Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-02-20


Washington, Feb 19.-Three da VS. outside of Washington
talking with people all of life people in New York
State Michigan and Illinois, has given the writer idea of
how of American public opinion feels about the
Lansing break And the odd part of it is that my
to Washington, find hardly realization of the
founding political effect which the episode has had The
tional capital has many sensations that 1T is often caouse
Cabinet designations and regards them urres 1t
true that editorial expression has been almost unanimous
conemnng the abrupt dismissal of Secretary Lansing but
editorials sometimes brushed aside in this intensely
political year by administration ephemera yseria
bound to pass sooner or later.
Not So however, is the Judgment of the average
such places Binghamon and Syracuse in New
York state Detroit Chicago and the trains travelling be-
points Never experience has it seemed
that opinion uniform Democrats and Republic
alike dsapproe of what the President has done but the
regretabe significant fact however is condemna
of what has happened but wonder about what will happen
No where vent the question that shot back
Odd the Presidents illness have anything to do with that
Lansing letter."
Try might to offset such impression, there is no
doubt that every of President Wilson from .is time
will be subjected embarrassing scrutiny The incident has
amazing nroads that intangible yet all important fac
tor government namely public confidence Once that for
feited politicians of the opposite party strengthened and
permitted to reap the benefits of the situation
AS for morale among the Democrats talked with few
who dyedinthe-wool Wilson the kind who
Democratic Congress and who will nearly everything
he years But their frame of mind
the Lansing episode of hepessness and bewdcrmen
Their attitude analogous to that of the owoshppng
admired all long the brilliant playing of
fielder only him throw the telling game in the ord
by dropping the ball in the ninth inning with three acn
base They have memories of brilliant past performance
and their chagrn is mingled with disappointment of the keen
est sort.
1t is curious indeed that much of the feeling pity
People why the President wasn't stopped by
The inner circle from passing out the Lansing letter People
suspect that the Presidents Outbust the Fume
pique and temper, find here in Washington little
echo of that Foreign diplomats that the effect Of the dis
mssa Lansing impression in Europe that
the President suffering from the teum of long Illness
they believe his threat withdraw the treaty part
parcel the circumstances surrounding his illness 1t
tragic Europe began discountng American action
of the ndspoSon of the PRESIDENT real or imaginary
But the country, away from Washington there real
isn't much interest in the Fiume question: IT is little too
involved intricate for the average understand with
study and he is fan TOO busy attending to his domestic ro
bes up the quarrel with the JugoSlavs The eX
puson of Lansing the Cabinet is something he can un-
dersand. He knew much about Lansing II one wants
discover no mportanta Cabinet job rule let him ask
somebody outside of Washington to give the names Of half the
members the Cabinet of this any other President II
wasn't sympathy for Lansing passing concern about
the Secretary of States differences of opinion with his superior
officer occasoned ouburst the part Of the average
1t merely that his crcduty taxed by the first
sentence Wilson'S letter which asked is it etc
that Cabinet meetings had been held during his Illness It
a simple Of circumstances easy grasp People
membered that when the President sick the Cabinet did
They don't understand yet why it shouldn't have met,
if technically it wrong do They have
accustomed during the period seeing techncaitieS
brushed aside in the interest Of the and hcr
still expect government officials ahead when there
specific provision of law and do the thing country
They think right call Cabinet meetings That's
why it is eXaggera0n say Mr. Wilson hurt himself i'm
with the people the country damaged
yet cacuabe his leadership in the Democratic par
ty Instead of being the greatest for the campaign Mr.
Wilson present writing large liability the Democrats