The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-02-27
WilSOnian EgotiSm
Still PredominateS

The country did not need the
additional proof furnished by the
Wilson-Lansing correspondence
to become convinced Of the devour.
ing egotism that dominates the
Presidents personality. In his
work at Paris Mr.. Wilson demon
strated that he would permit no
thought of his countrys welfare
to stand in the way of the realiza-
ton of his own personal ambitions.
In his letters to Secretary Lansing
the President says, in effect, that
although he may be Frustrated for
months with illness and unable to
give the slightest attention to exc
cutive affairs, nobody else must
have the temerity to exercise
guiding hand meanwhile. The
Republic may drift along as best
it can until it suits the Presiden-
tial will to take the reins again.
Mr.. Wilson chooses to say that
the Secretary of State summoned"
the heads of departments together.
Mr.. Lansing writes that he ''re-
quested" them to meet in confer
ence. 1t is inconceivable that the
Secretary assumed right to order
the Cabinet together. He says
that he conferred with some of the
other secretaries, and found that
they were of the opinion that 'it
was wise for us to confer inform
ally together on inter-departmen-
tai matters, and matters as to
which action could not be post
poned until your medical advisers
permitted you to pass upon them y
Such matters occur every day.
Had nobody taken the initiative
in directing their settlement as
they presented themselves, chaos
would have resulted in many
branches of the Governme Mt, par
ticularly as regards our foreign
affairs. Various questions invol-
ing our participation in arrange
ments under the peace treaty had
to be met promptly, instructions
had to be sent to our representa-
tives in Paris, reparation for the
sinking of the German ships at
Skapa Flow demanded attention,
the controversy with England over
the disposal of German merchant
ships had to be met. the Carranza-
Jenkins incident permitted of nc
delay, and the withdrawal of our
troops from Siberia had to be con-
sidered. In addition a multitude
of departmental matters called fol
attention, without which the pub.
lie business would have suffered
Under the Constitution it was
the mandatory duty of the Vice
President to assume the Presi.
dency and guide the Executive
Department of the Government
until such time as the Presidents
disability hould be removed
Mr.. Marshall showed no inclina-
ton to meet the emergency fol
which the office of Vice President
was created, and to save the situa-
ton Mr.. Lansing did what any
other man in the circumstances
would have done. Mr.. Tumulty
the Presidents personal repre-
sentative, attended all the Cabinet
meetings, and presumably con-
veyed to the President such re-
ports of them as his physicians
permitted him to hear.
Even among the Presidents S
most ardent supporters in Con-
gress and other branches of the
Government there has not been
heard a murmur of criticism of
Mr.. Lansing's course. 1t remain
ed for Mr.. Wilson suddenly to
discover an assault upon his per-
sonal prerogatives, and an as
sumption of Presidentialauthority'
in what his Secretary of State has
done. 1t is impossible that any
L. L, ..,,,,, ho,, of 1annn nla wi III