Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-02-28
LANSING LEAVES
WILSON'S CABINET
President Claims That He
Usurped Power Delegated
To Executive.

Washington. Lansing end /
cd his career as secretary of state FIJI .
day. The state department issued '"e
following statement:
Secretary Lansing has resigned anu
his resignation has been accepted IaA-
ing effect today. Following is the cor
respondence between the presluen'
and Secretary Lansing:
The White House, WasnlhSIoh'
Feb. Z, 1920.-My Dear Mr.. SecretaF!
Is if true. as | have been told, thaI
during my illness you have frequent!
called the heads of the executive ue-
partments of the government INTO COLI
ference? If it is, feel it my duty ~
call your attention to considerations
which I do not care to dwell upon I'M
til learn from you yoursel. that lhlS
is the fact. Under our CONSTITUTIONS
law and practice. as developed hither-
TO- no one but the president mas lhe
right TO summon the heads of the eX-
ecutive departments into conference
and no one but the president ana tlle
congress has the right to ask their
views or the views o. any one OF th7m
on any public question.
81 take this matter up with you pc
cause. in the development OF every
constitutional system, custom ana
precedent are of the most serious con-
sequence. and | think we will all agree
in desiring not to lead in any wrong
direction. ! have therefore taken the
liberay of writing you to ask you thlS
question. and am sure you will be
glad to answer.
Il am happy to earn from your re-
cent note to Mrs. Wilson that your
strength is returning. Cordially ana
sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON.
Hon. Robert Lansing, Secretary OF
State"
THE Secretary of State, Washing
ton, Feb. 9. 1920.-My Dear Mr.. Presi
dent: 1t is true that frequently dur
ing your illness | requested the heads
of the executive departments OF the
government to meet for informal con
ference.
shortly after you were taken i'll ii
October certain members of the cabi
net. of which | was one, felt tnat II
view of the fact that we were denied
communication with you it was wise
for us to confer informally together OF
interdepartmental matters and mat
ters as to which action could not b'
postponed until your medical advisers
permitted you to pass upon them. SAC
cordingly, |, as the ranking memoer
requested the members of the cabTne
to assemble for such informal confer
ence. and in view of the mutual bene
fit derived the practice was continued
can assure you that it never for
moment entered my mind that | wa
,actjag pnae8sti sifaffs Or -conral
to your wishes, and there certain
was no intention on my part to assun
powers and exercise functions Whit
under the constitution are exclusive
confided TO the president.
During these troublous time
when many difficult and vexatio
questions have arisen, and when in q
j circumstances have been deprived
your guidance and direction, it h
been my constant endeavor to car
out your policies as l understood the
and to act nj all matters as | believ
YOU would wish me to act. If, no
o ever, you think that l have failed
q lmy loyalty to you, and if you no long
have confidence in me and prefer
= have another conduct our foreign
fairs, | am, of course, ready, Mr.. Pre-
dent. to relieve you of any embarra
ment by placing my resignation
your hands. l am always faithful
yours, ROBERT LANSING
The president replied that he v
much disappointed" by Mr.. Lansin
letter regarding 1.-The so-called cabil
meetings" He said he found moth
in the the secretary's letter "wh
justifies your assumption of presid
tldl dutHOIlly III ouCh q maven
added that he must frankly take
vantage of your kind suggestion"
resign.
II must say" continued the pr
dent, that it would relieve me of
barrassment of feeling your relucta
and divergence of judgment, if
would give up your present office
afford me an. opportunity to Sc
some one else whose mind would m
willingly go along with mine"