Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-19
President Victim
OF Fit Of Temper
In Lansing's Case

which, when pieced together and an
alyzed III the light of the Wilson
mood and temperament, cannot but
result in illuminating conclusions.
For instance, did Secretary Lans-
iig call the first cabinet meeting
aftef President Wilson took sick
He admits he did, but at least one
of the calls for a cabinet meeting
/ think It was the hrst-went out
through the medium of the White
House Offices, and officials there
could have stopped it by notifying
the president of what was happen
ing. They did nothing of the kind.
An Act of Friends.
What was the atmosphere and sit
uation when the first cabinet meet
ing was called? Congress was rest
less. Political enemies of the pres
ident were circulating stories that
he was mentally unable to fulfill the
duties OF the presidency and were
talking about constitutional methods
of getting successor. Newspapers
were clamoring to know how the
governments was functioning. If at
all. Members of the cabinet thought
it was up to them to, do something
to quiet public alarm. IT was the
political and loyal side of the Will
son. following trying to umeet public
criticism IN an awkward situation.
The presidents friends did not
know how sick he was. They knew
only that he needed rest and free
DOM from worry. If they could only
give the appearance of uninter-
rupted government, they telt they
would be doing him service. So
the first cabinet meeting was held.
1t is true DIR. Grayson came there
as the emissary Of the president and
made it clear that Mr.. Wilson was
curious and therefore not altogether
pleased with what was happening.
He wanted it understood that no ac-
ton could be legally taken on a
question which the president is au-
thorizcd to act upon by law, unless
the president himself approved it.
The cabinet took that as natural
limitation upon them and under
stood perfectly we'll what they
could and could not do. But it was
decided for the sake OF appearances
as we'll as for the. good that might
come out of interdepartmental con-
ference and consultation to continue
the meetings. Several of them were
held. White House officials pointed
to them as proof that the govern
ment was functioning and that all
was we'll with the affairs of the re.
public.
A Bolt from, the Blue.
Suddenly out Of a clear sky comes
a letter from President Wilson to
Lansing asking him if it
was true that cabinet meetings had
been held. Nobody was more sur
prised than the secretary of state.
He had had some differences with
the president and had been intend
ing to resign, but he never dreamed
that the basis Of his retirement
would be the calling of cabinet
meetings which had been planned
as a service and not a dis-service. I
But Mr.. Lansing didn't play the
part of little man. He took the
rebuke politely and made his exit.
He could have involved other men
in the Wilson administration who
had urged him to keep the cabinet
going. He could have in
volved nearly everybody in the pres
ident's official family. But, since he
do l,a he HI
fate without a whimper, trusting
that the public might some day un-
derstand.
Did the president really remain
unaware until last week of the fact
that cabinet meetings. were being held
in the executive Offices a few yards
from his own sick room? Circum-
stantial evidence would seem to
point to the absurdity of such con-
clusion. The newspapers printed
references to it again and again. |
remember clearly that Attorney
General Palmer went to the White
House before certain momentouS
cabinet injecting on the coal strike
and, after brief discussion with the
president, told the correspondents
later that the government was be-
hind him and Mr.. Wilson approved
of what had been done. The cor
recall that Mr.. Palmer
said something to them of having
the president of the cab
met situation. But he may not have
gone into detail concerning meet
ings. The president may have got
ten the Impression that the attorney
general was consulting his col
leagues i'll an informal way.
Jealous of Position.
1t is within the range OF posi-
bility that, while Mr.. Wilson did
know about these conferences, did
read about them in the newspapers
and did regard them as inter-de-
partIhental CONSULTATIONS" he may
have fallen back on fine distinctions
i'll the use of words and failed to re-
gard them as. cabinet meetings"
Nor did he concern himself about
them probably until someone told
him they were not informal get-to-
gether functions, but formal sessions
and that at one of these sessions
the question was seriously raised
as to whether or not the cabinet
should ask the nice president to
come and take the place of the
president. Maybe Mr.. Wilson didn't
learn of the latter fact till last week.
Gossip like that doesn't always trav-
el fast but, when it did reach Mr..
Wilson, he gave vent to a pentup
dissatisfaction with Mr.. Lansings
views on the peace treaty and a deep
resentment at what he considered
desire to depose the president Of the
United States. 4 ..r..
Personally, | pfefer for the pres