The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-02-17
LANSING QUITS
WILSON'S CABINET
MUTUAL DISSATISFACTION is
REVEALED. CALLING CABI-
NET TO CONFERENCES FATAL
OFFENSE OF SECRETARY.

Observation-Disclosures Lansing
ended his career as Secretary OF
State today after President Wilson
had accused him of usurping the
powers of president by calling meet
ings of the cabinet during Mr.. Will
sons illness.
Mr.. Lansing denied that he had
sought or intended to usurp the
presidential authority. He added,
however, that he believed then and
still believes that the cabinet con-
ferences were "for the best interests
of the republic; that they were
proper and necessary" because OF
the presidents condition and that he
would have been derelict in his duty
if he had failed to act as he did.
AS the record stands Mr.. Lans-
ing rendered his resignation and Mr.
Wilson accepted it. The resignation
was offered, however, only after the
president, under date of February
I. had written asking if it were true
that Mr.. Lansing had called cabi-
net meetings and stating that if such
were the case he felt it necessary to
say that "under our constitutional
law and practice, as developed nth
erto, no one but the president had the
right to summon the heads of the ex-
ecutive departments into confer
ence."
Secretary Lane declared today
that he considered himself 'just as
much responsible" as Secretary Lans-
ing for the calling of cabinet meet
ings held during the presidents ILL
ness. Other members of the cabinet
also approved of the meetings.
Wilson Welcomes Resignation.
Mr.. Lansing answered two days
later, saying he had called the cabi-
net conferences because he and 9TH
ers of the presidents official family
"felt that, in view of the fact that
we were denied communication with
YOU, it was wise for us to confer in
formally together on matters as to
which action could not be postponed
until your medical advisers permit
ed you to pass upon them"
The secretary concluded by say
ing that if the president believed he
had failed in his "loyalty' to him
and if Mr.. Wilson no longer had con-
fidence in him he was ready to ire
lieve you of any embarrassment by
placing my resignation IN your
hands"
The president replied that he was
much disappointed" by Mr.. Lans-
ing's letter regarding "the social
ed cabinet meetings" He said he
found nothing in the secretary's let
ter (which justifes your assumption
of presidential authority in such a
matter" and added that he "must
frankly take advantage of your kind
suggestion" to resign.
81 must say" continued the presl--
dent, chat it would relieve me OF
embarrassment Mr.. Secretary, the
embarrassment of feeling your re-
/ luctance and divergence of judgment
: if YOU would give up your present
office and afford me an opportunity
, to select some one else whose mind
would more willingly go along with
mine"
Differences Begin in Paris.
But the differences between the
president long pre-dated the first
cabinet call by Mr.. Lansing, which
was issued last October S, seven days
after Mr.. Wilson returned from his
western speaking tour and took to
his bed. They began at the peace
conference in Paris, as Mr.. Lansing
disclosed in his final letter to the
president, under date of yesterday,
and had continued since that time
one of the chief differences being
over the governments attitude to-
ward Mexico.
Mr. Lansing in his final letter to
the president said that Sin thus sew
ering our official association" he felt
that he should make public state
ment he had prepared recently show
ing that he had mot been unmlnd-
full that the continuance of our
, present relations was impossible" and
, that it was his duty to bring them
! to an end Eat the earliest moment
! compatible with the public interest"
, Lansing Glad to Get Out.
ever since January, 1919" Mr..
: Lansing continued, 81 have been
: conscious of the fact that you were
/ no longer disposed to welcome my ad-
i vice in matter pertaining to the ne
= gotiations at Paris, or our foreign
! service, or to international affairs in
= general"
: He added that had he followed his
r personal inclination he would have
A resigned while in Paris, but that he
= had refrained, because he felt it his
: duty to "cause you no embarrass-
7 ment in carrying forward the great
; task in which you were then engag-
. ed"
During the presidents illness the
Mexican issue again came to the
front with the kidnapping and subse-
uuent arrest of American Consular
Agent jenkins in Mexico. After the
, jenkins case had been discussed at
i cabinet meetings presided over by
! Mr.. Lansing the state department
sent a notice to Carranza bluntly
warning him that further ''molesta-
| ton" of jenkins would seriously
i affect the relations between the Unit
ed States and Mexico, for which the
, government of Mexico must assume
. sole responsibility" The president
did apnroye of Mr.. Lansing's course