The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-02-19
LANSING QUITS
CABINET PLACE
At TER DISPUTE
Washington Aroused By Reeve
lation of Bad Blood Between
President and Secretary of
State,

r. rFesl0ent ana secretary OF
State,
Washington, Feb. 16.-Ofticial
Washington today was apparently be-
wildered by the sudden resignat ton of
Secretary of State Robert Lansing at
the request of President Wilson, who
charged his ranking cabinet officer
with trying to assume presidential
prerogatiyes.
Il Not since thesnow famo,.s reSigna-
ton of William j. Bryan, Lansing's
predecessor, on the eve of the sending
of a submarine note TO Germany has
a break in the presidents official fam
lily caused so much discussion.
Notice Sent Gut.
All foreign governments with
which the United States has rela-
tons We're notified by the state de-
partment today of this resignation Of
Secretary Lansing and the fact that
Under Secretary Frank l.. Polk is
acting secretary.
Talk of a congressional investiga-
ton att which the full story of the
president would be aired, possibility
of the resignation affecting the
League of Nations battle in the SEN
ate and the possibility of resignation
of other cabinet officers were some
OF the things discussed in private. ADJ
ministrative officials and congress
men. however, avoided any public ut
terance until they have had more
time to go into the resignation and
events leading up to it.
Announced Late Friday.
fle resignation of Lansing was an
nounced at the state department late
yesterday following an exchange of
letters which passed between Lansing
and Mischief.
In the course of these letters the
president charges that Lansing by
calling cabinet meetings during Will
sons illness was virtually trying to
assume presidential authority.
1t was pointed out that Wilson by
condemning the holding of cabinet
meetings during his illness could
disavow responsibility for the in
junction proceedings against the coal
strikers, policy which has been
widely condemned by labor.
This affair, Mr.. Secretary" the
president continues, only deepens a
feeling that was growing upon me.
While we were still in Paris l felt,
and have felt increasingly ever since
that you accepted by guidance and
direction on all questions with re-
gard to which / had to instruct you
OILY with increasing reluctance and
since my return to Washington |
have been struck by the number of
matters in which you have apparent
1y tried to forestall by judgment by
formulating action and merely ask
ing my approval when it was i'm
possible for me to form an indie
pendent judgment because l had not
had an opportunity TO examine the
circumstances with any degree Of in
dependence"
Started Week Ago.
The first letter sent by the presi-
dent to Lansing under date of Feb
ruary Z, asks the secretary if it was
true that during my illness you fire.
quently called heads of the executive
departments of the government into
conference" This right Wilson then
said rests with the president alone.
In reply to this letter Lansing said
tinues:
Shortly after you were taken i'll IN
October certain members of the cabi-
net, of which ! was one, felt that in
view of the fact that we were denied
communication with you it was wise
for us to confer informally together
on inter-departmental matters as to
which action could not be postponed
<3xyse- 4 tod
you to pass upon them. / can assure
you that it never for a moment en-
tered my mind that 1 was acting I'M
constitutionally or contrary to your
wishes and there certainly was no in
tention on my part to assume powers
and exercise functions which under
| the constitution are exclusively con-
fided to the president"
offered to Resign.
Lansing then offered to submit his
resignation.
| Wilson replied February II and
| charged Lansing with attempting to
| assume presidential powers and told
| him that he would take advantage"
| of his offer to resign.
| Lansing replied, submitting his res
/ ignation and said he had long been
| conscious of the fact that the presi-
| dent did not welcome his advice but
| felt it his duty to remain in the cab
met a t present.
Ever since January, 1919" Lansing
said, Il have been conscious of the
| fact that you were no longer disposed
| to welcome my advice in matters per-
| tanning to the negotiations in Paris, to
our foreign service or to the interna-
| tional affairs in general. Holding
| these views, / would, if I had con-
suited my personal inclination alone,
have resigned as secretary of state
and as a commissioner to negotiate
peace. l ught.@hoWeves. that such
step might have been misinter-
preted both at home and abroad and
that it was my duty to cause you no
embarrassment in carrying forward
the great task in which you were
then engaged"
. Lansing declared his belief that the
cabinet conferences We're held for the
best interests of the country and re-
plying to the presidents statement
that he tried to tforestall Wilson'S
Judgment at times he declared:
II have. it is true. when though,
case demanded immediate action
advised you what, in my opinion, thai
action should be taken, stating at the
/ same time the reasons on which my