The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1920-02-16
SECRETARY LANslNG's RESIGNATION.

CURIIiER details than are now available mi" s"e a clearer understand
= ing Of Robert lansings resignation OF the portfolio OF state ard the
president reasons Tor requesting il. There are hmt' ~ the published GOT
respondenee ,h, there had long been dsood between them Secretary
! ,n,inu had been qumed a. denouncirg the peace treaty This and the sec
rotary, silence gave Inumation, OF drs,cnuon months ago There IS also The
inference tina, the head Of the state department sought to formulate a hA'''
MeMean policy which was ont Of line with the president ideas on ne sub
iec, On such grounds the presidents course may he justified, "rl the nduo"
will await additional information before passing inti judgment
But the first impression will he tina, President Wilson selected a po"
prttNt on which 70 hinge his action The informal cabinet meeting II core
Quoted in the iGevsS OF the nation, we're justified The president was ~
eapacta,ed by IintM 10 all practical purposes the nation was Tor tune
without chief executive Constitutional law and practice na, reserve 'f
N, priden, alone the right to summon the cabinet members into conference
b., the esgences o tho situation might we'll warrant such action on the pat
Of the ranking minister Even consultation and advice vshout the powered
concerted action mght serve an immediate need
President Wilson's unfortunate lines, indicates again III. ueei ot more
definite and effective provision for supplying a Guiding hand to the govern
uent in such m rgencies President Garfield Vh1 fingered t"r Ne'Ns ate
falling before an as,a,sin's bullet wa, sno,1cr occasion which emphasized
this faul, in the machinery OF government Ii IT :, true a. The president be-
leyed, that Mr. Lansing exceeded his authority n such action the u>upS
ton il. somewhat, justified by the circumstance There must bf many inter
departmental affair, requiring immediate decision or where discussion would
assist in handing them, Tral rather than an intention 10 take ad'autagc 4"
the president, seem, the logical grounds for Secretary Ian'nss course
On the Other hand a president IS Aeld somewhat directly responsible los
the success OF his administration For that reason his cabinet should oe gen
orally IN accord with their chief on the great issue, to be dealt with Winch
does not meas that, they should be rubber stamp officials. but men capable
a, executives and adviser, hui via views similar to those OF the PRECEDENT
Since Mr. Lansing and President Wilson evidently held different 'eNs OH
The treaty and the Mexican question, N-nch loom largest N our fore's" 'cA
tons j, probably is better that another should serve as secretary otNtate, hu'
this does no, dncrelh Nj Lansing lie ha, rendered long and able ser''q
to the nation His training IN foreign affairs must have teen>n' a'a1b'e during
a difficult period Practical, a victim OF summary DISMISSAL he ,l isOe
a. a statesman who knew Nr own mind and whose diplomatic career va
not Of the INC too variety.
Pie,den, Wilson's work q. tic peace conference meets With the approval
OF most americans History viii undoubtedly accord II high place IN the an
uls Of con nucr. dipouay nla srler unan'nny than does current
opinion lie tghuuly tesen,' any effort 10 obtuct tie 'ultlinen' OF what
was 30 ably begun at Versatile, No On the Mexican question II Is spPareut
tina, h, doesn't want intervention or any course mean, TO provoke hostliue'
Ii Secretary lAnsings action was intended to disrupt such policies he wa'
out oi place in the Wilson cabinet but ii such was the case the president
should make public the details m explanation OF m course