Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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•sr- Et* \ '***’*. V- ■■LDEFTC^ OF HIS RESIGNATION BXTAN DISAGREED WITH UtEflDBIT (W TWO IM PORTANT POINTS . i ■ AS CITIZEN INTENDS TO FOR PEACE AS NOTE LEFT WASHINGTON SECRETARY TELLS STORY OF DISAGREEMENT Junt as the new American note to Germany was started on its way over the telegraph wires from Washing ton Wednesday, Mr. Bryan at his home gave out this statement on his position: "My reason for resigning is clearly stated in my letter of resignation, namely, that I may employ as a pri vate citizen the means which the president does not feel at liberty to employ. I honor him for doing what he believes to be right, and I am sure that he desires, as I do, to find a peace solution of the problem which has been created by the action of the submarines. "Two of the points on which we differ, each conscientious in convic tions, are: "First, as to the suggestion of in vestigation by an International com mission; and, "Second, as the warning Ameri cans against travelling on belligerent vessels or with cargoes of ammuni tion. "I believe that this nation should frankly state to Germany that we are willing to apply in this case the prin- ~ ciple which we are bound by treaty to apply to disputes between the ■ United States and the thirty coun- trles with which we- have made trea ties providing tor Investigation of all disputes of every character and na ture. These treaties, negotiated un der this administration make war practically impossible between this country and these thirty govern ments, representing nearly three- fourths of all the people of the world. "Among the nations with which we have these treaties are Great Britain. JPrance and Russia. No mat ter whardisputes may arise between us and these treaty nations, we agree that there shall be no declaration and so eommene wnent of hostilities un til the matters In dispute have been investigated by an international com mission and a year's time Is allowed for Investigation and report. "This plan was offered to all tha aatlons wtthont any exceptions what ever, and Germany was one of tbs nations that accepted the principle. • being the twelfth, I think, to accept. No treaty was actually entered into with Germany, but I can not see that that should stand in the way when both nations endorsed the principle. I do not know whether Geatnaay would ncrwpt the offer, bet our conn- fcy should, in my judgment, make the offer. “Koch an offer, If accepted, would at once relieve the tension and si lence all the Jingoes who are demand ing war. Germany has always been a friendly nation and s great many of our people are of German ances try. Why should we not deal with Germany according to this plan to which the nation has pledged its sup port? "The second pofbt of difference Is as to the course which should be pur sued in regard to Americans travel ing on belligerent ships or with car goes of ammunition. x "Why ahbhld an American citizen be permitted to Involve his country la war by travelling upon a belliger ent ship, when he knows that the ship will pass through a danger zone? The question is not whether an American citizen has a right, umlei international law, to travel on a bel ligerent ship; the question is wheth er he ought not, out of consideration for his country, If not for his own safety, avoid danger when avoidance is possible. "It is a very one-sided citizenship that compels a government to go to war over a citizens' rights and yet relieve the citizen of all obligations to consider his nation’s welfare. I do not know just how far the presi-j dent can legally go In actually pre venting Americans from travelling 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 travelling on belligerent ships, It could, and In my judgment should, earnestly advise American citizens not to risk 1 themselves or the peace of their country, and I have no doubt that these warnings would be heeded. "President Taft advised Americans to leave Mexico when insurrection broke out there, and President Wil son has repeated the advice. This advice In my judgment was eminent ly wise and I think the same course should be followed in regard to warn ing American* to keep off vessels sub ject to attack. "I think, too, that American pas senger ships should be prohibited from carrying ammunition. The lives of passengers ought hot to be endan gered by cargoes of ammunition whether that danger comes from pos sible explosions within or from pos sible attacks from without. Passen gers atfd ammunition should not travel together. The attempt to pre- veil American citizens from Incur ring theee risks Is entirely consistent with the effort which our government Is making to prevent attacks from nemriiEv DimonEr; MEXICANS SHOW FEELING War Department Delays Transfer of Boktters From Border' to Philllpinee. Feeling against Americans is be ing exhibited at the Mexican west coast ports of Manzanillo and Maza- tian, held by Carranza, according to