Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-02-20
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 Prerogatives Of the Chief Exec
utive During the Past -Four
Months Of Presidents
illness.

tilHGSSs
Washington, Feb. I6.-Robert Ian
sing resigned on Friday night as Sec
rotary of state.
Mr.. Lansing left Office because he
was charged by President Wilson with
assuming the prerogatlves of the pres
ident during the period o. the latter's
Illness in the past four months by call
Ing and presiding over meetings OF the
cabinet.
His resignation, rendered in a letter
under date of February II, was &C
cepted by the president Friday and be-
came effective at once. Under-Secre-
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
nouncing 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.
"NIy dear Mr.. Secretary: Is it 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? If
it is feel it my duty TO call your at
tention to considerations which ] do
not care TO dwell upon until learn
from Yourself that this is the fact.
Under our constitutional law and prac-
tice, 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 he
cause in the development of every con
stitutionaI system custom and prece-
dent are of the most serious conse-
quence and think we viii ali agree
I'm desiring nor to lead IN any wrong
direction. ] have therefore taken the
liberty of writing TO ask you this
question
CORDIALLY and sincerely vours.
"wOODROW WILSON"
Lansing to Wilson.
''The Secretary of State, Washington.
reh 8.
"My Dear Mr.. President: II is true
hat frequently during your illness
requested the heads of the executive
departments of the government to meet
for informal conference.
shortly after you were taken III In
October certain members of the cab
net. OF which was one. felt that. in
view of the fact that we were denied
communication with YOU il was wise
for us to confer informally together on
lnterdepartmen:al matters and matters
as TO which action coIId not he post
poned until your medical advisers per
mitted ron 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 view Of the mutual hen.
eft derived the practice was continued
~ can assure Won that 1t never for
a moment entered my mind that ] was
acting unconstitutionally or contrary 10
your wishes and there certainly was
no intention on my part ~ assume
powers and exercise functions which
under the constitution are exclusively
confided 10 the president.
During these trouhlous times. when
many difficult and vexatious questions
stances have been deprived of your
guidance and direction, il has heen my
constant endeavor TO carry out your
policies rs I understood them and To
act in all matters as ! believed you
would wish me 10 act. II. however. Won
think that have failed In my loyalty
TO You and If you 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
ROBERT LANSING"
Wilson to Lansing:
"The White House. Feb. IL. 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
lyon kindly explain the motives If
those meetings and find nothing in