The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-20
LANSING ROW TO
Be REACHING
IN ITS EFFECTS
Lawrence Finds Sentiment
Outside Of Capital Such as
to Indicate Break Will
Cause People to FearFuture
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
(Staff Correspondent international News
Servlee1

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
(staff Correspondent international News
servloe.)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2O.-Three days
outside of Washington talking with
people in all walks of life, people In
New York state, Michigan and Illinois,
has given the writer an idea of how a
cross section, of American public opin-
break.
And the odd part of it is that on my
return to Washington | find hardly
realization of the astounding political
effect which the episode has had. The
national capital has so many sensations
that it is often calloused to cabinet
RESERVATIONS and regards them as mere
flurFies
1t is true that the editorial expression
has been almost unanimous in condemns
Ing the abrupt dismissal of Secretary
lansing but even editorials are some
tlmeS brushed aside in this intensely
political year by administration men as
an ephemeral hysteria bound to pass
sooner or later.
Not so, however, is the Judgment of
the average man | encountered in such
places as Binghamton and Syracuse in
New York state, Detroit or Chicago, and
on. the trains travelling between these
points. Never in my own experience
has 1t seemed to me that opinion was
80 uniform.
All Disapprove.
Democrats and Republicans alike dis
approve of what the president has done
but the regrettable and significant fact,
however is not mere condemnation of
what has happened but wonder about
what VIII Aappen. No matter where
one went, the question that was shot
back was, Did the presidents illness
have anything to do with that Lansing
letter."
Try as one might to offset such an
impression, there is no doubt that every
act of President Wilson from this time
on will be subjected to an embarrassing
scrutiny. The incident has made amaz-
ing inroads on that Intangible yet all
important factor in government, name-
ly, public confidence. Once that is for
felted. politicians of the opposite party
seem strengthened and permitted to
reap the benefits of the situation.
AS for morale among the Democrats
talked with a few leaders who are
,Gyed-in- the wool Wilson men, the kind
Who viii defend to the last ditch the
presidents appeal in 1918 for Demo-
cratic congress and who Nwill excuse
nearly everything he has ever done In
seven years. But their frame of mind
on the Lansing episode was one Of
helplessness and bewilderment. Their
attitude was analogous to that of the
hero worshipping fans who have ad-
mired all season long the brilliant play
ing of fielder only to see him throw
the telling game in the world series by
dropping the ball in the ninth inning
with three men on base.
Are Disappointed.
They have memories of brilliant past
performance and their chagrin is
mingled with disappointment of the
keenest sort.
1t is curious indeed that much Of the
feeling is that of pity. People wonder
why the president was not stopped by
someone in the inner circle from pass
ing out the Lansing letter.
People suspect even that the .presi-
dents outburst on the Fiume question
is pique and temper. l find here in
washington little echo of that. For
eign diplomats say that the effect of
the dismissal of Lansing was to create
an impression in Europe that the presi-
dent was suffering from the tedium of
| long Illness and now they believe his
| threat to withdraw the treaty Is part
and parcel of the circumstances sur
| rounding his Illness. 1t would be tragic
fif Europe began discounting American
| action because of the indisposition OF
the president, real or imaginary.
But out in the country, away from
| Washington, there isn't much interest
in the Fiume question. 1t is a little toe
| involved and intricate for the average
man to understand without study and
| he is far too busy attending to his do
mestic troubles to read up on the quar-
rel with the Jugo SlaVs
| The expulsion of Lansing from the
cabinet is something he can under
stand. He never knew much about
| Lansing. II he wants to discover how
| important a cabinet is as rule lei
| him ask somebody outside Of Washing
! ton to give the names of half the men,
| hers of the cabinet of this or any other
| president. 1t wasn't sympathy for
Lansing or even a passing concern
about the secretary of states differ
| ences of opinion with his superior Off
| Ger that occasioned the outburst on the
| part of the average man. 1t was merely
| that his credulity was taxed by the first
| sentence in Mr.. Wilson'S letter, which
asked rs it true" etc, that cabinet
meetings had been held during his i'll
| ness
1t was simple set of circumstances
easy to grasp. People remembered that
when the president got sick, the cab.
met did meet They don't understand
| yet why 1t shouldn't have met, even Il
| technically it was wrong to do so. They
| have grown accustomed during the wal
| period to seeing technicalitieS brushed
| aside In the interest of the war emerg.
ency, and they still expect government
officials to 20 ahead. when there is NJ
specific provision of law and do the
best thing for the country.
They seem to think it was right t.
call cabinet meetings. That's why it il
| no exaggeration to say Mr. Wilson hur
| himself immeasurably with the people
of the country and damaged to an ex
tent not yet calculable his leadership il
the Democratic party. Instead of be
ing the greatest asset for the campaigi
Mr., Wilson is at present writing a large
liability to the Democrats. They know
| it and they are wishing some heroit
measures might be taken to recover
lost prestige.
Copyright. 1920 by David Lawrence.