The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-02-24
SEE REVENGE FOR
"NCAPACITY" TALK
,,,,, CON ENRAGED BY THE SUG-
cEsTIoN OF DISABILITY is
sUBsURFACE TALK AMONG
WASHINGTON LEADERS.

WASHINGTON.-If the bulk of
,nirion in congress on the subject
:. 70 be accepted as sound, President
wilson's action in virtually dismiss
;ro Robert Lansing, his secretary of
state has precipitated crisis in the
government of the United States.
Most senator's and representatives
obtained their first intimatlon of Mr..
Tonsing's retirement from the morn
NO NO. newspapers. Their comment
shaved that the reaction was over
wbelmingly in Mr.. Lansiug's favor.
information obtained in well in
formed quarters went to show that
the foundation for the ultimate re-
t;rement of Mr.. Lansing was laid
when the testimony of William c..
Rnllitt before the senate committee
on foreign relations was published.
The resignation of Mr.. Lansing
from the cabinet was considered to
he inevitable. But officials of the
Government are as much amazed as
Senator's and representatives that the
president should practically have
called upon Mr.. Lansing to resign
for the reason that he had attempted
to exercise functions vested in the
president.
Incapacity Talk Recalled.
The under-the-surface discussion
of the incident, the sort which goes
nm between officials and is not in
tended for publication, connects at
least the first of cabine5 meetings
last October with the speculation
which was going on at the time as
TO whether Vice President Marshall
ought to be called on to take over the
duties of the presidency. While 1t
is known that the subject never came
up actually at a meeting Of the cabl-
net officers, it is also known that 1t
was discussed privately and that
some of the reports that were taken
to the president included Secretary
Lansing's name among those who
were discussing that probability.
How much this part of the incident
had to do with the outcome can only
be left to speculation.
No plan of procedure has been ad-
vanced to bring forward as subject
of legislative discussion the largely
prevailing opinion that government
affairs are at SKIES and sevens, nor Is
it likely that any such plan is under
consideration.
Debate Looms Near.
That the president acted within
his rights in calling for the resigna-
ton of the secretary of state IS ad-
mitted by constitutional authorities
in congress. At the same time the
was put forward that dur
ing the debate on the peace treaty
nr when the nomination of Mr.. Lans-
inq's successor in under discussion
in the senate, the dismissal Of the sec
rotary of state may be brought for
ward with a view to calling attention
to a state of affairs which many sena-
tors and representatives would like
to see remedied.
The expressions given for publ
cation by members of senate and
house concerning the circumstances
of Mr.. Lansing's retirement were
cautious and restricted for the most
part. They ranged from the nom
committal nothing to say" in which
administration followers found re-
fuge, to open criticism on the part
of certain outspoken senators.
Only one democratic senator, King
of Utah, sided with the president in
his dismissal of Mr.. Lansing. Else
where in congressional circles amaze
ment was expressed, not over the
enforced resignation Of Mr.. Lansing,
but over the reason given by the
president for feeling offended with
the senior member of his cabinet.
Cabinet With Lansing.
Whether other cabinet officers will
retire because they feel that they are
equally responsible with Mr.. Lansing
for holding cabinet meetings was
much discussed in Washington. The
cabinet meetings called by Secretary
Lansing were necessary if the ma
TONS business was to proceed regu-
larly," former Secretary of Com