The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-02-18

Wilson mood and temperament. cannot
but result, in Illuminating conclusions.
For instance: Did Secretary Lansing
call the first cabinet meeting alter
, pres!dcnt Wilson took sick? tlc ad-
mits he did. but at least one uf the
calls for cabinet meetng--l think II
was the trst-went out through the
medium Of the White House Offices. and
officials there could have stopped 1t lay
notifying tho president Of what was
happening. They did nothing Of the
kind.
What was the atmosphere and Situa-
ton when the first cabinet meeting was
called? Congress was restless. political
enemies OF the president were circulat-
ing stories that he was mentally unable
TO fulnl the duties Of the presidency
and were talking about constitutional
methods of getting 4 successor. News
papers were clamoring to know how the
government was funcNoning. II at all
Members OF the cabinet thought II was
up to them to do something to quiet
pubic alarm II was tho political and
loyal side OF tn" Wilson following try
ing TO meet public criticism in an a"k-
ward situation. The presidents friends
did not know how sick nc was. They
knew only that he needed rest ana
freedom from worry. If they Coulo
only give the appearance OF uninterruPt-
cd government, they felt they would ne
d
net meeting was held. II is true DR.:
Grayson came there AS tho cmlssary Of
tho president and made II clear that
Mr.. Wilson was curious and therefore
altogether plcaS with what was hap
pcning. He wanted ii understood that
no action could be legally taken on Il
question which the president Is autho-
rizcd to act upon by law: unless me
president himself approved; The cant
net took that as natural Limitation
upon them and understood perfectly
we'll what they could and could not do.
But il was decided for the sake OF APP
pcarances. as we'll as for the good that
might come out OF inter-dcpartmNntal
conference and consultation. to Continu"
the meetings Several OF them were
held. White House officials pointed Ia
them as proof that the government was
runct inning end that all was we'll win
the affairs or the republic. Suddenly
out Of clear sky comes letter from
President Wilson To- Secretary LANSING
asking him II Il was tru" thai cablnel
meetings had been hold. Nobody WINS
more surprised than IN" secretary OF
stale. He had had differences With III"
president and Ind been Intending TO
resign. hut he never dreamed that the
basis of his retirement would be IN"
calling "r cabinet meetings which had
been planned H. Il S"rviC" and not
dia-scrvicc. But Mr.. Lansing didnt
MAY the pnrt OF n little man. Ilo took
the r"5uk" politely and made his exit.
Hc could have involved other men ~
the Wilson administration VIII" had
urged him TO keep tho cabinet meetings
going. He could hay" involved nearly
everybody in the presidents Official
family. But. since II" was mad" The
goat no accepted his fate without n
whimpar trusting that tn" public might
acme day understand Did tn" presiden'
really remain unawar" until last week
of the fact that cabinet meetings were
h"ing hold in the "Necut:v" Offices n
few yards from his own sick room" Cir
cumstantial evidence would seem to
point to the ahsurdity Of such conClu-
sion. Tn" newspapers printed ref"r-
cnces 10 II again and again. ! rcm"m-
Der clearly that Attorney General Palm
or went to the White House before Il
certain momentOus cabinet meeting on
the coal strike. and after brief discus
sion with the president told the CORE
~n0nd"rt later that the government was
behind him and Mr.. Wilson approved Of
what had been done. The correspond
rnts recall that Mr.. Palmer said some
thing 10 them Of having informed the
president Of the cabinet situation. Rut
he may not have gone into detail con
corning greetings. The president may