Evening star., 1928-10-31

gress, constitutionally unable to exer-
else the functions of his Office, During
the talk at the Capitol of putting Vice
President Marshall at the head of the
Government, Secretary Lansing called
meeting of the cabinet.
Mr. Lansing believed he was sup
ported by precedent in thus summon
ing the cabinet during the disability
of the President He found in the
records that it had been done when
President Garfield lay i'll for weeks
after he had been shot, and before
then when President Taylor ultimately
was succeeded by Vice President Fill
more.
The upshot of the cabinet meeting,
it was said, was demand upon Mr.
Lansing from the President, asking by
what authority he had summoned it,
but the best opinion is that Mr.. Will
son did not know of the incident until
later. When he did learn of 1t, the
President took summary action that
resulted in Lansing offering his resig-
nation.
Mr.. Lansing was born at Watertown.
N. Y, October II, 1864. He was grad
uated from Amherst College, with the
degree of bachelor of arts, in 1886. In
1889 he was admitted to the bar and
practiced law. Before becoming ac-
tually connected with the State Depart
ment in 1914, he had represented the
United States in connection with vari-
Gus arbitration treaties for more than
20 years, first when he was named as
sociate counsel in the Behring Sea ar
bitration. Later Mr. Lansing was made
counsel before the Behring Sea Claims
Commission. In 1908 he was solicitor
for his country before the Alaskan
Boundary Tribunal.
Writing Widely Read.
During the years that followed Mr.
Lansing held many similar posts.
March 81, 1914, he was appointed coun-
selor for the State Department. The
year following he represented the State
Department on the central committee
of the American Red Gross. With the
resignation of Secretary Bryan, he was
appointed to the portfolio of Secretary
Of State few days later in recognition
Of his able services.
After his own resignation from the
State Department, Mr. Lansing estab-
lished law firm, with Offices at 8 Jack
son place. Although advancing in age.
he was engaged in active practice until
his last illness
He married Miss Eleanor Foster
daughter of former Secretary of State
John W. Foster. when he was 26 years
old. During their long residence in the
National Capital, the Lansings have
been among its social leaders. His de-
mocracy of spirit as evniced through
his interest in the Department of State
Club endeared him to all its employees
Mr.. Lansing was member of many
clubs, including the Chevy Chase anc
Metropolitan in Washington and others
in his native town. AS an authority on
international law he was widely known
for his writings. Among his books are
Government, Its Origin, Growth and
Form in the United States; THE Big
Four and Others of the Peace Confer
ence," and Notes on Sovereignty" He
also was an associate editor of the
American Journal of International Law
Besides Mrs. Lansing, he is survived
by two sisters, the Misses Kate and
Emma Lansing, who were at his bed
side when the end came. They are his
only near relatives. Mr. Lansing was
a trustee of the Church of the Covenant
in this city for 80 years, but retains
membership in the First Presbyterian
Church of Watertown, N. Y.