El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-02-14
WILSON GUSTS
SEG'K DE- STATE

not 10 let European statesmen see a
split I'm the American administration.
When Mr. lansing probably saw and
conferred with the president in Paris
as much as any member OF the
American mission it was a natter q
remark that he saw him very little
Built in Dispute.
However. the incident which came
nearer causing a break than any
other. was the sensational testimony
perts attached 10 the American poace
mission, before the senate foreign re-
lations committee Built as VIII be
recalled. reading from a diary, quoted
secretary Lansing as having told MIN
he was out Of sympathy with the
league Of nations cOven ant and IS
predicting that the treaty would fail
IL the American People ever learned
OF its full import
Nj. Lansing. obviously In very
difficult position, did not repudi-
ate Bullif's statements, although n
was m0meutarfly expected in
Washington that he either would
reuuGiufe them or resign his Of
flee. President Wilson was n the
time on HIS speaking tour IN the
west. To say he was upset by
Hullltis story and his quotations
or the secretary Of state puts II
mildly. Officials In the presiden-
fiaI party who knew the workings
OF the presidents mind expected
10 see the secretaryis rsiEnat1on
asked for when the president re-
turned TO Washington These
same officials believe now that
the breakdown which sent the
president home n very sick nan
was the only thing which pre-
vented Il.
Business In writing.
Mr. Lansing. however. never saw
the president again. and did all his
business with the chief executive in
writing. The relations between the
men remained very much strained, and
then Mr.. LansinEs action in calling
the cabinet together brought them to
the breaking point
Those who were present at the
first cabinet meeting described a
rather tense and dramatic scene
Congress was fun Of rumors that the
president was SO disabled as TO be
constitutionally unable to discharge
the functions Of his Office There was
talk OF what mlght be done 70 place
vice president Marshall at the head Of
the government and how congress
might 90 about doing it. Nobody
knew the fun extent Of the presidents
Illness Il had not then become
known that Re had partially lost the
use OF his left arm and leg through
an accumulation OF blood ID one OF
the arteries IN his brain There were
even ugly rumors that the president
might not be in possession OF all his
faculties Some senator's were even
contemplating some action TO find
whether we have president or not"
as one OF their number put it
These ugly stories were, Of course.
an disposed OF and shown 10 be pure
and unfounded gossip by the later
develonrneuts. but they were being
circulated and widely credited last
November when the cabinet as
sembled for its first conference at
the call OF secretary Lansing
Supported by. Precedent.
The secretary OF state, Il should
be said, helie=ed he was sup
ported by precedent in calling
the cabinet together Looking
M the historical record he found
II had been done when president
Garfield lay III fer weeks after
having been shot by an assassin
and that IL had been done be-
fore that when president Taylor
had a long illness and ultimately
was succeeded ny vice president
Fillmore.
The Wilson cabinet assembled the
first day with a feeling OF apprehen-