radiograms received by Admiral How ard on board the U. S. 8. Colorado at Ban Diego, Cal., Friday. The war department in Washing ton ordered the delay of the depar ture of three regiments from the Mexican border. These troops had been ordered to the Phllllplnes. Pos sible Interference, by local Mexican officials In the distribution of the Red Cross food supplies. The American troops can not cross the border without Instructions from Washington, but in view of the pos sibility of resistance by the Mexican officials, the war department intends to have at hand in^ans to enforce any instructions that may be given by President Wilson. The regiments af fected are the Fifteenth cavalry at Fort Bliss, the Twenty-seventh in fantry at Fort Douglas, Arlz. Those regiments were to proceed to Manila to relieve three other regiments. The consul at Jaurez has been in structed to insist that no itytantary measures be taken by Mexican offi cials against George Marks and 8. Franklin, under death sentence for alleged circulation of counterfeit money. The consul reported that the men “presuihably’’ Americans, have been found guilty by a military court. He was Instructed to insist that the execution be stayed until the state department examined the evi dence. RUSSIANS CHECK GERMANS, SAY* BRfTlSir OBSERVERS l/ondon Reports Quick Results From Arrival of Reinforcements in Galicia. l*>ndon reports Friday: British ob servers. forming their opinions on the latest dispatches from Russia, be lieve that the Austro-German advance threatening Lemberg from the south east has been checked. Russia, they declare, has delivered a return blow and a hard one. The great masses of German and Austrian troops, which have forced a passage of the Dniester river near Zurawna, according to the latest an nouncement of the Russian war of fice, have been flung back with heavy losses In both men and material. Thus, for the moment, Lemberg la thought to be safe, for nowhere else along the Galician front have the Teutonic allies been making progress recently, with the exception, of course, of their southern extension Into Bukowlna. News was received that Russian re inforcements were moving south along the Dniester from Mikolaiow to Rohatyn, but it hardly was expect ed they would achieve such quick re sults. If this victory has been deci sive. It is the first real check deliver ed by the Russians since the start of the new Austro-German rush through Galicia. DESTROYED BY CREW Hsian Dirigible Fired to Prevent Capture by Austrians. Official announcement was made at^Venlce Thursday that the Italian airshlYFCitta di Ferrara was set on fire by itJKcrew to avert attack from the Austrian aeroplane from above and to prevent its falling into the hands of AustrlanH^rpcdo boats pur suing it by sea. Tnlastep waa not takon before the oil thnks of the dirigible were empty. The raid of this airship \over Flume was successful, the statement adds. Bombs were dropped on the White Head torpedo worko and the submarine works at Flume as well as on the navy yards where Austrian dreadnoughts have been built and where German submarines sent over land have been assembled. Allies Force Turkish Fighting. Athens reports Wednesday . that the allied troops are forcing the fight ing along the tip,, of the Gallipoli peninsula. BRYAN MAKES PLEA SAYS FORCE IN RUtOMACY IN EVITABLY LEADS TO WAR EXPLAINS HIS OPINION Oommoi I’hces Adoption of Per suasion and Love In Dealing With International Questions—-Asks no Mercy if He Has Done Wrong and is Willing to Take Punishment. most familiar illustration is to be found in the action taken by munici pal authorities during a riot. It is the duty of the mayor to suppress the mob and to prevent violence, but he does not hesitate to warn citizens to keep off the streets during the riots. He does not question their right to use the streets, but for thejr 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 other. ! ‘The president does not feel" jus tified in taking the action above sug gested. .that is, he does not feel jus tified, first, in suggesting the submis sion of the controversy to investiga tion, or second, in warning the peo ple not to Incur the extra hazards in travelling on belligerent ships or on ship* carrying ammunition. And he may be right lu the position he has takes, but as a private citizen t am free to urge both of these propost- tioas sad to call public attention to la the hope of aecur- ot public aea- William Jennings Bryan, in an ap peal addressed “to the American peo ple,” Thursday night asks them to hear him before they, pass sentence on his layjng down the portfolio of secretary of state in the mlds«*of in ternational stress. Confident that the public will cred it him with honorable intentions, Mr. Bryan frankly says that good Inten tions are not enough, and that If the public verdict is against him he asks no mercy, asserting that men in pub lic life must be "willing to hear any deserved pudlshment from ostracism to execution." Interpreting the American note to Germany on submarine warfare, which he refused to sign, as con forming to the “old system” of dip lomatic standards, precedents for which "are written in characters of blood upon almost every page of hu man history,’’ and characterizing himself as a champion of the new system—persuasion instead of force —gnd as "an humble lollower of the Prince of Peace,’’ the former secre tary of state pleads for the United States to lead the world "out of the blaek night of war Into the light of that day ‘when swords ahall be beat en Into ploughshares.’ ” Mr. Bryan will issue another state ment. an appeal, he says, to "Ger- man-Amerlcans." The n itufe of this appeal he would not d scuss. ’ But with the Issuance of thei third state- meat since his resignation the form er secretary says he will be ready to rest his case. * • eeurwe. Fshall always be igady to talk when the occasion arises, and 1 think It necessary," Mr. Bryan de clared. The statement, entitled by the for mer secretary as ’’The Real Isle,’’ is as follows: “To the American People: You now have before you the text of the note to Germany—the note which it would have been my official duty to sign had I remained secretary of state. I ask you to sit In Judgment upon my decision to resign rather than to share responsibility for It. I am sure you will credit me with hon orable motives, but that Is dot enough. “Good Intention* could not atone for . mistake at such a time, on such a subject and under such circunt- «tun re*. If your verdict is against me, I ask no ntewey: I desire none If I have acted unwisely. “A man In public lile must act ac cording to his conscience, but, how ever conscientiously he acts, be must be prepared to accept without com plaint any condemnation which his own errors may bring upon him; he must be willing to bear any deserved punishment from ostracism to execu tion. But hear me before you pass sctileuce. Agree In Purpose. ’The president and 1 agree in pur pose; we desire a peaceful solution of the dispute whlcji has arisen between the United States and Germany. We not only desire it, but with equal fer vor we pray for It, but we differ Irre concilably as to Ahe means for secur ing it. If it were merely a personal difference it would be a matter of Little moment, for all tiie presump tions are on Ills Hide—the presump tions that go with power and author ity. He is your president; I am a pri vate citizen without office or title but one of the hundred million of in habitants. “But the real issue is not between persons; it is between systems, and 1 rely for vindication wholly upon the strength of the position taken ‘‘Among the influence which gov ernments employ In dealing with each other there are two wljich are pre eminent and antagonistic—force and persuasion. Force speaks with Arm ens and acts through the ultimatum; uasion employs argument, courts investigation and depends upon nego- tiations. Force represents the old system—tW^system that must pass away; persuasion represents the new system—the system that has been growing, all too slowty^it is true, but growing for nineteen ntmdred years. In the old ■system war isHhe chief cornerstone—war which at its N fcest'ls little better than war at its worat; the new system contemplates a uim versal brotherhood established through the uplifting power of exam ple. Old Standards. ,— “If I correctly interpret the note to Germany It conforms to the stand ards of the old system rather than to tiie rules of the new, and I cheerfully admit that It is abundantly supported by precedents—precedents written In characters df blood upon almost every peace and denied responsibility for nishes the most rpcent precedent; It was Austria’s firmness that dictated the ultimatum against Servia which set the world -at war. Every ruler now participating in the unparalleled conflict has proclaimed his desire for peace an ddented responsibility for the war, and it fs only charitable that we should credit all of them with good faith, ^ “They desired peace, but Ahey sought it according to the rales of the old system. They believed that firmness would give the beet assur ance of ike maintenance of peace and. faithfully following precedent, they vent so near the fire that they were, one after another, sucked Into the eon test. “Never before have the frightful follies of this fatal system been so eievty revealed aa sow. The meet civilized mad enlightened-—aye, the iaoat Christian of tha nations of Europe—are grappling with each other aa if In a death struggle. are sacrificing the heat and bravest of their sons on the battlefield; they are converting their gardens Into cemeteries ami their homes' into houses of mourning; thejr are taxing tha wealth of to-day and laying a burden of debt an the toll of the fu-j ture; they have filled the air with thunderbolts more deadly than those of Jove, and they have multiplied the perils of the deep. "Adding fresh fuel to the flame of hate, they have daily devised new horrors, until one side la endeavoring to drown non-combatant men! wo men