Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-02-16
DENY MORE CHANGES

Washington, Feb. -3.-SecreLary
LaOs1Dgs resignation continues 10
hold the attention Of official Wash
inE-ur and all the talk among poll
riciaas members NJ congress and
government officials continue ID cen
ter about u, GOSSIP as 70 the prob
able successor 10 the former secre-
-a-v Of state is even subc7 dinata5 u
discussion Of the sen@ tioral climax
70 the strained relations between
President Wilson and the former sec
rera-y Of state which now ara known
10 have been IN existence for more
than 4 year
Sucn terms as ! crisis" IN the
caDInet are used freely anc II a sense
IND color II the frank acknowledge
menr Of Secretary Lane rhat ne was
equally Responsible for -he meetings
for which the President objected.
buI the best iuf0-rua uoa avaiia Die
l1Clca-es that there is no crisis IL
the sense tna- more secretaries are
likely TO resign. II fact = has been
stated ar me WnIre House tna1 no
more reslEnauons are expected as Z
result Of -ne Incident
opinion II congress continues d.
vloeC Win opponents 6f the treaty
supporting Mr., Lansings position and
taking nj sorl1e aC-l0r I'd determine
new me executive business Of the
government IS being conducted dur
ing President " .lson's Illness. There
Is even cloak room talk Of some surt
Of Legislation 70 define specifically
what constitutes the disability Of d
President, more clearly titan is pro-
vlded II the CONSTITUTION So far II
ls al IN the realm Of talk; no mem
Der Of congress mas brought forward
any proposal for Legislation.
The CHEZ discussion seems To range
about whether President Wilson
knew Of rhe cabinet meetings winch
have been going on for three months
until ne w-nts his letter asking for
Mr.. Lansing 5 resignation. Probably
no one but the president himself and
three OF four persons most CLOSELY
around him can answer such Il ques
ZION specifically. but it IS being point
ed out IN discussion Of tte incident
that reports Of the cablnet meetings
have been printed regularly II The
newspapers; that il ms been stated
Al the White House that The Pres
ioeut rsads the papers every DAY and
that IN some instances. Al least. Off
cIal action which the president LOOK
On some subjects was after these
subjects mad been discussed AT the
CT ninsr conferences.
Persons w,le are well informed Of
what has been going on IN the inside
Of the administration hold ID their
belief that the cahIneJ meetings were
only an incident and tna1 president
Wilson himself in one Of his letters
10 Mr.. Lansing referred TO other and
more important reasons when ne
wrote Lhat the cabinet meeting in
ci6erL only strengthened a feeling ne
had for some time and that for some
months he mad found the secreta-y
of state Welding 10 MS decisions with
more and more reluctance
The affair Is expected 20 probably
come UP IN congress again tomorrow
NJ Lansing meanwhile nae denied
himself 20 al callers II is under
stood thar ne may spend a stor- va
cation N Florida before going TO his
home in Watsrruwn. n. Y
Speculation as 70 Mr.. Lansings sur
cessor continued 10 involve the names
Of Frank = Polk. who vesta-rav Pc
came secretary ad interim BY virtue y
his Office as counsellor Of the state de-
pa--ment, Secretary Of War Baker,
John ". Davis. Ambassador 10 Great
Britain. and Hugh c Wallace, ambassa-
dor to France
Although Mr. Polk was among those
most often mentioned there was MOTH
ing 70 Indicate any change 1-ur his
known determination To return 70 pr
va1e life and the Practice Of law The
speculation brought forth the suggas-
ton that perhaps the President might
transfer Mr.. Baker the state depart
ment has recent action n transferring
David Houston from the department o.
agriculture 10 the treasury department
Official intirnation was given tonight
that Mr.. -ansing's SUCCESSOR might be
appointed before the end Of the week
even If II was said there was no hur.
~ about il" as Mr.. Polk can serve
as secretary ad interim for a period az
.hree da-p sA