fywv w-t . The Commoner 8 vfc,nou i V&FW&sff!!!l'$$ffiVt! Wilson Pays Tribute to Roosevelt The following proclamation on tho death of Theodore Roosevelt was sent by cable from Parla January 7 by Proslddnt Wiloon: "A proclamation to tho people of tho United States: "It becomes my sad duty to announce officially the death of Thoodoro Iioosovolt, President of the United States from September 14, 1901, to March 4, 1909, which occurod at his homo at Sagamoro Hill, Oystor Bay, Now York, at 4:1 o'clock in tho morning of January 6, 1919. In his death the United Stated has lost one of its most distinguished and patriotic citizens, who had endoared himself to the people by his strenuous devotion to thoir Interests and to the public Interests of his country. "As prosldont of tho pollco board of his native city, afi moraber of tho logislaturo and governor of his state, a"B civil sorvico commis sioner, as assistant secretary of tho navy, as vico-pronldont and as prosldont of the United Statos ho displayed administrative powors of. a signal ordor and conducted the affairs of these various offices with a concentration of effort and a watchful caro which pormittod no divergence from tho lino of duty ho had definitely sot for himself. "In tho war with Spain ho displayed singular initiative and onergy and distinguished himself among tho commanders of tho army in the Hold. As Prosldont ho awoke tho nation to tho dangers of private control which lurked in- our financial and industrial systems. It was by thus arresting tho attention and stimulating the purpose of the country that ho opened tho -way for subsequent necessary and beneficent reforms. "His private life was characterized by a sim plicity, a virtue and an affection worthy of all admiration and emulation by tho people of America. "In tostimony of the respect in which his memory is hold by the government and people of tho United States I do horoby direct that tho flags of tho Whito House and tho several depart mental buildings bo displayed at halfstaff for a period of thirty days, and that suitable military and naval honors under orders of the Secretaries of War and of the Navy bo rendered on the day of tho funeral. "Done this seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord ono thousand nine hundred and nineteen, and of tho independence of the United Statos of Amorica the one hundred and forty- L , t , , . WOODItOW WILSON. 'By the President. Frank L. Polk, Acting Secretary of State." b SEORETAKY GREGORY TO RETIRE PROM CABINET it 7h0,m? W ?reory, attorney-general of tho United Statos since 1914, has resigned and will return to tho practice of law. President Wilson has agreed to his retirement noxt March 4 Mr Gregory's letter of resignation, dated January 9 and the President's reply, cabled from Paris the SanLV0 mtld0 publlc at Washington! January 12. Mr. Gregory in his letter of resig nation says: h "Dear Mr. President: In accordance with the purpose oxprossod in our conversations just be fore you went abroad, I tender my resUination as attorney general. No man ever served a fie? Xil! imr uniformlr considerate, more Idnd ly helpful and moro generously annrooiatfv. a subordinate was over more alStuli tho numberless friendly words and cYb o his ? rGCUn,a responsibilities of a sub stantial nature rest upon me, and my private affairs have long demanded attention Burin? the continuance of actual warfare I did not fee! ? ,ihSP? WOleh t,hQS0 oraonl considerations in tho balance against the public duties with which I was charged. By March tho'" of the present year the department of justice will i, t substantially brought' its war activ t es to a dole and be working under normal conditions I therefore ask that this resignation lake Rnf on that date. Faithfully yours, ffect The President's reply saidi W" GREG0RY." Mir Dear Mr. Attorney-General:- It is with profound reluctance and regret that I nJ;f ,, Tesignation I do so only becau Q ymlave on" yiuced me that it is necessary in your own n terest for you to retire. There haseen no oho" with whom I have been associated In Washing ton whom I have learned moro to trust nor to whoso counsols I havo attached moro value and importance. Your administration of your ofllco has boon singularly able and singularly conspi cuous and watchful of the public intorest and I feel It is a very serious loss indeed to the nation that you should find yourself obliged to with draw from public life. My best wishes not only, but my affectionato friendship will follow you into retirement and I hope with all my heart that In some way and at some time I shall again havo tho privilege and benefit of being associated with .you. Cordially and faithfully yours, "WOODROW WILSON." BRYAN PLAYS ATHEISTS From Baltimore newspaper. Declaring that the teachings of Nietzsche, the Gorman philosopher, wero responsible for the atrocities committed upon the human race by the Huns; that Lloyd George and Woodrow Wilson are in accord upon the one great idea of poaco based upon Christian principles; th'at tho faith of our young men Is often undermined in our colleges by professors who teach infidelity in the garb of philosophy and science, and fling ing defiance to atheists the world over, William Jennings Bryan thrilled one of the largest audiences which ever assembled in Ford's Opera House yesterday afternon in what has been des ignated by many who heard him as one of the greatest addresses he has ever made. Tho meeting vhich was under the direction of the Young Men's Christian Association, was scheduled to begin at 3:30 oclock, but by 3:00 o'clock tho audience was pack to the doors, and thost who had stage seats had to force their way through the rear 'entrance. Nearly as many men tho meeting was for men only were left on the outside as gained admission to the theater. Mr. Bryan was evidently in splendid condition, and it seemed that he gained inspiration from the enthusiasm of his audience as he proceeded with his address. There was a