Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-02-15
THE LANSING RESIGNATION.

The president has asked for and
received the resignation of Secre-
; tary Lansing, mainly upon the de-
cIared objection that the secretary
has in the last few months some
times called cabinet members to-
gether to have informal consulta-
: tions.
The president holds that such
assembling was an unconstitutional
assumption of a right that none
hut he can exercise. The secre-
tary, recognized authority on
constitutional questions and law
says that there was no Intentional
violation, if any, and that the meet
ings were informal and approved
by all the cabinet for needed con-
situations on urgent business, with
view TO submitting questions to
the executive, or, acting as far as
proper when his illness prevented
communication with him.
The severance of relations be-
tween the secretary of state and
President Wilson has long been ex-
pected, for it was known that IN
Paris the opinions of the secretary
were not sought by the president
in main issues, though no open rup-
ture occurred. Nor was the secre-
tary left there to conclude business,
but was called home and Assistant
Secretary Polk advanced for that
duty
1t was generally understood that
Lansing remained in office at that
time only in order not to seem to
desert the president, when resig-
nation would be construed as oppo-
sition to the measure the executive
had most at heart, the league of
nations covenant. Had the senate
ratified, or permanently disposed
of the treaty, Lansing would have
stepped out voluntarily, or by re-
quest without doubt. Probably he
would have done so anyway had
not the president unfortunately be-
come unable to attend to public
business. to a great extent The
secretary didNnot air his opposition
to views of the president. although
they ceased to coincide in Paris,
but was reticent even when under
Questioning by a senate committee,
when another one of the Paris at
istachcs disclosed the fact that the
secretary had not functiOned as
adviser at the league conference,
q and disapproved of the Shantung
concession to Japan,
Setting aside the personal atti-
r-tude of both the president and the
secretary, each of whom is able
and sincere in desire to do that
which he deems right and best, it
Is very unfortunate for the country
that illness of an official for a con-
-tinued period in times of great inn
port must cause vital matters to
wait for a long time. There
ought to be some method by which
the vice president, or some official
directly responsible to the presi-
dent for office, can temporarily
have authority TO act in emergen-
cies when the cabinet cannot meet
the president or get his views first
hand. The cabinet should have
some power under such circum-
stances, and a head to the body to
exercise needed authority, tenn
porarily.
= Some or all of the present cabi-
net officials have been for a long
time excluded from the presence
-,of the chief, Lansing not having
seen him since Mr.. Wilson became
III, and were up in the air, so to-
.sspeak, needing to have his guild
ance and be in personal touch, or
: else 20 ahead with much new and
old business upon their individual
or composite judgment.
If they trespassed upon constitu-
tional prerogatives of the executive
they did so technically and not
with intent to usurp, and under
necessity of action for the public
welfare. Doubtless they passed up
s to him such questions as a physi-
clan permitted. The interests of
the nation have probably suffered
more from what the cabinet did not
70 than from aught done under
lack of direction.
z. 1t is conceivable that sometime
a president may be mentally dis
aualified permanently and still his
close associates of the sick room
and physicians may exercise their
own will and judgment by influ-
encing the sufferer to pursue poll
cies and acts of far reaching con-
Sequence. History shows that kings
have been hoodwinked or misled,
absolutely controlled by some sin
lister influence when unbalanced or
weak from illness.
There is not the slightest doubt
that President Wilson is mentally
strong. but there was a period
when the people feared that he
was partially disqualified, or likely
to be so, and there was more or
less lack of confidence in the re-
ports of those allowed to see him.
Had he been incompetent it might
have been long before those most
Interested would have given up
hope of recovery and admitted that
the president could not act intelli-
gently. or that some executive
should displace him temporarily or
permanently Then the country
might in the interim have been
governed IN large measure by
The decisions Of a mere secretary
to The president. who could secure