at first commented upon because Count von |
|Bernstorff, the German ambassador, was at the state |
|department. However, it was soon ascertained that |
|the ambassador was conferring with Counselor |
|Lansing. |
| |
|Then it was rumored that Secretary Bryan had sent |
|word to President Wilson that he would not stand for|
|the note as framed. Inquiry at the White House |
|revealed the fact that Secretary Bryan had sent word|
|that he would be in his office, working on an |
|important paper, and would be late. At the state |
|department, Eddie Savoy, the Secretary's colored |
|messenger, refused to take any cards in to Bryan. He|
|said he did not know whether his chief actually |
|intended attending the meeting. |
| |
|"He is very busy, and I cannot disturb him," Eddie |
|stated. |
| |
|At the White House a distinct air of tension was |
|manifested. All inquiries as to what Secretary Bryan|
|was going to do were ignored. |
| |
|Finally, about 12 o'clock, Secretary Bryan left his |
|office and came across the street. His face was |
|flushed and his features hard set. He responded to |
|inquiries addressed to him with negative shakes of |
|the head. He swung into the cabinet room with the |
|set stride with which he mounted the steps of the |
|Baltimore platform to deliver his famous speech |
|attacking Charles F. Murphy and Tammany Hall, and |
|precipitating his break with Champ Clark, whose |
|nomination for the presidency up to that time seemed|
|assured. |
| |
|For more than an hour after he reached the cabinet |
|room the doors were closed. Across the hall the |
|President's personal messenger had erected a screen |
|to keep the curious at a distance. |
| |
|At last the door was thrown open with a bang. F