Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1920-02-20
SECRETARY LANSING
QUITS CABINET POST,
POLK IS GIVEN JOB
Charged by Wilson With Usurp-
ing Presidency During Re-
cent Illness.
HELD CABINET MEETINGS
WITHOUT CHIEFS ORDERS

HELD CABINET MEETINGS
WITHOUT CHEFS ORDER
Letters Made Pub4 BY the State D
partment showFhat Friction B
| tween Executive md Premier ReaIl
Began at Peaoe inference in Pari
Washington, Fe sl6!-Robert Lal
sing resigned on alay night as SCI
rotary of state.
Mr.. Lansing left
was charged by Pr
assuming the pref
ident during the
ifiililuess inlfhe past
ing fssiaikng 9
| cabinet.
5Hls resignation, ten
lander date of Febru;
cepted by the president
came effective at once
tafy of State Frank
interim head of the sty
and may be named -
successor.
The state denar
night issued FOX
nouncing the resigtation
Lansing and slvisE the co
which passed Between
and his chief aid leading
breaking of relations.
The corresponding s2
Wilson to Lang
''The White Hon
MY dear Mr.. Secretalg
as have been told, that during
ness you have frequently call
heads of the executive deDartuef
the government into conference?V If
it is feel it my duty to call your]at-
tentiOn to considerations which do
not care TO dwell upon Until iearn
from yourself that this is the fact.
Under our constitutional law and prac-
tice, as developed hitherto. no one but
Il
the heads of the executive depart
mentS into conference, and no one but
the president and the congress has the
right to ask their views or the views
of any one of them on any public ques-
ton
II take this matter up with you be-
cause in the development Of every con-
stitutional system custom and prece-
dent are of the most serious conse-
quence, and I think we will all agree
in desiring not TO lead in any wrong
direction. 1 have therefore taken the
liberty of writing to ask you tkis
question.
Cordially and sincerely yours.
WOODROW WILSON,
Lansing to Wilson
1.-THE Secretary of State. Washington,
Feb. 9.
"Nfy Dear Mr.. PRESIDENT: IT is true
that frequently during your illness |
requested the heads of the executive
departments of the government TO meet
for informal conference.
Shortly after you were taken i'll in
October certain members of the cab
met, of which was one. felt that. in
view of the fact that we were denied
communication with you. it was wise
for us TO. confer Informally together on
interdepartmental matters and matters
as to which action could not he post
poned until your medical advisers per-
mitted you to pass upon them.
Accordingly l. as the ranking mem
her. requested the members of the cab
met TO assemble for such informal con-
ference. and in Wow Of the mutual BEN
eft derived the practice was continued.
81 can assure you that ii never for
q moment entered my mind that ] was
acting unconstitutiOnally or contrary to
your wishes, and there certainly was
no intention on my part TO assume
under the constitution are exclusively
confided TO the president.
"DurirNs those troublous times. when
many difficult and vexati0ls questions
have arisen and when in the circum.
stances have been deprived of vonr
guidance and direction. il has been nv
endeayor to carry out your
policies as I understood them and TO
act in all matters as I Believed you
would wish me to act IF. however. you
think that | have failed in. my loyalty
to you and if you no longer have conf
dence in me and prefer TO Fave another
conduct our foreign affairs. ! am, of
course. ready Mr. President. TO relieve
You of any embarrassment Thy placing
my resignation in your hands
al am, as always faithfully yours
ROBERT LANSING"
Wilson to Lansing:
THE White House. Feb. II. 1920.
"My Dear Mr.. Secretary: ! am very
much disappointed by Your letter of
Feb. . in reply TO mine asking about
the so-called cabinet meetings
"You kindly explain the motives Of
those meetings and | find nothing in