and children at sea, while the other side seeks to starve non-com batant men, women and children on land. And they are so absorbed in alternAfc retaliations and In competi tive cruelties that they seem, for the time being, blind to the rights of neu trals and deaf to the appeals of hu manity. A tree is known by its fruit. The war In Europe is the ripened fruit of the old system. Points to Europe. “This Is wliat firmness, supported by force, lias done In the Old World; shall we invito it to cross the Atlan tic? Already tiie jingoes of our own country have caught the rabies from the dogs of war; shalFthe opponents of organized slaughter be silent while the disease spreads? . "As an hurtble follower of the Prince of Peace; as a devoted believ er in the prophecy that ’they that take the sword shall perish with the sword,’ I beg to be counted among those who earnestly urge the adop tion of a course in this matter Which will leave no doubt of our govern ment’s willingness to continue nego tiations with Germany until an ami cable understanding is reached or at least until, the stress of war over, we can appeal from Philip drunk with carnage to Philip sobered by the memories of an historic friendship and by a recollection of the Innumer able ties of kinship that bind the fatherland to the United States. "Some nation must lead the world out of the black night of war into the light of that (jay when ‘swords shall be beaten into ploughshares.’ Why not make that ' honor ours? Some day—why not now?—the na tions will learn that enduring peace can not be built upon fear—that good will does not scow upon the stalk of violence Some (la\ the nations will place their trust In love, the weapon for which there is no shield; in love that suffereth long and is kind; In love, that is not easily provoked, that beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, -endureth all things; in love which, though despised an weakness by the wor shippers of Mars, abideth when all else fails. (Signed) "W. J. Bryan.” RUN IS sm HOPED BRYAN WOULD CHANGE UP TO LAST MINUTE BRYAN’S FRIENDS COMMEND; ACT HIVES BERLIN LIGHT . ... . /-y . - ■ -■ — rid Resignation of Secretary German Opinion That His e*c* in Cabinet Means Pe Secretary Bryan ha* V TRIED TO CONVINCE HIM President Shows Deep Feeling Over Determination of his Secretary— Met Him and Argued Points in volved In Effort to Reach Common Understanding. RUSSIANS NEED MUNITIONS Japanese Crinis Cause* Withholding of Shipment* From Japan. Reports from various sources have convinced military experts at Wash ington of the truth of claims that re cent Russian reverses have been due In a large iheasure to shortage of am munition. Until the harbor of Archangel was opened by ice breakers late In May Russia was without a port through which ammunition could reach her shores. Russian factories are limit ed and unimportant, so the only ave nue through which munitions were reaching the country in quantity was the trans-Siberian railway. Japanese ammunition factories supplied practically all their output to the Russians early in the war. But the disagreement between China and Japan over the Japanese demands and the prospect of war in the Far East caused Japan to hold Its* war supplies in reserve temporarily. The average time from Vladivostok to Petrograd in time of peace is eleven days, as only a limited por tion of the railway through Siberia is double-tracked, freight shipments are slow. Shipments from San Francisco on a freight steamer take at least a month to Vladivostok. Well authenticated reports Indicate that artillery pieces and rifles, as well as shells and cartridges, were lacking among the garrison which lost Przemysl to the Germans. After the port of Archangel has been opened a few weeks longer mili tary experts believe Russia’s muni tion p'roblem will be solved. USED GAS ON RUSSIANS Correspondent Writes of Terrible Re sults in Rzura-Rawka Region. Telegraphing from Petrograd The London Morning Post's correspond ent says: “The effects qf the Ger man gas warfare on the Bzura-Rawka front have been so terrible that it is Reared here It will be necessary to revise all the generally accepted text-book ideas regarding choice of territory for military operation. "The Russian position in the Bzu ra-Rawka region was technically per fect but down the centre of the long valley the gases flowed as through a trough. The scenes which followed were appalling. Every living thing suffered. Hardly a horse or cow or fowl remained alive. Women and children and soldiers were killed In large numbers. "A careful study of the patients showed that in most cases where death did not immediately result they were attacked with fits like those following tetanus the first day which recurred on the third day and were followed by death. Post mor tem examination showed dilated' hearts and’spleens and watery blood. The Russian experts declare th'at the gas probably contains chloride, bro mine and iodine.” French Take •. Paris reports Wednesday that at the forest of