The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-14
CRANE CASE
 NOW CLOSED This Is View In Wash
 ington. TAFT MUST STAND BY KNOX Resignation Is Put Up To Presi-
 dent. Friends of Deposea MinIster TU China Think He Has Been Mistrested-officisIs Are
 silent.
TAFT MUST STAND BY KNOX


 President Taft do with the resignation Of Charles R. Crane as minister of the United States to China?"
 In one form or another this question was on the lips of all official wash- ington today It is long since a diplo- matic episode has excited the national capitol more than this one.
 MT. Cranes stinginE reply last night to the statement in which Secretary Of State Knox yesterday afternoon announced that he had informed the minister designate that his resfgna- tion would be accepted. including. as the reply did, MT. Crane's exceedingly lucid telegram of virtual resignation to the President. was read and re- read with the keenest zest.s
 Little doubt was expressed that the resignation of MT. Crane would be ac- cepted by the President. It vas as- serted without qualification by those in the confidence of the secretary of state that MT. Knox was perfectly as- sured of the approval of the president. that he was not the kind of man to take so drastic a step without knowing in advance that he would be supported in it.
 Even the friends of Mir. crane--and
  beside him in this crisis-while high- ly indignant at the treatment with which he had met at the hands of Mir Knox, admitted that the developments since he left San Francisco at the peremptory summons of the secretary had, regardless of the merits of the case, utterly destroyed any possible use eeulness on his part at Pekin and that in the circumstances he could not x.,ith 0thArWfa& than insist on the acceptance of his resignation.
 Further. it was pointed out on both sides of the controversy, that, as one man put 1t, "the state department hiE and broad aB 1t is, Is not big enough now for both Knox and Crane. The President cannot sustain either wtth- out turning down the other. "Mr Knox could not now be re- versed without its being interpreted throughout the world as an insnffer- able rebuff."
 Therefore the press despatohes re- ceived last night from the newspaper correspondents travelling with Presi- dent Taft to the effect that informa- ton regarding MT. Crane must come from the state department. where the entire matter has been handled. wera interpreted here this morning as indf- eating unmistakably. only that the President had no intention of inter- fertng with the action of the secre- tary of state; but also that he inc tended the secretary to bear all of the responsibility for that action.
 At the same time it was borne i9 mind that MT. Cranes telegram of reclamation was addressed to the presl- dent in person. as their relations or ficiaIly required, and that it would have to be acted upon in the same way by the President in person.
 One of the possible indirect ressitt of the whole incident was discussed with much interest in some diplomatic quarters last night and today, ana fnat if is the unmistakable notice that Tanan has incidentally received, even in the words of MT. Knoxs statement of yesterday to the effect that this government looks with disapprovai upon her gains in Manchuria through the two new treaties with China which have been so much discussed in son- nection with the Crane affair Ac- cordinR to this view, MT. crane inteh- tionally or unintentlonaHy, mas oesn made the pawn in the EAmnit or ex- pediency. - A .,Crane incident" is closed was the only response made today at the White Hon.e and the state department to the inquiry AS to whether Presluent Taft had accepted MT. Cranes resigna- tion.
 If was stated that nothing had been heard from the President today.
 one of the court decisiouS upot which the State Depa rtment Is said ta rely as sustaining the view that ME. Cranes connection with the dlpionnauu service of the United states is at an end and that the Presidents aceept- ance of his resignation Is not neeesr' aary to it's taking efrect. Is the iotloW- Tpa nv Imdee Mclean formerly Judge of the United States Circut court lm ohio. who in an opinion in the case or the United States versus Wright. saia.
 "There can be no doubt that civil oficer has right to resign his ohes ut pleasure, and 1t is not in the power of the executive to compel nm 10 re- main in office. 1t is only neeessaFs that the resignation should De- to tahe effect. and this does not depend upon inc acceptance or rejection of the res iEnation by the President"
 The correctness of this view, II ts claimed has never been successfully aRsaled before any superior court Ano conclusion of the State Department ot- ncials is that MT. Cranes conneetioA with 1t terminated with the receipt or his resignation by the President
 Tn 10 midnight no response has been raca,veI by Charles R. Crane from PreaIdent Taft to the dispatch he sent ths latter yesterday morning rendering bIs resignation as United states min- tster-deslguate to China.
 MT. Crane did not appear to think It strange that he had DO word from the President. expressing the belief that MT. Taft probably had been too muen on the go" to give consideration to the matter.
 Asked if he expected to stay here for a time MT. Crane said he was uncer- tain as to his movements.
 There are other places bestdeS Washington" said Mr. Crane, where & F.t,ow can have a good time"