Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-15
PUBLIC BEHIND
LANSING, SAYS
WILLIAM /. TAFT
Secretary Acted Within Rights,
Declares Former Presi-
dent-Break Creates
Sensation.

(Centinued FSom First PaSeJ
part OF the incident had to do with
the outcome can only be left to spec
ulation. ..l
Lansing Is Going Hsmr.
Mr.. Lansing was not at the de-
parunen To-Day ana 1t was under
stood, was preparing to go to his
home in Watertown, N. Y, for q
vacation and rest
The presidents friends made the
occasion one to observe that the
presidents action, like his confer
ences with Senators Fall and Hitch
cock on the Mexican situation sew
eral weeks ago, served to emphasize
that while he may be i'll physically,
he is in full possession of all his
mental faculties.
To the senate, whose struggle with
the peace treaty had given it some
insight into the condition OF for
eign affairs, the revelation OF Pres:-
dent Wilson's disagreement with his
secretary of state caused less sur
prise than did the time and manner
of the final break between them.
Privately, many democratic sena-
tors expressed regret that the resig-
nation came just on the eve Of
another effort to ratify the treaty
Representative Mason, republican,
Illinois, introduced a resolution to
have the house foreign affairs COM
lnittec to investigate this tempest
in teapot between the ex-secretary
Of state and the president of the
United States" 1t went into the
hopper without speeches or debate.
The only comment in the house
on Mr.. Lansing's resignation was
made by Representative Rogers, re-
publican. Massachusetts,, who in
serted the on-Lansing corrc-
spondencc into the record after
some opposition. He said the only
reason he could see for objection by
democrats was their belief that the
letters were 80 discrcditable to the
administration that they did not
want the country to see them"
Representative Mott, republican,
New York, introduced a resolution
asking that congress disapprove of
the attitude of the president toward
Mr.. Lansing, and to express its re-
gret OF his retirement and the feeling
that he had Fin no respect lacked
proper regard for and loyalty to the
president.
House Refuses Comment.
New York, Feb. l4.-Col. E. NJ. |
House, in a statement here, refused
to comment on the resignation Of I
Secretary Lansing, stating that
President Wilson and Mr.. Lansing
have been his friends and have
shown him much consideration and |
friendship" The statement follows:
Il do not care to make any COM
ment. since both have been my
friends. I have never had, dis
agreeable difference with either the
president or Mr.. Lansing during the |
many years we have worked to.
gether; both have shown me at all
times and in all circumstances much |
consideration and friendship"
The amherst Association of New |
York has adopted the following res !
elution, presented by former Gov
CtHOf w uiHlSH, WHICH was tetS-
graphed to Mr.. Lansing:
E Hon. Robert Lansing, Washing
ton, d. c.
, I'VE tender our affections to a
loyal son OF Alma Mater; our alb
solute confidence in his integrity and
in his patriotism; our pride in his
ability and his achievements"
Red6eld with Lansing.
THE cabinet meetings called by
Secretary Lansing were necessary,
If the nations business was to pro-
ceed regularly" former Secretary of
Commerce William c. Redfeld de-
Glazed in 4 statement tonight, in
which he expressed the belief that
"other causes" than the calling of
the cabinet sessions by Mr.. Lansing
LAY behind the presidents request
ior his resignation"
No Word of Disapproval.
"No word of disapproval of our
meetings ever came from the White
House to the best of my knowledge.
The cabinet gatherings were volun-
tary, informal and, to my mind, nee
essary, if the nations business was
to proceed regularly and with intel
ligent knowledge of progress made.
Il acceptmy share Of responsible
ity for what was done. My 'knowl-
edge is there was never the faintest
suggestion in word or spirit that the
cabinet members were trying to do
anything except help President Will
son during his illness as far as we
werA ahie"