New Britain herald., 1919-12-18
N SHIP WITHOUT A WHEEL LSMAN

A SHIP WITHOUT A WHEELSMANr
 { Aftalrs of state are becoming sX-
 tremely complicated during the illness
 oi President Wilson, for reasons that
 are still obscure. The announcement
 of Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the
 Interior, that ne will shortly resign
 follows closely upon the resignation of
 Fuel Administrator Garfield and the
 number Of changes in the Cabinet and
 amo ongst other high official circles
 during the strain of the war and it's
 adjustment period have been greater
 than is usual It is said that there
 are slated to resign within short
 time. '-
 Starting With the difficulty With w.
 J Bryan, over the Lusitania incident.
 there has been q series of resignations
 from the Presidents official family
 Some of these have resulted from
 friction with the remainder of the
 Cabinet and disagreement with the
 Presidents policy, as was the Bryan
 case. Others are more obscure hard
 CT 10 trace, even to those who are in
 timately acquainted with the politics
 of the inner cirele. as in the case of the McAdoo resignation, some time
 ago. Needless to say bitterly partisan
 papers will account for tho additions to the list, from this tune on, by pre- sumine upon fight in the Cabinet, q struggle for control in the illness of the President. The ship Of state will be pictured without a head and an
 unconscious tribute will be paid to the President by alleging that small
 CT personalities are struggling to get
 a grasp upon the reins of government l and take the wheel of the vessel without a wheelsman."
 However we would be, inclined to l judge that the rcsignations, if not ! forced by business reasons. are com ing about through tho Unwillingness of minor officials to follow out the dictates of the Administration heads " hioh seems to prove that there is
 still a power at the helm. that the President is not too ill to watch his underlinSs and to suggest methods by winch they may carry on with their l particular jobs He wants to be boss, l admittedly, aud is usually succC ssiul l in his efforts to held a firm hand on io ! mind, will simply prove that he is in l charge and is liable to remain there, | despite the fact that he is sick. | It does not make for the best gov | members of oflicialdcm. Cabinet members, or others. Tho usefulness l Of an old man thoroughly broken in,
 is great, there is delay in picking up l the routine of a new job to anyone
 But if the plans of the individual are 1 at angles to the Lolicy Of the Admin l istration there is little else for the 1 person to do than quit. The AdmAn- 1 istration must take the blame for
 their faults, it is fitting that, right or | wrong, 1t should dictate their pro- 1 cedure.
 , Secretary Lanes resignation is not | vet complete though there is little l reason to doubt that it will be off, 1 cially rendered after his announce | ment of yesterday. Lansing and Bur | leson are said to be considering quit | 4; ,p1, tl,t iC 1,o n l gossip at the present stage of the | game There will be little bemoaning in the case of the resignation of the | Postmaster General, lie has none too l many friends even among his | party Secretary Lansing, howe ' would be a greater loss to the