dramatic moment near tho end 6t his remarks when, after defend ing the Bible with all the vigor of his strong personality, he said that, with all that the doubters in all tho world had been able to do to discredit it since tho time of Christ, it was the only book a man or woman cared to have near when they were about to face the mysteries of the great beyond, and he recited the twenty third Psalm, beginning with "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." The audience listened to the familiar words as though the? were new thoughts and they did seem to have a different, a new meaning when spoken by Mr Bryan with all the fine Intonations of which the Nebraskan is capable In his masterly delivery Mr. Bryan took for his subject "Back to God" and prior to speaking had asked the Rev. Hugh ?l ieS?' r?Ctor f Manuel Protestant Epfs copal Church, who had been asked to read a passage from the Scriptures, to read from the twenty-second chapter of St. Matthew with S TiS ?? thirty-seventh verseT'"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all tliv lit? and with all thy soul, and with all tmSt After the reading Dr. Birkhead offered mwtv fie" audience0: el t Hotr't UnodW' by nouncement by wffiiam U MoSs L secretary of the Young MentianKS It is claimed that the kaiser, under an be said In criticism of the taSS -M8! being said but it seems quite clear tw i has an accurate knowledge of how S ? , le it comes to making Investments! Ct when. Says Lloyd George: "We must n sense of revenge, any spirit S JLJS ?fc allow any ing desire, to override the fdf S?f di ?ny grasP of righteousness." He wasS?1 ?Tlncl1 basis for making a DerSXJX S about tho is the man that toryism ' ?eTn, LPnQaco' Jet this WS to ofpg ? lLnrB the they are feeling pretty wSe2l ' flag' Aa it might be said, toptha 5iinnho Dresent time, graph that' they -seem toZTSVSl idea of the color scheme of democracy! ed Cotter T. Brid (Mr. Bryan's tribute to a friend. L porsonl and ) Political I havo been asked by tho familv nt LaJcentnr I xixouuo xor more tnan a auartor nf to say a word at the eravn t Llecel honor done me and tho privilege of Wh i th in this last tribute of respect mtiH The word "friend" Is a treasure word i language and tho sacred relationthin wtiW describes is recognized throughout Jlw? ,l Abraham is called "the Friend of God -h ft IS Said of thA trrnnf .TnTOlci. i .":." a" the Lord flnolr fT. uXZ , wfiYSp- ms, that speaketh unto his friend." SotemovZ? the strength of th fiJ:?:0?,0 u?derBtoo4 the. strength of the friendship Uel-Bin w.ou& mo,u mu nea ot Dlonn . he speaks of "a friend that sticketh clour ul a brother." Ho was also acquainted i tth ft superb qualities of true friendship for ha JS that "A friena loved at all times ' " Christ, too, hallowed the word and the rPi, tionship He found tho supremo test of love In man's willingness to lay down his life for t friend; and He called attention to tho confi dential character of friendship when Ho said t His disciples "Henceforth, I call you not er?. ants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I hava made known unto you." Mr. Bride's friendship measured up to the highest requirements of tho most exacting defl nition of the word. Among the many with whoso friendship I have been honored I have known none more true and unwavering. Wo became friends on the day we first met, some twenty-eight years ago, and that friend ship continued without a moment's interruption until he was called to his reward. Friendship to him was -not like the tide that has its flow and ebb; it was not like the surface stream that is swollen by sudden showers and then recedes. It had rather the evenness of the mountain brook. thatfn'dsits. source in living springs. Our friendship rested upon a very substantial foundation. We found ourselves in accord on the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith and on the basic principles of popular goverment. We were" in agreement as to party policies and methods and, in addition, were personally con genial. We loved and trusted each other. During my four years Jn congress I roomed at his house and the attachment which grew up between our good wiveB was scarcely less intim ate than that which existed between us. I valued his constancy and his companionship and seldom visited Washington without seeing him. When I learned, ten days ago, of tho illness which proved fatal to him I hastened to his bedside and enjoyed an hour's communion with him an hour made preciouk by the fear that it would be the last meeting with him on this side the tomb. I shall sorely miss him when I return, from time to time, to the national capital I shall miss the earnest lookjn his steadfast eye, the. cordial grasp of his hand and the warmth of his honest heart. He was a typical American. In tho home he was faithful to every tie; in the state, loyal to every civic duty; in politics, active; and, In office, Incorruptible. He was of the kind that give to our government a guaranty of perpetuity and, progress. We can ill afford to lose such an one especially at this time when so many great problems demand attention. We can say of the deceased as the Master said of Lazarus "Our friend sleepeth," but, alas, we cannot recall to its tenement of clay the imperial spirit that has' been summoned to the world beyond. Our words cannot soothe his ear or bring back to his face the smile of welcome with which ho was wont to greet his friends. But as one who prized his confidence and devo tion I come to bear witness to his worth and to speak words of comfort and sympathy to bis family. ' I shared with them the happiness which his life bestowed and I could bear with them the sorrow, which his death has brought into their homes. Peace to his ashes; repose to his soul. A special commission to Investigate the reasons why coal enfined in bins shrinks so rapidly dur ing January and February would meet a widefelt need just at this time. O - l'l A . JjjgAy '-.'&!, JjaSSSfri