The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-02-20
LANSING FORCED
OUT BY WILSON
President Accuses Him OF
Usurping His Authority
L ON OUT OF HARMONY
Relations Became Strained At Peace
Conference - Secretary Refused
Audience During His Chiefs
4e illness.

5r-. Illness.
washington. Robert Lansing, Sec
Rotary Of State for more than three
years and member of the American
Peace Commission, virtually has been
removed from office by President VIII
son Tor assuming to exercise one OF
the functions of the Presidency dur
ing the period Of Mr.. Wilson'S Illness.
This was disclosed when Mr..
Lansing, not the President, made
public correspondence between the
two high officials showing that the
President was exceedingly displeased
over the fact that Mr.. Lansing had
presumed through his prerogatives as
ranking member of the Cabinet to call
the members of that body into con-
ference. 49,
Upon being made acquainted with
the Presidents displeasure Mr.. Lans-
ing fastened to tender his resignation,
and the President, replying, lost no
time in accepting it.
In the course of this exchange the
President complained bitterly that
Mr. Lansing had not only overstepped
his authority in assembling the Cab
met but that he had presumed to act
In important matters upon his own
judgment.
To this Mr.. Lansing retorted that,
having been denied communication
with the President since the. latter's
illness and having been denied the
Presidents confidence for many
months before that illness began, the
only course left open to him to follow
was one of independent action and
judgment.
Realizing, the Secretary added, that
his relationship with the President
was one of apparent, If not actual,
estrangement, he had made up his
mind during the period of the Peace
Conference to quit the Cabinet. but
had remained out of sense of loyalty.
He said, further, that he had about
made up his mind to resign when the
Presidents illness came and that once
more he allowed his loyalty to the Ad-
ministration and to the Government to
deter him In quitting his position at
last, the Secretary said that he did it
with profound sense of relief"
The announcement of Mr.. Lansing's
retirement from the premiership of the
Cabinet is the elimination of one of
the most amazing series of events in
volving official relationships in the his
tory of the country. Other Presidents
have called for the designations of their
department heads. Lincoln asked
Montgomery Blair to resign. Belknap
was forced out of Cabinet after rev.
Citations of administration. Bal
linger was asked to resign and many
other instances of the sort are easy to
recall. M
Discord Generally Known.
But there is. no parallel for such a
circumstance as just came to light
Here is the case of President and
his Secretary of State at the conclu-
sion of war and in a period of peace
making and international readjust-
ment, not merely out of harmony but
actually enduring relationship of
friction. Much of. this discord has
been known in a general way, it is
true; more of it had been suspected,
but it had not occurred TO anybody in
Washington not actually of the inner
circle itself that such a climax as has
come was to be apprehended. &
Mr. Lansing's resignation became
effective. Immediately. There was
some suggestion in his tender that it
take effect at the Convenience" of
the Presidents polite phrase-but
this is waived aside by Mr.. Wilson,
who announced that the Office had be-
come vacant at once.
Frank L. Polk, Undersecretary of
State. will be made secretary ad In
term to act until President Wilson ap-
points a successor to Mr.. Lansing.
This is expected to be in the very near
future.