jennings!
! Bryan?had resigned tne poruono 01
: secretary of state at the moment the
note was dispatched. A statement issued
by Mr. Bryan revealed that President
Wilson had rejected his sugj
gestions for an investigation by a
! commission for a year's time of the
legal phases of the dispute with <rermany
during which Americans should,
according 1o ,Mr. Bryan's view, be
warned against taking passage on any
belligerent ships or on American vessels
carrying ammunition.
President Wilson made no comment
on the statement, but the text of the
note, it was stated, would outline fully
the position of the president and the
cabinet.
The president stands unalterably, it
' was stated, on the principle that the
United States at this stage in its history
can not afford to surrender any
of its rights, tJ:at the American people
had fought in 1812 for their rights
on the ibigh seas, and could not sacrifice
those rights with the nation's
rise and growth to a position of command
as a world power.
Surrender of Eights.
High officials generally held tfce
"view that 'Mr. Bryan's plan would
constitute a virtual surrender of
American rights guaranteed not only
by international law but by specific I
treaties between the United States and !
Germany. Mr. Bryan's suggestion that
Americans do not take passage on
American ships carrying ammunition
was in direct conflict, it was pointed
out, with b'.ie treaty of 1828 between
Prussia and the United States, where- i
in either party in time of war Is given ]
the right of free access to belliger-1
ent ports for commerce in arms and;
ammunition and other contraband.
Moreover, the rigi'.t of an American
citizen to sail on an unarmed and unresisting
merchant ship of any nationality
in/time of war is held by the
president and his advisers to be an
inalienable privilege, founded on the
international Jaws of centuries
The president's view is understood J
to be till at a new weapon of offense 1
in warfare can be introduced only if |
it is made to conform with the gen- f
'erally established rules of interna- i
tional law existing. The conditions
of war may change, h<f has said, but
not tf:e rules of war, unless there is
a general agreement among the nations
which contribute to the making
cf international law.
Wust Have Guarantee First.
Mr. Wilson, it became known, is not
opposed to the idea of an investigaI
*ion or diplomatic discussion of
i case in dispute about Germany and j
United States, but feels that before j
j
emands
V nrtri Pmm
^ *?f 6%% A > V? ?
such a step can be taken some guarantee
must be given that in the 1
interim of discussion the lives of
American citizens will not be jeopardized
and that the United States
will not be required to yield any of
its rights while the discussion is under
way.
It is tfoe repetition of attacks on
American vessels or lives which the
president believes must be prevented
by an assertion of the rights of the
United S:ates and t]?e attainment of
Germany's acquiescence in that point
of view is necessary before diplomatic
negotiaticns on the sufctfect can continue.
.}
The note cabled to Germany^ it was
authoritatively stated, leaves room in
many respects for a friendly reply, but
contains firm insistence on the principles
expressed in the American
notes of February 10 and May 13.
The president lias requested tfcat
detailed forecasts of the note be not
printed in advance of the publication
of the official text.
Would Prevent War.
"I believe you are wrong and that
I can convince you of it," Mr. Bryan
is quoted as having said with a smile
in this farewell interview with the
president today. He told Mr. Wilson
he believed he could be of service in
the country by securing an expression
of the peaceful desires of tJ-e nation,
and help to prevent war.
Later, when Mr. Bryan's statement
i r> 1* ? or r? aA? ai a1
ayycaicu, vv/muiciiL m 111511 Uiiiv;i<tl
quarters still was friendly toward Mr.
Bryan personally, but sharp issue was
taken with his interpretation of what
the note to Germany actually contained.
It was declared by some officials
familiar with toe ^contents-0!
the document that it would not necessarily
lead to war, and that sudb a
contingency could arise only If there
was a repetition of attacks on American
lives and vessels. It was indicated
that failure to secure reparation for
the Lusitania tragedy might mean
severance of diplomatic relations but
that hostilities would be precipitated
only by warlike acts on the part of
Germany.
President Wilson tonight took a
long automobile ride with members
of his family. He returned to trie i
White House after 11 o'clock, much,
refreshed by tfte outing.
BOARD'S DECISION
IS AGAINST FRAJTK
Prison Commission Declines to Recommend
Commutation to Life
Imprisonment.
Atlanta, June 9.?JBy a vote of two
to one the Georgia prison commission
today declined to recommend commatat'on
to life imprisonment of the
death sentence pronounced upon Leo
M. Frank for the murder of 'Mary P^agan.
Commissioners E. L. Rainey and
R. E. Davidson voted against a recommendation
for clemency. Judge T. E.
Patterson voted in Frank's favor. The
commission submitted its report to
Governor Slaton shortly before noon,
its contents, immediately being made
public by trie governor.
T';e matter now is in the hands of
Governor Slaton. The recommendation'
of the commission is in no way binding
upon the governor, who, it was
stated, will conduct further hearings
before making his decision.
Woman's Missionary Society.
Tl:e June meeting of ti':e Woman's
Missionary society of Central churchj
held at the home of Mrs. W. H. Wallace,
had for its topic "The Working
Girl/' and much interest was manifested
in the facts brought put in the
discussion.
Delegates to the district conferenca
in Greenwood, June 15-17, were elected..
Mrs. Mary Fant, Mrs. George
Epps.
After the meeting the ladies enjoyed
a social half i':our.
T'':e Junior division will meet with.
Miss Colie Blease Saturday afternoon
at 5 o'clock.
In a hotly contested tennis match'
cn the college campus last Tuesday
nffArnnnn WisA and Towers of the
alumni won from Ashbaugh and Puni
of the varsity by the very close scora
of 6-4 9-7 and 10-3.