Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-02-15
WILSON OR LANSING?

The fate of the treaty and league, prospective and pending matters be- tween the United States and Euro pean nations and the future of the democratic party are involved in the controversy between Wilson ard Lansing.
 It is too bad that the full facts in the, matter have not been made public so that the people may be able to judge who is to blanc Cor the breach, and which one of the two men must bear the respon- sibility for the havoc the split is likely to cause.
 As it stands before the public, it is difficult to judge who was Tn the wrong, or why the break was neces- sary. Two conclusions present them selves. One is that Lansing, to- gether with other cabinet members, was unfaithful to his chief, that he took advantage of Wilson's illness, to force himself into a position of power that was not properly his, ard that he usurped the authority Of .ae man for whom he should have be- a loyal aide. The other is tha! Will son has taken advantage of Lansing's s loyalty and zeal in his own interests to force Lansing from his cabinet and to substitute for him some ran more amendable to his capricious will. Either MT. Lansing is guilty of cowardly act of disolyalty or the president is guilty of petulant sell fish piece of business.
 MT. Lansing was the best of all oul diplomats. Reared in the state de- partment, he possessed rare know lGdge that fitted him extremely well for duties which he performed ex. mely we'll. MT. Wilson, even his eemies admit, has performed hercu- l m labors for his country and fol | E betterment of the world. Both have been loyal servants of Uncle k54Aty SV 1aA ao WS htV"s
 On one side their break will be seized upon to prove the president a near-martyr. It will be urgued tha, he, i'll and incapacitated for the performance of his duties, was be. set not only by enemies in the sen ate and in the press of the country but by the members of his official family whose loyalty he has right to expect. On the other hand Lan- sing will be portrayed as the patr:o- tic sufferer of chief who had gore mad with power and conceit. Will. sons enemies will seize on this in. cident and attempt to prove that she president no longer is himself men, tally. Other of his enemies will say that it is because the president is himself that he is objectionable.
 Neither man will suffer personally to any great extent. MT. Wilson, it is pretty much agreed, is through with politics as far as personal pbEticlpAtiOH SoeS. MT. LdnSiHS IS a worker and skilled diplomat ana power whose powers cannot be harmed by political or personal diff ference.
 The democratic party will suffer. The United States government will be hit hard. Already Uncle Sam in his foreign relations is hobbled. Where England, France or Italy acts in "A hours, it takes the United States many months to act because of the check that the executive and the legislative branches have upon each other. This situation invites foreign interference and foreign in- terference we have to such an ex- tent that it is sometimes difficult to judge the source of our public opinion" A breach within breach makes it more difficult for Uncle Sam to speak on any subject, and lays us more widely open to the skillful efforts of the cmissaries of H-.al