Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 168, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1913 — Takes Occasional Punch at Secretary of State Bryan. [ARTICLE]

Takes Occasional Punch at Secretary of State Bryan.

It is probable that Editor Babcock was never very devoutMn his admiration for Williams Jennings Bryan. At least his effection has been waning for some time and ever since the “peerless leader” took the stand at the democratic national convention against Champ Clark and in favor of Wilson, the editor of the local democratic organ has had a grouch on about it. In the current issue The Democrat, under the caption: “That Bothersome Wolf Again,” The Democrat hands the secretary the following jolt: “Secretary of State Bryan has announced, according to undisputed newspaper reports, that he takes the lecture platform again this season because he “needs the money,” and that he cannot make both ends meet on his salary of $12,000 per year. The upkeep of Calumet Place, the home Mr. Bryan leased from Mrs. John A. Logan, on the scale the Bryans have adopted, would easily cost more than $12,000 per year, it is said. Perhaps a little more of that Jeffersonion simplicity of which we have heard so much from the lips of Mr. Bryan would enable him to keep the wolf from the door on the salary provided for his office, which is 50 per cent higher now than it was a few years ago.” There are a great many democrats who believe that Secretary Bryan’s duty is to “stay on the job,” and not go gallavanting about the country trying to entertain Chautauqua audienees. He is hired as secretary of state and paid $12,000 per year for it, but there is no guarantee that this salary will be made to cover his living expenses. If he has so disregarded the “commoner” notions that pervaded his system when he first championed the cause of the common people that he is not now able to keep body and soul together at $12,000 per year, it is not the part of the United States government to make up the difference by permitting him to go on the lecture platform at the expense of services already sold to the government. Editor Babcock is right and we are pleased to see that he is taking the same view of Mr. Bryan that we have held for so many years, but we are wondering whether this criticism is based upon the act criticised or is offered because Editor Babcock is opposed to the progressive tendencies of Secretary Bryan and the administration.

Born, July 15th, to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Johnson, on the former Reniker farm, near Aix, a 'son. o. - Miss Marie Mace returned to Kirklin today after a visit here with Miss Minnie Mace and with Mrs. Grace Ballard at Newland. J. J. Montgomery’s new bungalow will be somewhat more roomy than the one he built last year and which was solid to Wood Spitler. Rapid progress is being made with it and the basement and tion were completed several days ago and the frame work is progressing rapidly. It will have four rooms and a hath on the first floor and two bed rooms on the second floor. A large porch, to be partly enclosed in screens, will make an attractive front. The kalistone material will be used, the appearance being much the same as stucco. It it said to he absolutely fire proof. B. B. Baker and five others came 'by auto from Monticello 'today and dined at the Makeever hotel without registering. Baker was the progressive candidate for state treasurer last fall. He was halm by. a Republican reporter today and asked if he was headed for a Bull Moose convention. He was not nearly so cordial as he used to be when he was a candidate for recorder of White county and the writer was running a newspaper in Brookston and was a township committeeman. His answer was inaudible and he made a rush for the hotel dining room. His party was not registered and there Was a degree of mystery about the visit.