Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1920-02-17
LANSING FIRED
BY PRESIDENT
SECRETARY OF STATE ADMITS
CALLING CABINET MEETINGS
WITHOUT AUTHORITY.
UsURPED EXECUTIVE POWER
Real Reason Goes Back to Friction
During Peace Conference in 1913
Counsellor Frank L. Polk Will
Be Secretary AID Interim

Washington, Feb 14-Robert Ian
Sing ended his career as secretary Of
state yesterday, after President VIII
son had accused him of usurplng the
powers Of president by calling meet
Ings of the cabinet during Mr.. viii
CONS Illness.
Mr.. Lansing denied that he had
sought or intended TO usurp the presi-
Genital authority. He added, however,
that he believed then and still believed
that the cabinet conferences were "for
Ehe best interests of the republic; that
they were 'proper and necessary" be-
sause Of the presidents condition, and
that he would have been derelict In
ais duty Of he had failed to act as he
AID
As the record stands Mr.. Lansing
eYfered his resignation and Mr.. Wilson
accepted Il, The resignation was Of
eered, however, only after the presi-
Gent, under date Of February Z, had
written asking If It were true that Mr.
Lansing had called cabinet meetings
and stating that If such were the case
he felt 1t necessary to say that "under
pur constitutional law and practice, as
developed hitherto, no one but the
president has the right to summon the
heads of the executive departments
Into conference"
Mr. Lansing answered two days
iater-Mond0y, the thanksgiving he
had called the cabinet conferences be-
fause he and others of the presidents
official family "felt that, in view of
the fact that we were denied commu-
nication with you, 1t was wise for us to
eonfer Informally together on matters
as to which action could not be post
poned until your medical advisers per
United you to pass upon them"
The secretary concluded by saying
that If the president believed he had
failed IN his loyalty to him, and il Mr..
Wilson no longer had confidence in
him, he was ready to "relieve you Of
any embarrassment by placing my res
lgnatIon In your hands,"
The president replied last Wednes-
day that he was much disappointed"
by MIR. Lansing's letter regarding the
"so-called cabinet meetings" He said
he found nothing in the secretary's
letter which iustifies your assump-
ton of presidential authority in such
a matter" and adding that he must
frankly take advantage of your kind
suggestion" to resign.
II must say" the president contIn-
ued, that Il would relieve me of EN-
barrassnent, Mr.. Secretary. the EN-
barrassment OF feeling your reluctance
and divergence of Judgment, If you
would give up your present office and |
AFFORD rae an opportunity to select |
someone else whose mind would more
willingly go along with mine"
Before this letter was written. the
day for the regular cabinet meeting
last Tuesday-had passed. and the cor !
respondence disclosed why the cabinet
did not meet. On the same day that |
he received this letter from the presi- |
dent, Mr., Lansing announced that he |
had written other cabinet officers that
he would not call any more cabinet
conferences for the present. but no |
explanation was offered. Inquiry at
the White House brought only the
statement that Mr.. Wilson himself |
probably would call and preside at the |
next session Of his official advisers.
But the differences between the pres |
ident and the secretary long predated |
the first cabinet call by Mr.. Lansing, !
which was issued last October 8, seven |
days after Mr.. Wilson returned from |
his western speaking tour and took 10 |
his bed They began at the peace con |
ference 10 Paris. as Mr.. Lansing dis
closed in HIS final letter to the presl- /
asnt and had continued since that time
one Of the chief differences being
over the governments attitude toward |
Mexico
When the cabinet met on October
s, Joseph Tumulty. private secretary
to the president. issued formal
statement explaining the reasons for
the conference. He said:
The cabinet was called to consider
questions Ga which more than one de-
partment was concerned, and also to
discuss the industrial conference"
He referred to the first conference
called by the president with the hope
Of allaying industrial unrest.
In his statement Mr. Tumulty said
that Rear Admiral Grayson, Mr.. VIII
sons physician. was present and "sug-
gested that only urgent matters be