LePretre aa advance of one hundred yards along a front of tfcree hundred and fifty yards. At the same time two sad three lines of trenches were taken at several points, eatailing the eaptare of fifty President Wilson by his every word and act Tuesday showed his deep feeling over Secretary Bryan's decision to resign from the cabinet. He accepted the resignation with greatest reluctance^ and only after he had become firmly convinced that he and the secretary were unalterably apart on the kind of a note to be sent to Germany. Ever since last Friday, when he began to feel that his views and those of Mr. Bryan could not be reconciled, the president has made no secret of his sorrow to his closest ad visers. Sunday he called at the home of Secretary Tumulty to discuss the situation. Since then he saw Secre tary Bryan several times and did his utmost to win him over to his point of view. During a conference the two had at the White House Monday, how ever, it became finally evident that Mr. Bryan would leave the cabinet. Not wishing to be questioned about the situation, the president directed Secretary Tumulty to cancel his regu lar Tuesday conference with news paper men but later he rescinded the order, and saw them. At the con ference, he looked careworn and his replies to questions were quick and sharp. Immediately after the cabinet meeting the president went to the White House, taking Secretary Tu multy with him. He talked little on the way but several times referred to Mr. Bryan and his high regard for him. ■ The ’genTaT smile and cheery tone with which the president usually meets the newspaper representatives at the White House were not in evi dence when he faced the inquisitorial battery of more than two-score of re porters before the cabinet meeting Tuesday morning. The expression of his face was grim and careworn, the lines radiating from the mouth and eyes indicative of deep concern. The tone in which he addressed the |>encli' brigade in answer to a fusillade of questions was unusually brusque and at times s vere. He displayed natural impati ence at some of the absurd interroga tions directed at him. Following the cabinet meeting “iday the president sent for Mr. Bryan and the latter came over from the state department and remained with his chief for gn hour. Mr. Bryan resumed his pleadings with tha president that there be incor porated in the note which the presi dent had decided should be sent to Germany a provision for reference of at least some phases of the issues at stake to an international arbitration commission The president is understood to have canvassed the matter thorough ly with the secretary. He is repre sented as having expressed the belief that these issues did not justify the application of the principles of arbi tration. but more direct treatment He urfed Mr. Bryan to study the problem confronting blm as presi dent in its broader aspects—that of the patriotic duty he, as president of the United States, owed to the people whose rights had been outraged by a foreign power. . Mr. Bryan seems to have followed the counsel of his chief andjto have spent a goodly portion of tqe night in deciding which road he; should take. There is reason to believe that before he retired he had drafted the letter to be sent to the president ten dering his resignation. This he dis patched to the president so that thq latter received it a full half hour be fore the gathering of the other mem hers of the cabinet and Immediately following his conference with the newspaper men. at which he 'OTged them to refrain from speculation con cerning the contents of his note to Germany. ' It was apparent to the members of the cabinet who had assembled that the president was greatly depressed by some occurrence. .He talked ear nestly with Secretary McAdoo before the Xgblnet met, and the latter was in thefirtvate telephbhfe'foom for ten minutes, presumably urging Mr. Bryan to come over and withdraw his resignation. The president’s announcement that the secretary of state had tendered his resignation called for no explana tion as. to tho causes, but there were genuine expressions of regret from all of the members because Mr. Bryan has always been personally popular with them. Up to the time that Mr. Bryan ap peared, which was more than an hour, after the session had begun, there is reason to believe that the president and his advisers hoped that when he did come he would recon slder his action and withdraw his resignation. He sat In his accustom ed pli.ee at the right of the presi dent, and repeated much that he had said at the meeting on Friday and a great deal more about his Ideals and hope for universal peace, Even when the cabinet meeting broke up, Secretary Lane, who Is gifted in the way of stroking down persons witn grievances, linked his arm in that of his associate and led the way over to the hotel where they were to lunch. • The president and the other mem bers of the cabinet were hopeful that Mr. Lane could Induce the secretary of state to withdraw his