Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-15
Secretary Lansine.s Resignation

THE Presidents letter accusing Secretary
Lansing Of usurping the powers or Prcsi-
dent by calling meetings OF the Cabinet dur
ing the chief executives illness. which ac-
cnsation preciptated tho offering and ac-
ceptance OF the sccretarys resignation does
grave injustice to ono OF the most faithful
advisers OF the Presidents official family,
ana. II we mistake not, will be generally
construed By the public as the exhibition, OF.
regrettable spirit OF ingratitudc
ihe accusation lodged against the secre-
tary may not be accepted by the public AS
the real motive back OF the incident The
real motive. perhaps, is to be found in the
divergent views OF the President and his see
rotary respecting american foreign policy
fhe President is cmphatic;illy what in sub
stance. he described himsclf 10 he n man
win singlc-track mind leading straight to
definitely conceived purpose. and impa tienr
OF any dissent from the methods by which
ne would achieve that purpose. In respect
TO our tuture foreign relations, his definite
program was compreLendcG in the league OF
nations plan which he was chiefly nstru-
mental III negotiating and TO the acceptaucc
81 "hIch by this country written he has
bent al OF his energies both physical and
mental With this program in its IulneSs
NE Lansing has not whole heartedly CON
cnfreu, but with becoming loyalty after
presenting his views. hiss uniformly deferred
10 Ills chief, 0nu Zealolisly lent his efforts 10
sardless OF the embarrussments TO which il
subjected him i'll the conduct Of our foreign
affairs.
NJ. Lansnss reply TO the charge OF III.
terror motive 'in calling the members OF the
eaDinct together 10 confer informally on i'll
tcfuepartmcntal matters and matters as TO
watch action could not be postponed until
the Presidents medical advisers permitted
th2ir Patient to pass upon them. is abso-
i"'e!! convincing in its justification OF the
course pursued course which was urged
upon MI Lansing ranking member Of the
oanlhet by his associate heads OF depart-
menus, Without thought or intention of as
sumiIis powers and exercising functions
"hlch under the Constitutions are cxc,u
5iNeiE conided TO the President On The
contrary, as Mr. Lansing says. these heads
o. departments faced many difficult and yex,-
nous questions. which had suddenly arisen
aud being deprived OF the Presidents ruid
ancc and direction. failure IN srannIo Sit,
.hem Ill conformity with their understand
ING OF the Presidents policies would hive
meant Sinking OF official RESPONSIBILITIES Y
ana might have resulted disastrouslv TO the
public welfare
The resignation of Secretary LANSING
'inHer the attendant circumstances is one OF
me most regrettable incidents connected wifi
the Presidents administration, for in his nub
ZIG service he embodied IA fidelity to Demo-
era.ic principles and American ideals which
nave Won marked public commentator and
framed for him the reputation OF being ono
% inc Presidents sa fest and sancst advisers.
re mas represented in his service as q Cabi-
nc member the very best OF Democracy +bo+
mas persisted in the administration of Presi-
acnt wilson during his changing states OF
mind toward public issues-whethcr CON
strned as progressive or retrogrcssiye-and
MS retirement from the Cabinet under an
accusation which made it so cminently
Aoft
the fortunes OF the Democratic marty in thu
coming campaign. The action Mr. Lansing
mas taken will strengthen the couutry's esti-
mate OF the sterling Amcricanism which has
been distinguishing feature of his admin
1stration OF tho office he has just relinouishcd