Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-17
Mr.. Lane Can No Longer
Continue Public Life at
"PerS0naI Sacrifices
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

Franklin X. Lane, probably the
best liked man in the Wilson admin
istration. in both republican and DEM
ocratic envirOnS, is to leave the cab
met because he can no longer con-
tinue in public life at a personal sac
rifice.
Mr.. Lane intended saying nothing
publicly on the subject until he had
an opportunity to consult the con-
venience of President Wilson, for he
did not wish to make the transition
in the Department of the Interior diff
ficult for a successor. nor did ne wish
to hurry the President into naming
new Secretary of the Interior. But
an unauthorized publication Of story
to the effect that Mr.. Lane had al
ready resigned led him to issue q
statement saying that, while he had
not even written his resignation ne
did contemplate going out OF the
cabinet.
All sorts of stories have arisen as to
the reasons which prompted Mr.. Lane
to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. extending from
an alleged difference with President
supposed dissatisfaction with the
handling of the coal situation. Both
stories are incorrect. The Secretary
only last Saturday night made an ear
rest speech at a private gathering in
Washington advocating the league Of
withdraw from the cabinet. it now de-
velops. were known to several friends.
including newspaper correspondents, be-
fore the recent coa crisis occurred.
Not Always In Accord.
On the other hand, II is fact that
Franklin Lane and Woodrow Wilson
have not always been in accord. Yhe
Secretary Of the 1nteriar always has had
the confidence OF his chief, but it cam
not be said that in the last two years
the Judgment or advice Of the Secre-
tary Of the, Interior has been as potent
a factor with Mr.. Wilson as earlier in
the administration. This, however. never
led to any i'll feeling. On the contrary.
the President and Secretary Lane work.
dustrial conference recently was in ses-
sion. and in the recent message Of the
President to Congress he gave public
approval to the principal measures
which the Interior Department has been
At bottom. the controlling reason
for Mr.. Lanes intended .resignation
is a personal one. The end of his
service in the Wilson cabinet would
come within year even Of the present
to remain till the end Of the present
for even II the demo-
it would not be likely that Mr.. Lane
would want to stay in public office
airy logger.
Lure Of Private Business.
Sc he is in the same frame of mind
as members of other cabinets have
been as tie end Of an administration
was aIIroachel Aessrs: ,Gresory
vate business. Secretary McAdoo felt
thai the needs of his family were
such that he had to get cut and make
some n,orey. 1t will be remembered
that nan: a cabinet officer has COM
pace in Washington on $4,000 Il year.
For Franklin Lane there is really
no future in public life. He ran for
Governor of California about a decade
ago and was appointed to the Inter-
state Commerce Commission by Pres
ident Roosevelt. He resigned from
the commission to become Secretary
Of the Interior in Mr.. Wilson's cabi-
net. He is the only democrat of prom
inence who can truthfully say that
men as opposite as Theodore Roose-
welt and Woodrow Wilson were his
close friends. This was because, while
a democrat. Mr.. Lane has always been
progressive. and it was his boast
after the 1912 campaign that he car
ried to the cabinet meetings Of the
Wilson administration a copy of the
bull moose platform and when 1916
came he used to point with pride to
tne idCL tudl Tic VlISou
administration many planks in that
Roosevelt platform had been embod-
led into law or recommended by the
Wilson administration
Birth Bars From Presideney.
When one says there is nothing fur
ther in public life for Franklin Lane.
the natural thought is of elevation to
the presidency. But Mr.. Lane was
born in Canada and is ineligible un-
der the Constitution for the presiden-
tial job. He could run for United
States senator in California, but there
is little doubt that Mr.. Lane believes
he has reached the highest point of
public service in the opportunities
given him while a member of the
cabinet. He has been mentioned for
appointment as associate Justice OF
the Supreme Court Of the United
States, but there are no longer any
vacancies.
But Franklin Lane has often told
his friends that he would rather be
the editor of a chain Of newspapers
or of a prominent newspaper that
carried influence in public affairs than
to be President of the United States
even if he were eligible for that post
Originally a newspaper editor in Ia
coma. Mr.. Lane has never lost ine
news instinct. His annual report re-
Gently won the admiration Of republi-
can and democratic newspapers fol-
the excellence of its style and the
simplicity of its expression
Mr.. Lane likes to write. And if one
were guessing as to what business he
may enter when he does leave the
cabinet the guess would be the writ.