resignation. That he failed eeuMAahes a new rec ord for the secretary of the Interior He usually succeeds . Mr. Bfyaa returned to the . . . I . • cording to a Washington dispa WadhMday, jnany telegrams express ing regret at his resignation and com mending him for the ' manner in which he submitted it- He will stay in Washington Tor a short time and then depart for a rest. His resigna tion was unexpected in official and diplomatic Washington generally. Only a small circle of friends knew that Mr. Bryan had offered to elimi nate himself from the situation to prevent further embarrassment In tho cabinet. In the present crisis Mr. Bryan is understood to have insisted upon and convinced the president that to re main in the cabinet would be very embarrassing to him because of his known advocacy of the cause of peace, particularly his negotiation of nearly thirty peace treaties with the principlal nations of the world. The principle of_these treaties is that all disputes be”submltted to an Interna- tlonal commlssion for a year’s inves tigation during ^hlch hostilities are forbidden. Treaties of this kind have been negotiated with practically all nations except Japan, Germany and Turkey. Germany has accepted--the principle of the treaties. The presi dent heartily endorsed the idea of the treaties. The situation with Germany, how ever, constitutes a case which high officials believed could not be sub mitted to a tribunal for investigation unless some definite guarantee were given In advance that the acts com plained of would not be'fepeated while the discussion or investigatio: was in progress. It is the purpose of the note w { is now going forward to secure Germany a definite guarantee reference to safeguarding Ameri 1 lives and property In the futr With this once established, the Unit ed Mates probably would not be ad verse to discussion of the facts in the Lusitania case, - The outstanding feature, however, of the situation was the effect of Mr. Bryan’s resignation on the situation between the United States and Ger many. Heretofore there have been many intimations from official sources in Berlin that the viewpoint of the United States as expressed in the notes sent could aot be taken se riously because of the knowledge that Secretary Bryan was committed against drastic measures In one of his speeches. Mr ’Bryan had said that while he was secretary of state there would be no war. His withdrawal at a critical monet over the very question of adopting a firm and vigorous policy was regarded in official and diplomatic quarters as likely to produce a profound imprer slon on the German government. WILSON NAMES LANSING * SECRETARY FOR 30 DAYS White Hon*e Announces Authorisa tion of < Vain net lor to Art as Secretary of State. Following is the text of the presi dent’s deslgnstion Wednesday of Counsellor Lansing as acting secre tary: "The White House, Washington, June 5).—The Hon. William Jenninga Bryan having resigned the office of secretary of state, I, Woodrow Wil son, president of the United States of America, do hereby, in conformity with the provisions of sections 177 and 179 of the Reviced Statutes, and of the act of congress approved Feb ruary 9, 1891, authorize and direct the Hon. Robert I-ansing, counsellor for tho department of state, to per form the duties of the office of sec retary of state for a period not to ceed thirty days, until a secret! shall have been appointed and hi qualified. (Signed) "Woodrow Wilson.” BILLION BUSHEL WHEAT CROP Forecast Shows Enormous Quantity Will be Harvested. A bilrton bushel wheat crop, the greatest ever known ip the world’s history, is indicated for the conung harvest in the forecast by the federal crop ceporting board on the growing winter and spring wheat crops. Should that enormous quantity be harvested the United States would have upwards of three hundred and eighty-five million bushels of wheat during the coming year to supply the demand of the warring European na tions which are expected to increase rather than diminish. Domestic con sumption this year probably will reach five hundred and thirty-five million bushels for food purposes and about eighty million for seeding. Tells Wilson He is Wrong. "I believe you are wrong and that I can convince you of It,’’ Mr. Bryan is quoted as having said w ith a smile in his farewell Interview wltk the presldpwt. ift state department, Secretary Lane re paired to the White House and talk ed with the president for some time. The president then went In his motor car, accompanied by Dr. Grayson, and was driven through Rock Creek Park. When he rbturqed to the White House at 5 o’clock, he asked if there was any word from Mr. Bryan. When informed that the secret of state had not sent any commur tion or telephoned Mr. Tumulty up the secretary and asked If he de sired to have nla resignation made public. The secretary replied that he saw no reason to reconsider his deci sion The letter of acoepunce, which had been prepared earlier la the day kX the preeideat, waa thee teat to the