Norwich bulletin., 1920-02-17
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Especial to The Bulletin)

Washington officials as the forced re- signation of Secretary Lansing. There is no other topic at thiS moment. None of the New England ssenators would talk for quotation but they made it clear they thoroughly disapproved the step taken by the president and were in the fullest sympathy with MT. Lans- ing. The democrats looked sober and for the most part declined to make any
 comment whatever, although a few said openly that it was very bad move" ande felt it woud injure the party. The concensus of opinion even among democrats is that the president made very regretable move in nam ing the informal conference of the cabinet as the cause of MT. Lansing's removal. and fairly overstepped him
 self.
 It gill be difficult to explain the ap-
 parent discrepancy of statements pre- viously issued by the white house, as to the presidents being in full touch | with pending business and directing the affairs of the nation, when it is now apparent he did not even know cabinet officers were meeting each
 week under the roof of the white house although such meeting were attended by his private secretary MT. Humility and no more than one occasion by his physician Dr. Grayson. Apparently l the illness of the president was even
 more serious than the most passimistic
 rumors started, if he were in such condition that he could not be inform ed of that fact, although the confer ences were held every week for five months or more" said a New Eng 1 land senator ThereAis no gain say l ing the fact that developments of the l oc+ 1oe * distrust as to the exact nervous and i physical condition of Mr Wilson Not
 only is the Lansing matter exceeding disquieting to men in positions of i high responsibility but the dread of
 what may happen next is even more l so. The entire cabinet is involved all took part in the conferences, and
 now to have the Secretary of State
 summarialy dismissed for doing what ] the entire country would have criticiz-
 ed him for not doing as one Senator
 express it-has stirred up a sentiment
 here that. Nerges on rebellion. Sena- tor Brandagee in the Senate and Con- gressman Rogers of Massachusetts, in
 the House, had the. correspondence l between the President and MT. I4ans-
 ing read into the Congressional record
 that history might show the full text of the proceedings.
 Here are several side lights on the
 situation, as it progressed from day
 to- day during the five months the
 president has been constantly absent 1 from his executive offices: The vice. president forebore to attend the meet l ings of the Cabinet, in order that they
 might be entirely informal and in no
 way take on an executive atmosphere. i Under the construction it would be the 1 vice president who would take the
 reins of government when the presi- dent is unable to do so. Now that the l president repudiates the cabinet con- 1 ferences there is a deep anxiety here lest he also repudiate some of the 1 acts performed by heads of depart ments during his long illness. An what about the bills that became law under the ten days rule, that if not signed by the president within ten days after they are represented to him, they be- come law without his signature? Were those bills actually presented to him in person? Or did they merely reach the executive office and while he was } still paralyzed did he sign any bills } at all? Those questions are flying thick in the air. It seems probable ; some investigation will be asked and , the facts become known at no distant
 date. It is not so much a question o1
 placing the responsibility of any .ir- regularity on the shoulders of any one person as to make certain suck laws are not void as the result. The matter is not unlikely to be carried
 to the supreme court for discision il
 persons dissatisfied with the outcome l of certain important national meas
 ures bring the mattcS before the cour1 for a ruling. Ckaos would result. NJ it is known that hundreds of measures
 were permitted to become law without the customary presidential signature
 And if they should be repudiated ol the fact that the president did not re- ceive them personally be established i much of the work of the 66th Con r gress might be overthrown Its a pret l ty bad state of affairs that confront. 1 the leaders, and is more far reaching ? than the mere dismissal of a Cabine officer. Foreign diplomats are great! , perturbed.
 The effect on the league is problem. ? atical, but is generally conceded to b.
 adverse. The senators who are class l ed as administration men were read, I to follow the president very far, bu i whether they will continue in tha
 course, now the break with Mir Lans ing has come, is not so certain. It i ? understood that it will weaken tn , Hitchcock forces to a considerable ex tent. But it is useless to make pre- : dictions.
 Apparently the substitutes for tn s Lodge reservations are not making s much headway. The rumor is cur
 rent that the republicans will stant
 solid for the Lodge schedule ana il I this will be followed by the reserva F tionist forces of the demoH H'atic side . The debate which begins today is like ly to be cut short by some clotur
 method if it promises to be <rolonge,
 beyond what is regarded as a prope 2 discussion.
 e In the meantime a lost list of am
 bassadors and ministers wait the abil
 ity or the pleasure of the president t
 receive them, before they can funetiol
 oficially-And Lord Grey went ou without such recognition, after tryin
 for four months to get an audienc
 with MT. Wilson. The ambassador r from Italy, Poland, Peru, Belgium, an n a long list of ministers from foreig
 countries are on the waiting list" l
 is said these gentlemen-and thei v countries-are not over we'll please Y at the delay, or that the President re y ceived three members of the Brother
 lhood involved in Labor controversie
 while diplomats of the highest ran y are kept cooling their heels, and tn Il functions of their high office are be
 ing conducted by secretaries. How
 ever that may be, Washington is any It thing but a "rest cure" The air Il full of political strife, and person; F. bitterness. Except for the few GUS
 tomary social events given by societ