Evening journal., 1920-02-20
THE wrrsov-LAvsNc CONTROVERSY.

m, He medical men, without exception. who have at
tended The President well his political anag-
onist senator Fall to whom he gave short interview
unanimous In the opinion that Mr.. Wilson's mental
powers have not been affected In the smallest degree by
his maady.
Notwithstanding this there many persons who
profess TO believe hat his latest extraordinary uerances
be attributed directly indirectly to the Illness
which no now recovering His critics should not
forget however, that many foes have been committed
and many nagrant mistakes made in POLITICAL social and
business lines by those whose physical condition
has never been impaired and that the bad Judgment
which prompted such has been often attributed by
common consent TO a mental disorder which even the
enthusiastic member Of the medical profession has
attempted TO diagnose much less to cure-a dis
order which needless TO say is the ament popu
lary known the "swelled head"
In the realm Of politics. at least there always has been,
and always VIII be- a temptation to results by mis-
leading public opinion either by partial total suppress
slons Of the truth, by deliberate inventions which It is
dinlcult promptly TO dispute deny. When however,
the actual facts known and patent 10 everybody as
sertions to the contrary accomplish nothing and only
serve to recol upon those who make them.
Heretofore the worst enemies Of Mr. Wilson have al
ways conceded his singular prowess adro and not
prescriptions politician but he OF late 70 be
losing his grip upon his party, well upon the
American public by making bold and positive statements
which cannot be sustained As cases In point, may
refer 10 his reiterated assertions the other side OF the
water that ne In possession Of mandate from an
overwhelming majority OF the people CT the United States
whereas the election returns had proved concusyey that
his personal appeal for such mandate had been refused
by the voters Of this country his repeated declarations
during his speech tour In the west that Shantung
had been promised 10 Japan a compensation for
espouslng the cause OF the Entente Powers, whereas
everybody knows that the entry Of that power into the
war sequence offensive and defensive alliance
with Great Britain which ante ?dated by number Of
years the beginning Of that great contest and, finally, TO
his recent dsngenuous inquiry TO whether his former
Secretary Of had called the cabinet together durns
his Illness when all Of its members well the higher
officials OF the White House. fully that Mr..
wilson entirely eognzant Of that fact
So far as Lansing Is concerned, his reply to the Pres
dents arrogant note plainly Inadequate as he failed
mention the prccedens for such action under the Tay
lor and Garfield administrations and did not degn to
refer-nor for that natter did Mr. Wson--to its bear
the public welfare, which, after all, the most
important factor in the
The former Secretary OF State seems evidently to have
forgotten the admonliIons OF the famous David
Iarum, who. WI be remembered ,ised that we
should moi only do unto others they would do unto u.s.
but that we should do II nrs To follow this wise coun-
sell Mr. Lans.nss initial communication should have in
cluded his immediate rslgnaton and Mr. Wilson would
have been deprived Of the opportunity kicking him out
Of the cabinet under circumstances which most people
might dc m humiating
In brief the episode which led TO Mr. Lansngs re-
trement from President Wilson's cabinet as well as the
correspondence connected herewith are alike dscredlt-
able to The administration and to the party in power.