New-York tribune., 1920-02-15

ABOUT IT., not a word OF criticism Of
the Cabinet for holding meetings, no,
of Secretary Lansing for calling them
had been heard in Washington until
the Presidents letter raised the point
last night. Criticism Of Mr. Tumulty
ior 'usurpins" Presidential func. us
Aas been voiced both publicly and
privately. Senator sherman referred
10 1t as q regency during q speech
some weeks ago. But the President
himself was the first to criticise the
holding of Cabinet meetings without
his presence.
There is no sign that any action
may be taken by Congress. No action
was taken when the, President was In
worse shape than he is now, and Re-
publican leaders have no thought of
taking any step having the faintest
resemblance to an attempted demon
strat'on that the President is incapaci-
tated.
Congress can do nothing except to
inform itself as to how The foreign
Senator Knox.
Speculation as to a Successor
Speculation on Mr.. Lansing's sue
cessor largely revolved round the
names of John W. Davis, of West Vir-
ginia, now Ambassador to Great Brit
ain, and reported on his way home, and
Secretary of War Newton D.. Baker
The name Of Senator Hitchcock, who
has been leading the Presidents treaty
fight in the Senate, was also men
toned by some, taking the view that
the President would at least be sure
pathy with him on this dearest of all
subjects to his heart. Mr.. Hitchcock,
it is pointed out, has also shown
willingness to follow the President to
ATTY lengths, which fills the qualifca-
tion Of "some one whose mind would
more willingly go along with mine"
Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Baker, however,
are being more talked about. Mr.
Davis was solicitor general in the De-
partment of Justice prior to his ap-
pointment as Ambassador to Great
of the House of representatives. from
West Virginia. He is regarded as a
very able man and has been much
spoken of lately by Democrats as a
, possibility for the Democratic nomi-
nation for the Presidency.
Mr.. Baker, OF. the other hand, has
been regarded as the "favorite child"
in the Presidents official family. The
President once said Bakers mind
WOihCu IKE Chilli liRUCUluH. Tie
thinks in sympathy with the President
on most questions. On several occa-
sions during the war the President
walked down the corridors of the State,
War and Navy Building passed the
door of Mr. Lansing without turning
in, and had talk with MIR. Baker In
addition, the President has shown
belief in shifting within the Cabinet by
moving MIR. Houston from the Agricul-
ture to the Treasury Department.
Discussion of Wilson Illness
This is all on the assumption, of
course, that the Presidents irritation
about the Cabinet meetings will not ex-
tend to Mr.. Baker as we'll as to MIR.
Lansing, which is not regarded as
probable.
There was much interest to-day in
the reported discussion in the first
meeting of the Cabinet during the
Presidents illness over the question
the Presidents capacity to ect and
the necessity for putting Vice-Presi-
dent Marshall in as President That
such a discussion occurred has been
rather generally accepted for some
time, though as no action grew out Of
it interest in it had entirely dropped
until the Presidents sharp criticism
O the Cabinet meetings brought. it to
the front. According to the report, Mr..
Lansing was the first to voice the sug-
gestion that perhaps something should
be done in view of the Presidents in
capacity.
The belief to-day is that probably
this story reached the Presidents ears,
and it is thought this would entirely
exnlain his resentment against what
had generally been regarded by both
officials and Congress as at least harm
los sol ! not rofc al y;
The Presidents letter to Mr. Lansing
disclosed that hi: feeling against the
Secretary began to develop while both
were in Paris, as members of the Amer-
can peace mission. This feeling was
quite apparent to representatives of
foreign governments, it was said by au-
thorities here to-day. The ignoring of
Mr.. Lansing by the President was so
noticeable that the foreigners, regard
mere assistants to the President, fol-
lowed his example and themselves
snubbed Mr.. Lansing a little. For in
stance, on one occasion, Mr.. Balfour. of
the British mission, gave a dinner to the
Prime Ministers of all the countries
represented. But in the case of the
United States, instead of inviting Mr..
Lansing, he invited Colonel f. NJ House,
who had no official status save as a COM
missioner.
Nj. Lansing, with Henry White,
signed the letter of protest against the
Shantung settlement written by Gen
eral Bliss, which it is thought irritated
the President tremendously, though he
ignored it. An evidence of the Pres-
dents feeling about this was discerni-
bic during the visit of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee to the White
House in it's hearings on the peace
treaty.
Called Treaty Dad"
The President was reminded of Sec
retary Lansing's testimony before the
committee of his belief that the Jap
anese wopld have signed the treaty
and come into the league of nations
without being given the Shantung
award The President was said by
Senators AT the time to have colored up
and displayed more feeling than most
OF them had ever seen him display, as
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