El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-02-17
WILSON BREAK
NOT SURPRISING

by law. unless the president himself
approved The cabinet took that as q
natural limitation upon them and un-
derstood perfectly wen what they
could and could not do. But il was de-
cided for the sake Of appearance as
well as for the good that might come
out Of interdepartmental conference
and consultation 70 continue the
meetings. Several Of them were held
while high officials pointed TO them
as proof that the government was
functioning and that all was wen
with the affairs Of the republic.
Lansing Taken by Surprise
Suddenly, out OF a clear sky, comes
a letter from president Wilson 20
secretary Lansing asking him IL i
was true that cabinet meetings had
been held Nobody was more sur
prised than the secretary OF state. He
and had been intending 10 resign. but
he never dreamed that the basis OF his
retirement would be the calling Of
cabinet meetings, which had been
planned as a service and not a dis
service
But Mr. Lansing did nos play
the part OF n little man. He took
the rebuize politely and made his
exit He could have involved
other men in the Wilson admin
istruflou WhO had urged 70 keep
the cabinet meetings going He
could have involved nearly ev-
erybOdy IN the presidents Of
fetal family. but since he was
the goat he accepted his fate
without Whimuer, trusting
that the public might some day
understand.
Did the president really remain un-
aware until last week OF the fact that
cabinet meetings were being held in
the executive offices a few yards from
his own sick rOom2 Circumstautfal
e. fHnH naf
absurdily Of such a conclusion The
newspapers printed references TO it z
again and again I remember clearly
that attorney general Palmer went
TO the white house before the mo-
mentous CABINET meeting on the coal
strike and after a brief discussion
with the president told the CORE
spondents later that the government
was behind him and Mr. Wilson ap-
proved Of what had been done. The
correspondents recall that Mr.. Pal
mer said something TO them OF hav-
ing informed the president OF the
cabinet situation But he may not
have gone into details concerning
got the impression that the attorney
general was consulting his colleagues
in an informal way.
Another Possible Explanation.
1t is within the range Of possibility I
that while Mr. Wilson did know Z
ABOUT them In the newspapers and Z
did regard as interdepartmental con I
situations he may have fallen back Z
on fine distinctions In the use Of
words and failed TO regard them as !
cabinet meetings"
Nor did he concern himself about I
them probably until some one told /.
hin \ they were not informal get
together functions but formal ses-
sious and that at one OF these ses-i
aH
raised as 70 whether or not the cab 4
met should ask the vice president 20 Z
come and take the place OF the presi- /
dent
Nay be sIF- Wilson did not learn OF
the latter fact until last week Cos
sip like that does not always travel /
tast but when IL did reach Mr. Wiz
on ne gave vent 10 a rent-uD dissat-
istaclou with Mr. Lansing's views on i
the peace treaty and a deep resent
ment at what he considered a desire
- cepose the president OF the United
States.
I personally prefer 10 believe thai
the president was, for the most part.
kept IN ignorance Of what had been Z
going on around him and that those
OF his friends who have endeavored d
70 create the impression that he did
know what was happening in the out
side world said so merely as political !
strategy, one Of those unfortunate
phases OF political lie In America-
which regards sincerity and frank
ness as secondary to the machiave1-
liam philosophy that in politics the
end justifies the means Every presi-
dent has an outer armor which pro-
tects him from accusations and at the
same vine guards him against mis-
take The tragedy OF the presidents
fit offtemper is trat nobody dared TO
say nm nay; nobody let him on 20
the fact that the country had been
acceptinH the cabinet meetings as Of
his sanclton--Copyright. 1920. The
Fl Paso Herald d