Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-02-18
Washington Continues to Dis
cuss Resignation of Lansing.

Washington, Feb, 15.-SecrcJary
Lansing's enforced resignation con-
'tinues to hold the attention of offlcial
Washington and all the talk among
politicians, members of congress and
government officials continues to cen
ter about it. Gossip as to the probable
successor to the former secretary of
state is even subordinated to discus
sion of the sensational climax to tae
strained relations between President
Wilson and the former secretary o.
state which now are known to haI
been in existence more than yea.
Such terms as "crisis" in the cab
met are freely used, and in sense,
find color in the frank acknowlede :
ment of Secretary Lane that ne was
equally responsible for the meetings
to which the president obpected, but
the best information available indl-
Gates that there is no crisis, in tie
sense that more secretaries are likely
to resign; in fact, it has been stated
at the White House that no more
designations are expected as a result
of the incident.
Opinion in congress continues dl-
vided, with opponents of the peace
treaty supporting Mr.. Lansing's po-
sition and talking of some action to
determine how the executive business
of the government is being conducted
during President Wilson's illness
There is even cloak room talk or
some sort of legislation to specifically
define what constitutes the disability
of president, more clearly than IS
provided in the constitution. So far
it is all in the realm of talk; no men-
Der of congress has brought forward
any proposal for legislation.
The chief discussion seems to
range about whether President vii
son knew Of the cabinet meetings
which have been going on for three
months until he wrote his letter ask
ing for Mr.. Lansing's resignation.
Probably no one but the president
himself and three or four persons
most closely around him can answe"
such question specifically.
Persons who are we'll informed of
what has. been going on in lne inside
of the administration hold their be-
lief that the cabinet meetings We're
only an incident and that President
Wilson himself in one of his letters
to Mr.. Lansing referred to other and
more important reasons, when he
wrote that the cabinet meeting INCL
dent only strengthened feeling he
had had for some time and that for
some months he had found the sccre-
tary of state yielding to his decisions
with more and more reluctance.
The affair is expected to probably
come up in congress again tomorrow.
Mr.. Lansing meanwhile has d~nied
himself to all callers. 1t is understood
that he may spend short vacation in
Florida before going to his home IN
Watertown, N. Y.
Speculation as to Mr.. Lansing's sue
cessor continued to involve tie
names of Frank L. Polk, who yes
terday became secretary ad interim,
by virtue of his Office as counsellor Of
the state department; Secretary Of
War Baker, John w. Davis, ambassa-
dor to Great Britain and Hugh c.
Wallace, ambassador to France.
Although Mr.. Polk was among
those most often mentioned, there
was nothing to indicate any change
from his known determination to re-
turn to private life and the practice
of law. The speculation brought forth
the suggestion thar perhaps the pres
ident might transfer Mr.. Baker to
the state department, as he did re-
Gently in transferring David T. Hous-
ton from the department of agricui-
ture to the treasury department
Official intimation was given to-
hight that Mr.. Lansing's successor
might be appointed before the end
of the week, even though it was said
there was 'no hurry about it, rs Mr..
Polk can serve as secretary ad la"cl-
i'm for period of 80 days.
- W,ro