The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-15
LANSING CASE
WIDELY TALKED
Three Names Are Suggested as
Possible Successors to
Secretary of State.
LAW is DISCUSSED
Chairman of House Foreign Af-
fairs Committee Believes
President Was Wrong.

Washington, Feb IA. - Frank L.
Polk, under secretary state; John w.
Davis, ambassador to Great Britain;
Hugh c. Wallace, ambassador to
France, are foremost among those dis
cussed as successors to Robert Lans-
ing.
Congress discussed the resignation
with avidity today, but in cloakrooms
and it didn't come up on the floor
in either honsn
Chairman Porter. of the house for
eign affairs committee, commenting
today on Secretary Lansing's resig-
nation said
Il am not inclined to accept this
new and novel Interpretation of or
ganic law.
There is nothing. in the constitu-
ton which prohibits members of the
presidents cabinet from meeting and
discussing any departmental mat
ters. If we accept the presidents con-
struction of the constitution, it would
be violation thereof for two of the
secretaries to hold a conference in the
absence of the president.
Mr. Lansing has faithfully served
Mr.. Wilson during both his terms as
president and in due consideration for
his rights, / think the president should
have asked for his resignat ton on the
ground that they did not agree on the
policies to be pursued by the state de-
partment and not to have dismissed
him in this harsh way
Those who were present at the first
cabinet meeting describe a rather
tense and drastic scene. Congress was
full of rumors that the president was
so disabled as to be constitutionally
unable to discharge the functions of
his office There was talk of what
might be done to place Vice-Presi
dent Marshall at the head of the gov
ernment and how congress might go
about doing it, Nobody knew the full
extent of the presidents illness. 1t
had not then become known that he
had partially lost the use of his left
arm and leg through an accumulation
of blood in one of the arteries in his
brain.
The secretary of state, it should be
said. believed he was supported by
precedent in calling the cabinet to-
gether. Looking up the historical
record he found it had been done
when President Garfield lay i'll for
weeks after having been shot by an
assassin and that it had been done be-
fore that when President Taylor had
a long illness ind ultimately was
succeeded by Vice-President Fill
more.
The Wilson cabinet assembled the
first day with a feeling of apprehen-
sion, for none of the members knew
the extent of the presidents illness,
but expected to be informed of it..
Secretary Tumulty had informed the
president that Mr.. Lansing had called
the cabinet together and the presi-
dent. somewhat disturbed, gave his
personal physician a message TO de-
liver to the secretaries
The secretaries assembled at thelr
usual places that day and Mr.. Lans-
ing sent for DR.. Grayson. Ihe presl-
dents chair at the head of the table
was left until the physician arrived
and he was asked to occupy IT.
DR. Grayson" Secretary Lansing Is
reported to have said oS tnose VINO
! were present, I'VE wish TO know the
nature and extent of the presidents
iurass and whether he is able to per-
form the duties of his office, so that
we may determine what shali De oone
! TO carry on the business OF the gov
ernment,
The presidents physician is quoted
by some of the other secretaries as
having replied in substance:
..The president is doing as Well as
Gould he expected; he is in full pos
-;on of all his faculties, ana ne
bas directed me to inquire OF you by
r,ha+ authority this meeting of the
h;,et was called, what business Is
,,ofo,-e II and what business 1t IS ex-
,ected might be transacted at cab1-