Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-14

policy mas never peen tuHy rcNeaoas
but officials who sympathlre with Mt.
Lansing say II WIS great deal.
Differed on Mexican Policy.
Generally II has been believed In
official circles that the sharp notes
which Mr.. Lansing sent to CarranZa
In connection win the Jenkins case
are what the president refcrred to
In hts letter TO tho secretary whom
he spoke Of tho secvcfary Of state
having taken action 10 forestail his
judgment, II IN known that Henry
p Fletcher, former Ambassador 10
Mexico who recently remgned. wrote
n letter 10 tho president in which he
cxcorfatcd the adfninlstrotlon's Mex
lean policy. and the general belief Is
that Mr., Lansing and Mr.. Fletcher
aSrssd pretty generally. Mr.. Fietch-
ers lettor Of resignation has never
been given out, but aside from his
difficulties with the president IL has
BEEN common knowledge that Mr.,
Lansing has not been On good terms
with Secretary Tunulty, and from
time % time there have been reports
of friction with Secretaries Baker
and Daniels. IN the senate foreign
relations committee. where Mr.. Ian.
sing was In frequent touch with SEN
ators. he IS regarded as trained
diplomat
Due to Friction.
As the result OF increasing dLscord
and an immediate alteration Presi-
dent Wilson has forced the reslsna-
tion OF Secretary OF State Lansing
from his cabinet.
Ostensibly, on the charge thar Mr.,
Lansing has usurped unconstitution-
ally the presidential prerogatiye in
holding cabinet meetings during Mr..
Wilson's illness, but actually because
Of Mr.. Lansing's disapproval OF Mr..
Wilson's foreign policies and peace
negotiations, the president virtually
called for the secretary's resignation.
Lansing Accepts Hint.
Mr. Lansing, who mas desired TO
retire ever since last July. because
OF his loss Of sympathy with tho
pres!dsnts policies. but mad withheld
consideration for Mr.. Wilson. I'M
mediAteiy complied with the nlns
from the White House to relinqush
his portfolio at once.
Announcement OF the action OF tho
secretary. which created a sensation
In the capital and opened up possi-
bilities OF new complications IN the
presidents fght with the senate over
the treaty. was made early this eve
ming by the state department.
Takes Effect at Once
Secretary OF State Lanslps has re-
sisned aud his res.gnation has been
accepted. taking enoct today, wa
the oriei announcement.
Then followed copies = the cor
rcspona once exchanged between the
| president and Air. LANSING duriuS
rs.c .ssi six dsss on the sub.sesh al
theft differences.
ITent on ,aa correspondence ap-
pears on page two OF this Issue
Lditor.I
Blow stuns Lansing.
II ia learned that 1ltno Mr.. Ian
sins had long oecn determined TO re-
sign as soon rs he could do 80 with
out efn:arrassing the president the
secretar, was dumfounded by Mr.
Wilson's letter suggesting that ne
,ad been hoidins presidential au-
,hority In holding cabinet meetings
| during the Illness of the executive
AR. Lansing had convened the
cabinet with tho approval OF It's other
msmbers, OF Secretary Tumulty. ana
| of DIR. Grayson at time when II
| aeemed that II would be Impossible
| to carry on the administration be-
csuse of the inability OF the presi-
dent to perform his statutory funo-
lions. Mr.. Lansing had also been
given satisfactory r.ason to believe
that these informal meetings OF the
cabinet had the approval OF the
president.
Absence Caused Trouble.
The presbaent has been III more
than four months, unable thruout all
OF that time to attend cabinet
meeting. For more than two months
be was unable to transact any public
business mt all, and In that time the
coal strike and other crises made II
flor executive action were devised II
would be necessary to call the vice
president to the executive office.
Mr.. Marshall was unwilling to as
sumo the office of president even
temporarily without the request OF Mr..
Wilson and at last the device OF hold
Ing Informal cabinet meetings at the
call OF Mr.. Lansing was adopted az
way out Of the predlcanent The
vice president presided at the first
two or three meetings.
Whole Cabinet Involved.
The presidents charges Of usurping
presidential authority, unprecedented
| In American history, Mr.. Lansing
70 scorn.zcd as involving not only him
self, but the other members Of the
cabinet and other high officials OF
the administration, and In his reply
on Feb. 8 he informed Mr.. Wilson he
had called tho department heads In
to session because OF tho bolief OF
himself ana some OF his colleague,
that there were matters upon which
action could not be postponed until
the executive could be consulted.
Tho secretary said II never occur.
red TO him that In calling the meet
ings ne was acting unconstitutional
y or contrary to the presidents
wishes, and that he never had any
intention OF usurpine presidential au-
thsrfty. -
| He reminded the president Of hi,
sndsavors 10 carry out his polices dc.
spfts ths inability TO consult him, but
sAslsd that * Mr.. Wilson thought hc