Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-06-18
ROBERT LANSING

ROBERT LANSING
A Man Who Has Been a Tower OF
Strength to the President.
Washington Dispatch to Philadelphia
Public Ledger.
Robert Lansing, the counsellor OF
the department Of state, who has be-
come acting secretary Of state by the
resignation of Mr.. Bryan and also
many believe will be the successor OF
Mr.. Bryan as ranking member Of the
cabinet, is one Of the ablest authori-
ties in this country on the conduct OF
diplomatic affairs and on questions of
international law.
Mr.. Lansing has been counsellor OF
the state department since April, l,
1914. At that time he succeeded John
Bassett Moore, another American ex-
pert on international law. Mr. Lam
sing has served in the capacity ever
since the United States landed troops
in Vera Cruz, throughout the Mexican
situation, and during all Of the Europ-
can war to date.
Especially since the war in Europe
imposed on the United States govern
ment new, serious and most intricate
problems has Mr.. Lansing been a
tower Of strength in the state de-
partment. He has been the main
source for advice on all questions Of
international law and neutrality. All
questions relating to American neu-
trality-and they have been numer-
ous-have been referred first to Mr..
Lansing for his advice and judgment
as to the correct course to be pur-
sued.
Mr.. Lansing Is a son-in-law Of
John W. Foster, who was former sec
retary Of state. He was well known
in Washington even before he became
councillor Of the state department by
reason Of his service in a special ca
pacity for the state department. He
Is native Of Watertown, n. Y, and
a graduate Of Amherst college in
1886. He Is 81 years old, in the prime
Of his activity, is quiet, modest and
thoughtful, regarded as a man Of
poise and balance hard worker and
an official of fine judgement and
ability.
Three years after his graduation,
Mr.. Lansing was admitted to the bar
in 1889. He became a member Of the
law firm Of Lansing & Lansing In that
year, a partnership which continued
until 1907. In 1928, Mr.. Lansing
became counsel Of the United States
in the Behring sea arbitrations and in
1867, he became counsel for the
United States Behring sea claims
commission. Again in 1903, be be-
came solicitor for the United States
government before the Alaskan boun-
Diary tribunal. In 1909, the United
States once more sought his services
and he was employed as counsel in
the North Atlantic coast fisheries
during the arbitration Of that issue
between England and the United
States at The Hague.
Mr.. Lansing Is q trustee Of the
Roswell P. Flower Memorial library
at Watertown, N. Y, where he main
tains his home, Is a member Of the
American Society Of International
Law, of the National Geographic So
ciety, Of the Holland Society Of New
York, Of the Psi Upsilon fraternity.
and Of the American Political Science
association. He belongs to the Me-
Chevy Chase and Black
River Valley clubs.
Speaking before the alumni Of his
alma mater-Amherst college-on
February "a last, Councillor Lansing
sounded a note Of warning regarding
Americas relations to the war. He
said:
You may think that have adopted
a too serious vein for an occasion Of
this sort, but, men Of Amherst, these
are critical days for our country
how critical only those who are in in
innate touch with affairs can fully
realize. 1t is a time for serious
thought, a time for anxiety.
1T Is my duty, as many OF you
know, to deal with the questions of
law and usage, which
are arising every day in our relations
with other countries. These ques-
tions are absorbing interest and many
of them are extremely complex, be-
cause this war in its magnitude and
methods is different from all the wars
which have gone before. One can
look in vain for precedents in many
cases. In fact, we have to abandon
the time honored refuge Of jurists and
diplomas, precedents, and lay hold OF
the bed rock Of principle. Diplomacy
today is wrestling with novel prob
lens, to which 1t must apply natural
justice and practical common sense.
This great conflict has introduced
the submarine, the aeroplane, the
wireless telegraph, and new forms OF
1t has made mechanical
motive power an absolute necessity In
operations. The old strategy
Of surprise has given place to mobility.
The petroleum products, essential to
rapid motion in the air, on land and
beneath the sea, are as necessary to
a modern army and navy as arms and
New devices Of commu-
and transportation are used
now for the first time in war, and
modes Of attack are employed.
THE result is that neutral nations
have had to meet a series Of prob
lens which have never been solved.
The liability of error, the danger of
partiality, and the con-
slant complaint Of one or another OF
the belligerents make the path OF
rough and uncertain. When
the war began early last August the
department Of state, amply equipped
for it's work in times Of peace, was
forced to re-organize Immediately to