Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-10-21
WILSON AIDS TAKE
OVER HIS DUTIES
Cabinet win Run the U. S. During
His Illness.
FOLLOWS GARFIELD ACTION
Move Recalls the Precedent Set When
the Former President Was Shot
Down by an Assassin-s Ill
son About the Same.

Washington, Oct 15.-The cabinet
met and prepared to assume as many
as possible of the activities of Presi-
dent Wilson for the remainder of the
period of his illness. This means, in
short, cabinet operation of the execu-
tive branches of the government until
the president is well enough TO. re-
sumo his duties or at least sufficient
ly recovered to guide the cabinet.
Meanwhile. there was no pro-
nOunced change in the presidents
condition save that he passed rest
less night because of a swelling of
the prostate gland.
Action of the cabinet in proceeding
to take over some of the functions of
the chief executive was deemed an in
dication that the president would be
sick for long time.
1t is a question of months before he
will be entirely recovered.
With Secretary of State Lansing in
the chair the cabinet began an allot-
ment of duties-such as the president
would do-to its individual members.
Lansing Stays Foreign Head.
Secretary Lansing, of course, will
continue in charge of all foreign mat
tiers and, indeed, all subjects now han
died by the state department.
Secretary of War Baker tonight at
Cleveland will address the Ohio State
Federation Of WOmen's Clubs on the
Industrial situation generally.
This engagement is important be-
cause Mr.. Baker is the cabinet men,
Der who will have charge of the great
portion of internal affairs as they APP
ply TO the government. and may voice
views which might be taken as pro-
nOuncement of policy.
Secretary of Agriculture Houston
was assigned the sugar shortage and
is expected to issue a statement on
II within a few days Houston was
given this task because of the infOr-
nation on the subject in possession of
his department.
Mine Strike for Secretary Wilson.
Secretary of Labor Wilson will at
tempt TO avert the threatened strike
of coal miners slated for November 1.
1t is question of paramount impOr
lance to the administration.
Attorney General Palmer will con-
tinue, as heretofore, in charge of the
fight against the high cost of living.
He already has planned for the CO.
operation of other agencies, as was
shown by his conference with Secre-
tary of the Treasury Glass. Secre-
tary of Labor Wilson, Secretary of
Agriculture Houston and other fed
feral officials.
Despite the widely divergent mat
tiers that were placed in the hands of
Individual cabinet members that body,
in the last analysis, 1t was reported,
will function as unit
1t will meet each Tuesday and If
necessity warrants it will revert 70
the odd system of meeting twice week
Iy on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Recalls Garfield Procedure.
The action of the cabinet recalled
the procedure adopted when President
Garfield. struck down by an assassin.
was incapacitated for duty several
months before his death.
At that time there was cabinet gov
eminent during all the period of Mr..
Garfield's Illness. Wayne MacVeagh,
the attorney general, was known as
the 'strOng man" of the cabinet and
welded the powers and authority of
the executive to such an extent that
he was often referred to as the "act-
ing president"