The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-20
LANES RESIGNATION
 CAUSES SPECULATION

Washington, December 19.-(Special.)-- | Secretary Lane, regarded as the ablest
 member of the Presidents cabinet has rendered his resignation, and the Presi- dent, having just appointed a secretary | of commerce to succeed Secretary Red field, must now, in addition to a secre- 1 tary of the treasury to succeed Secretary Glass, find 8 successor to Secretary Lane | Just why so many members of the cab | met are resigning and have resigned is a matter of speculation in Washington. They give the appearance of rats leaving | a sinking ship But none of them say as much. Each states that he has reached ! that stage in life where it is incumbent ! on him to get out and lay up a nest egg | for old age, or for the use of his family 1 in the nonproductive years. In this con- nection, there is a bright spot or two. l Secretary of Labor Wilson denies that he will resign, and Secretary of War
 admit that they haven't given the matter | of resignation single thought.
 By the enemies of the Wilson admin | iistration, expressing themselves directly through the republican press, the resigs nation of Secretary Lane is explained in many ways. It is said that he is piqued because, some years ago, Secretary Baker vetoed his agreement with the coal op- orators and produced a new agreement under the terms of which the operators received less for their coal. This rumor l is not believed. It is also said that Sec retary Lane was grieved in that the President went to Europe, whereas, Tin l the opinion of the secretary, he should l have remained on the job and attended | to the business of the people," This re- I port is also secuted. third reason is attributed to the alleged dissatisfaction on the part of the secretary that Presi- 1 dent Wilson made an offer to the coal
 miners union which their officials ac. l cepted. This action by the President
 as is recalled, resulted in the resignation | of Coal Administrator Garfield and mem ! bers of his staff.
 l As to whether or not this alleged req son has any foundation is unknown. all | though it is given more general credence | than either of the others advanced Dr. 1 Garfield, and supposedly Secretary Lane, as head of the interior department. did
 regret the action of the President They l felt that they had done all that they could do--that they had gone as far as | in self-respect they could go. It is said that it was their impression, in view of
 the Presidents action, that he had gone over their heads,' with the intention of l permitting the world to believe that they were merely clerks, after all
 | Dr. Garfield claims that the people are l destined to be sufferers as result of the 1 1ieSlueHl aCllOn III appointing d con- 1 mission of three people to set wage 1 scale and a scale of prices for coal On the commission the public is represented, 1 the operators are represented and the
 miners are represented. It is possible
 under the action of the commission, taken l by majority vote, that the operators property will always be operated, that l the miner will always have employment
 at wage agreeable to him and that the public will always have coal to burn provided he is able to pay for it.
 1 This indicates the possibility of an | agreement between the operator and the miners to maks the public bear the bur- | den throughout all the years.
 | But Secretary Lane has said nothing. And until he speaks officially any reason attributed for his resignation will be spec ulative and nothing more.