The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-01-02
WILSON STRUCTURE
IOTTER|MC TOWARD
CERTAIN OBLIVION
DISAFFECTION OF STRONGEST
ADMINISTRATIVE PROPS IS
REGARDED AS SURE POTENT
OF IMPENDING DISASTER.


Washington, Dec. 3l.-Although i
is widely recognized in Washington
that the bricks are rapidly droppin,
ont OF the tottering structure Of tn,
Wilson administration, the fact tina
Secretary of the Interior Lane is &c
go has caused more than usual com
ment.
1t accentuatcs the fact that the ad
ministration is drifting weakly from
bad to worse, that the stronger offic
ials are quitting it, that democrat.
OF prominence see the hand writing
OF defeat next year for their party ano
that there are marked internal dis
sensions in administration circles. The
Wilson policies, II is more clear thar
ever, have not had the support OF
sympathy of the men about him most
com~etcnt to judge of them.
With news of the forthcoming re-
tirement of Mr.. Lane, the prospective
resignation of Secretary Lansing is
once more figuring in the dispatches
from Washington.
Made Deep Impression.
One does not have to go to repub-
licans these days to hear the Lane
resignation talked about with enter
tanning and enlightening freedom. A
dispatch from Washington in the Bal
timore Sun, leading administration
paper, is engagingly frank. 1t says:
Announcement by Franklin F.
Lane, secretary of the interior, of his
intention to resign from the cabinet
has made profound impression in
Washington.
While compelling reason is one
of financial consideration, it is never
theless recognized that at the bottom
OF Mr.. Lanes action lies strong
protest, against some of the policies
recently adopted by the administra-
ton and to unpleasantnesses that have
developed in the cabinet during the
presidents illness.
Close friends of the secretary de-
clare that he strongly resented the
course OF the government in dealing
with the coal strike and feels that the
settlement effected by Attorney Cen
eral Palmer involves sacrifice of
principle. 1t is stated that Mr.. Lane
strongly upheld the Garfield propos
ition on the ground that it offered the
could bring to an end the constant in
only plan whereby the government
creases in the wages Of employees and
the prices to consumers.
Friction in Cabinet.
1T is declared that in recent weeks
there has been decided division in
the cabinet on this and other ques,
tons, with Secretary Lane heading
one group and Secretary of the Navy
Daniels and Secretary of War Baker
the other.
Democrats in Washington consid-
er the decisions of Mr.. Lane as a ser
ious blow to the administration. Re-
garded as one of the ablcst and best
equipped members of the cabinet, his
career in the administration has been
such as to inpsire widespread conf
dence. But for the fact tht he is a
canadian by birth, and therefore de-
barred by the constitution from being
candidate for president, he would
undoubtedly be in the front OF
those mentioned for the Democratic
nomination.
Influence Waned
AT one time Mr.. Lane was re-
garded as one of the closest advisers
OF the president in matters of public
Poiicy Always aggressive, he was
U"n ~ navy uiSCQ the entry OF the
United States into the war against
Germany from the day when the Lus,
itania was sunk. He was constantly
At odds with former secretary of state
Bryan on this score, and since then
his influence in the administration has
more or less waned.
His differences with secretary Ba,
ker and Secretary Daniels grew out OF
the actions. OF the heads of the war
and navy departments in repudiatins
at the outset of the war OF an arru-
ment which Mr.. Lape, on behalf o,
the government and through the med
lum OF the coal committee Of the coun-
Gil OF national defense, had made with
the coal operators to sell their ourpm
to the government and to the war in,
dustries at fixed price at the mines
OF - a ton. Both Mr. Baker and
Mr.. Daniels refused to pay this prfc,
for war and navy department orders
and the president then created the fuel
administration to fix prices"