The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-02-18
LATE WASHINGTON
news GOSSIP

WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 49,
A Third term for Wilson stalks forth
out of the Presidents dismissal OF
Secretary of State Robert LANSING
with a heavy tread. That is the poll
tics in this sensational affair, the
most talked on subject that Wash
ington has had vouchafed it by the
administration in long time. In
deed, politics, local opinion largely
holds, was the motif in this latest Of
fetal drama to hold the boards.
Nobody we'll informed, here or any
place else, accepts for the fraction of
minute tho written reason of the
President why he showed the door to
Lansing, the reason stated by him in
his first querulous letter.
Everybody is agreed that the real
reason for the irritable outbreak
dates further back than the beginning
of the cabinet meetings when the
Presidents inability from serious ill
ness to perform his official duties he
came evident.
The view that the politicians in the
Capital are now taking of the whols
affair is that the dramatic dismissal
OF Lansing was means to accomp.
fish a political end, and that it was
designedly given a sensational stag.
ing, cold bloodedly calculated and
visualized, so as to shock the country
into resembling the belief that illness
had forced REIMBURSEMENT ofsofflcial
prerogatives and party leadership. It
was a display Of the mailed fist, as it
were; a warning to party leaders, tho
Democratic rank and file, that "T am
the Boss here still" Moreover. a
vivid sign that Woodrow Wilson does
not mean to loosen his grip on his
party either now or in the future,
without a stubborn fight. 1t means a
sensational confirmation of the in
dication that he had in mind when
he wrote his message advising that
the peace treaty and covnant be male
Il paramount issue in the forthcom-
Ing campaign, which was that he was
thinking most seriously and favorably
of running for President again and
creating situation to force his nom
lsation.. That is the view taken of It
here.
Scattering pgecedents has long been
known as being one of the pastimes
in which the President took keen de
light. He holds the high record in
that regard, not even excepting
Roosevelt. The latter's precedent
smashing penchant is said to have
appealed most favorably to the pres
cnt incumbent from the first. Another
thing that is said to have impressed
him in Rocsevelt's case, and that Is,
the great popularity of the Colonel
which won him third nomination
that he didn't get, enabled him to
launch new party, and as its can
didate poll over 100000 votes; his
party displacing the Republican party
from second place. According to the
gossip here, Wilson has always been
more or less envious of what Roese
welt did, and feels ambition stirring
within him to attempt to do that IN
which Roosevelt failed, as well as
Grant, win third consecutive term
in the White House.
That is the line of dope that the poll
ticians generally in the Capital are
working on. Hence the renewal of the
third term talk. Wilson is not going
to give up the reins of an unpreced-
ent power, which he has enjoyed, not
only at home but in the capitals OF
the Old World, without fight, and
the letter recommending the coven-
ant to referendum, followed by the
method he chose in getting rid of his
Secretary of State, are accepted MS