South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-25
INTIMATE STORY
OF War CABINET
Barred IN NOTES
Late Franklin K. Lanes Let
tiers and NotatiOns Pub
Hshed by His Widow.
FLAYED HIS ADVISERS
Details How Wilson Became
Discouraged Over Prob
lens Revealed.

BOSTON. oct. 24-(By a. PD-
A series Of history-making letters
describing in detail the American
war cabinet and giving an intimate
picture of Woodrow Wilson as he
appeared while presiding over the Sc
cret meetings Of his official family
IS made public for the first time to-
day. The letters, written by the late
Franklin K Lane, secretary Of the
interior in the cabinet OF President
Wilson from 1913 to 1920, have been
collected and edited by his widow.
Anne Wintermute Lane, and have
been published by Houghton, Nif-
film Company. The volume is just
Off the press.
The correspondence reveals among
other things how the president fire.
quently lost patience with the ire
mendOus problems confronting him
and how at other times discourage
ment crowded him TO such a degree
that he was prompted TO turn bitter
~ upon his advisors when they failed
to agree with him.
The letters give a description of
Mr.. Wilson's attitude on prepared
ness before America entered the
war; tell how he regarded the pro
posal to arm merchant ships, des-
cribe his opposition 10 anything ap-
preaching the Code duello" spirit
at a time when the United States
was neutral and then, when great
questions were pressing for decision,
tell how he encouraged hts cabinet
20 talk Of trivialities while he went
along on his own course to solve
huge problems facing his admins
tration.
Maintained Strict Neutrality
The president said he did not
wish to see either side win-for both
had been equally Indifferent to the
rights OF neutrals," Mr.. Lane wrote
10 his brother on February II. 1917,
commenting on a particularly ami
mated cabinet discussion.
On the subject OF prepared ness.
even a few months before the Unit
ed States entered the war, Mr.. Lane
quoted President Wilson as being
not in sympathy"
Again 10 his brother. Feb. %, Sec
rotary Lane wrote:
ION Friday we had one of the
most animated sessions Of the cabi-
net suppose ever been held under
this or any other president. 1t all
arose out OF very innocent ques-
ton Of mine as TO whether IL was
true that tho wives Of American con
guls on leaving Germany had been
stripped naked, given an acid bath
TO detect writing on their flesh and
subjeCted to orher indignities.
lansing answered that il was
true. Then I asked Houston about
the bread riots in New York. This
lem which we had all been afraid
10 raise-why shouldn't we send our
ships out with guns and conveys?
Daniels said we must not convoy
that would be dangerous Cthink Of
a secretary OF the navy telling of
danger.) The president said the coun
try was not willing that we should
take any risks OF war. I said that I
got not such sentiment out Of the
country.
Interpreted as Hatred Campaign
This the president took as a sug-
gestion that we should work up a
propaganda OF hatred against Ger
many. OF course I said had no such
idea but felc that in a democracy,
the people were entitled 10 know the
facts McAdoo Houston and Redfield
Joined me. The president turned on
them bitterly. especially on McAdoo.
and reproached all OF US with ap-
pealing to the spirit Of the Code
duello." We could not get the idea
out OF his head that we were bent
on pushing the country into war.
~~--~~-------~~--~----~--~-
Continued on page twO.)