The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-02-20
SECRETARY OF STATE ADMITS
CALLING CABINET MEETINGS
WITHOUT AUTHORITY.
USURPED EXECUTIVE POWER
Real Reason Goes Back to Friction
During Peace Conference in 1914
Counsellor Frank L. Polk Will
Be Secretary Ad Interim

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
nss Of the cabinet during Mr. Will
sons illness
Mr.. Lansing denied that he had
sought or intended to usurp the presi-
Dental authority. He added however.
that he believed then and still believed
that the cabinet conferences were for
the best interests of the republic; that
they were proper and necessary" be-
cause of the presidents condition, and
that he would have been derelict in
his duty of he had failed to act as he
lid
As the record stands, Mr.. Lansing
offered his resignation and Mr.. Wilson
accepted it. The resignation was Of
fered, however. only after the presi-
dent, under date of February Z, had
written asking II IL were true that Mr..
Lansing had called cabinet meetings
and stating that If such were the case
he felt it necessary to say that under
our 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
later-Monday, the ninth-saying he
had called the cabinet conferences be-
cause 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
confer informally together on matters
as to which action could not be post
poned until your medical advisers per-
mitted you TO pass upon them"
The secretary concluded by saying
failed in his loyalty to him, and If Mr.
Wilson no longer had confidence in
him. he was ready to relieve you OF
any embarrassment by placing my res
ignation in your hands"
The president replied last Wednes-
day that he was much disappointed"
by Mr.. Lansing's letter regarding the
'so-called cabinet meetings" He Said
he found nothing in the secretary's
letter (which justifies your assump-
ton OF presidential authority in such
n matter" and adding that he must
frankly take advantage of your kind
suggestion" to resign.
81 must say" the president contin-
ued, that 1t would relieve me of en-
barrassment Mr. Secretary. the en-
barrass1nent of feeling your reluctance
and divergence of Judgment If you
would give up your present office and
afford me 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 preSf-
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 3. seven
days after Mr. Wilson returned from
his western speaking tour and took 10
his bed. They began ut the peace con
ference In Paris. as Mr. Lansing dis
closed in his final letter 10 the presi-
lent and had continued since that time
one of the chief differences being
over the governments attitude toward
Mexico.
When the cabinet met on October
), 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 in which more than one de-
partment was concerned. and also to
discuss the industrial conference"
He referred tn 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. VII
sons physician. was present and "sug-
gested that only urgent matters be