The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-02-19
LANSING RESIGNS
JOB IN CABINET
Secretary of State Quits and
President Accepts His
Resignation.
POLK IS AID INTERIM HEAD
Wilson Charges Lansing With Assum-
ing Preroeatives of the Chief Exec
utive During the Past Four
Months of. Presidents
Illness.

Illness.
Washington, Feb. 16.-Robert Lam
sing resigned on Friday night as sec
rotary of state.
Mr.. Lansing left office because he
was charged by President Wilson with
! assuming the prerogatiyes Of the pres
ident during the period OF the latter's
illness in the past four monJhs by call
Ing and presiding over meetings of the
cabinet.
His resignation, rendered in a letter
under date of February II, was ac-
cepted by the president Friday and be-
came effective at once. UnderSecre-
tary of State Frank Polk is the ad
interim head of the state department
and may be named as Mr. Lansing's
successor.
The state department on Friday
night issued a formal statement an
nouncng the resignation of Secretary
Lansing and giving the correspondence
which passed between the president
and his chief aid leading up to the
breaking of relations,
The correspondence follows:
Wilson TO Lansing.
THE White House, Feb. Z.
"My dear Mr.. Secretary: Is ii true
as have been told, that during my ILL
ness you have frequently called the
heads of the executive departments of
the government into conference? II
it is feel it my duty to call your Mt
tenton to considerations which | do
not care to dwell upon until learn
from yourself that this is the fact
Under our constitutional law and prac-
tce, as developed hitherto, no one but
the president has the right to summon
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. have therefore taken the
liberty of writing to ask you this
question.
Cordially and sincerely yours.
"WOODROW WILSON"
Lansing to Wilson.
"The Secretary of State, Washington,
Feb. Q.
"My Dear Mr.. President: II 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 Ill In
October certain members of the cab
met, of which | was one felt that in
communication with you, it was wise
for us to confer informally together on
interdepartmental matters and matters
as to which action could not be post.
paned until your medical advisers per.
United you to pass upon them,
"Accordingly |, as the ranking mem
her requested the members of the cab.
met to assemble for such informal con
ference and In view of the mutual ben.
eft derived the practice was continued
81 can assure you that ii never for
a 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
During these trouhlous times. when
many difficult and veXatlOus questions
have arisen and when in the circum-
stances | have been deprived of your
guidance and direction, 1t has been my
constant endeavor to carry out your
policies as | understood them and to
act in all matters MS | believed you
would wish me to act. IT, however, you
think that have failed in my loyalty
TO you and If yop no longer have conf
dence in me and prefer to have another
conduct our foreign affairs, am of
course, ready, Mr.. President to relieve
you of any embarrassment by placing
my resignation in your hands.
81 am, as always, faithfully yours,
"RORERT 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-caled cabinet meetings
You kindly explain the motives of
those meetings and | find nothing in