The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-15
LANSING ASSUMES
THE HELM Of STATE
Members of Cabinet to
p Take Up Work to Re-
lieve G on G c s t i o n
Brougt About by Pres
ident's Illness.

Washington. Oct 1.-THE cahi-
ret met today and prepared to as
sumo as many as possible of the ac-
tivities Of President Wilson for the
remainder OF the period of his HI
ress and condnem ent. This means,
III short, cabinet operation of the
executive branches in government
until the president Is well enough
to resume his duties or at least SUI
ficiently recovered TO guide the cab
inc.
Meanwhile. there was no pro-
nounced change in the president :
condition save that he passed rest
less nigh; because of a swelling Of
the prostate gland The slight
physical suffering this occasioned
was deemed inconsequenflal as far
as its bearing on the presidents
general condition was conc erned by
Rear Admiral Cary r Grayson. the
presidents personal physician. Hs
said tho presidents general condi-
ton was good today
WIN Secretary az state Lansing
in the char the cabinet began an
allotment Of luttes-such AS the
president would do--to its tndivid-
ual members. Secretary Lansing
Of course, will continue in charge %
ali fore IN matters. indeed all sub
lets tina, are now handled by tbs
state department.
Secretary Of War Baker tomor-
row night at Cleveland will address
the OHIO State Federation of
Women's Clubs on the industrial
Ttuaticn s>-,erallv This engage
rncnt is important because Mi Bak-
Ell as the cabiue, member who Will
have charge ~ the great portion OF
Internal affairs as they apply to
the government ana he may voice
views which might be taken In the
line OF a pronouncenent of policy
Secretary OF Agriculture Houston
was assigned 10 handle the sugar
shortage by the cabinet and he is
expected TO issue a statement on it
Within the next few DAYS The
sugar shortage IL very acute now
because OF the fund Of information
on the subject in possession of his
particular departrn ent
Secretary Of Labor Wilson will at
tempt to avert the threatened strike
Of coal miners, slated for Novam ber
Attorn ey-General Palmer will
continue, IT'S heretofore. in charge
OF the fight AGAINST lha. high cost OF
living. He already has planned for
the cooperation of other agencies
Of the government, as was shown
by his conference yesterday with
Secretary or the Treasury Class
Secretary of Labor Wilson. Secretary
o. Agriculture Houston and other
federal officials,
Despite the widely divergent mat
tiers that were placed in the ands OF
Individual cabinet mem bers. that
body. IN the ias1 analysis il was re-
ported, Will function "a a unit II
will meet each Tuesday forenoon and.
business and the desire for eonsulta-
ton. IL will revert TO the old system
of meeting twice weekly-on Tues
DAYS and Fridays
The formation of the cabinet policy
today. and tbs intention TO. proceed on
all matters II nossibie, recalled the
procedure adopted when Preside Z
/ Garfield, struck down by an assassin.
vas incapacitated for duty for sew
eral months before his death.
At that time there was cab
inet government" daring all tho
Period of Mr. Gsrfeld's Illness Wayne
! known as the strong man" Of the
cabinet and he welded the powers
and authority OF the executive to such
an extent that he was often referred
10 as the acting president" James
v Blaine was secretary 81 state az
the time tat he was i'll at his home
at Bar Hsrhor. Maine. and took little
part IN the cabinets operation of the
functions Of the chief executive
President Wilson's cabinet however
does NOT intend 10 follow the lines
laid DOWN by Mr. MacVeigh. for, while
it's uerr. bers will act as individually
in carrying out plans and details n
accordance with what they believe to
be the policies and wishes of the
president. nevertheless whatever de-
cfsions are arrived AT viii culm!na te
as the best judgment of the group
fCn1tipnpd on parA TCo1