Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / Feb. 14, 1920, edition 1 / Page 1
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Hinn The Weather Fair, colder Saturday; Suniay fair.. Watch the label en Your Paper . It tells you the data your subscript ;tion expires. If in error, please report Immediately. .Don't wait until, your, 'subscription expires to renew, send In your remittance a tew days before. '-urn mMsXM VOL. CHI- No. 319. Sdiscussm p IN CHECK BY PRESIDENT WILSON Vitiations Definitely Suspend ed Until Roads Have Been Returned To Owners glX HOUR DISCUSSION WITH PRESIDENT WILSON i T aaiIaum TTwmaJ Conservative cib uigcu That Railroad Employes Bide Time For Present tftshington, Feb. 13. Negotiations Bfthe union iawv " jjcrease in ""- ..nried torn gui- uni.ii iae tan pfujf - - are in the hands or tneir J., aeain u-- - - I . .ra Tnere reniamcu o.a a finale . s 4.-. Tn! r4 ant Wi 1 only the presenvxuxx v ..... n the union reply to his statements Ven them earlier In the day, and this !kely will be sent to the white house tomorrow morning. Union officials conierrea ; rt...U.M'a af tamant hilt Sours on trie rfm't . . steadfastly reiusea to aivuigi ivo they ntents. on which white house om- ... maintain nhsolntft Sll- (jjjg IlKOWlOC muv"."v ace. Nor would the union chiefs give ,ny information as to their reply. ;. Conference. With- Lee. Director General Bines conferred Iriefly today with W. G. Lee, presi tat of the Brotnerhood of Railroad Trainmen and a committee from his organization. This conference, so far u the railroad administration is eon cerned, was said to conclude the se pe of meeting on the wage question. Mr. Hines aiso laie ioujr ooui ter t9 trie isroiiieriiuuu 01 wuwu.u, ,Way Employes restating his atti tude toward that group's strike. He jid not make public the nature of his communication, but It was hinted he had informed the maintenance work ers they could expect nothing in the way of advances from the railroad ad ministration. Members of the com fission which has been' representing the maintenance employes,, however, j.nifl this, hurt declared there had teen no decision to call ipfC the strike, which has beeet..fptTuesda ' ifter Mr. Hiiies Tiad . given .the aa- ninistration's final word to Mr.. Lee's ionization the trainmen's pxetsmeui. said his union would accept .xne de cision "as binding on our union as well as on the others." Aitnough Mr. Lee declined to discus3 the next move he would make, It was unaerstooa no vrould not break from the other organ izations. "'' The treneral attitude or Tne union officials after being made acquainted with the President's statement m a conference on the south lawn ol the vhtte house was plainly one of disap pointment. - Some of them were open ly dissatisfied, but the more conserva tive leaders urged that they bide their time in the hope of success along other PIEDMONT LEAGUE ADOPTS SCHEDULE Season Will Start April 21 Instead Of 22 Durham, N. C. Feb. 13. Following his return today from a meeting of the board of directors of the r Pied mont baseball league, held in Greens boro, President V. G. Bramham an nounced that a sschedule has been adopted. "The season, accordincr to the new "hedule, which will be made public tomorrow, starts April 21 instead ; of APrtl 22, as arranged by the tentative schedule, it also Drovides that teams iy only two erame series and keeps well team making two-day Jumps. The league directors also announced that children under twelve -Will be ad aiel for fifteen cents, and passed solutions of respect for- Leon J, wandt, well-known Greensboro base 5a'l enthusiast and team backer, who M this week. ' , V POLK TO ACT IN ' LANSING'S PLACE ody Knows Who Will Be Named j'ashinSton, Feb. 13. Frank U. , under-secretary of state, wIU secretarv ni 1 n tori m romor- to act until President Wilson ap- f'Hts hlte expected to be in. the very near li!rt!eral names were suggested : -to-ofei adminstration circles, but hi ,frankly admitted that they th p efinite information as to who Hare Sldent had mind for. the amnney . I i j but his friends say. that he "tered l- pt tne appointment, if hwii!m becauee of the state of it ia " in fact, he has long Jna,a mind to resign from the '"state a cou and to tak a lon rest' "fgenti which his Physicians have sently advised. . - - W vIE,AMSHIP TOW. Avnai. ' Feb' 13-The steamship tress and reported yesterday - In - dis Wtm Jt,ins assistance abbut five ben taw 8 east f Sandy Hook,: has Ellipse , n tow by steamer Val omrn,m relss me8sase to the na T"?Unication service her today 61ven ao "e P08lt'on of the vessels-was 0 the Vi.Ppr.OXImate,y 360 miles east vireima capes. LEAGUE COUNCIL SENDS NEW NOTE ON EXTRADITION Switzerland To Be Admitted As Original Member Of The Leagqe Of Nations JUGOSLAVIA INFORMED : REGARDING FIUME Non-Delivery Of Coal By Ger many Referred To Repara , tions Commission London, Feb. 13. The council of the league of nations concluded its sessions today. The next meeting of the coun-' ell was fixed for March 15, at Borne. On motion of Baron Matui. the Japanese representative, the council agreed to place under the guarantee of the ' league the stipulations of the treaty between the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan, on the one side, and Poland on the oth er, In so far as they-affected persons belonging to racial, religious or lin guistic minorities in Poland. . To Admit Switezerland. The council voted to admit Switzer land as an original member of the league of nations, accepting the Swiss government's condition for maintaining Swiss neutrality and her refusal to participate- in any military operations undertaken under the auspices of the league, or to permit the passage of for eign troops through Swiss territory,; uui. agreeing w parueipate econnomic pressure " applied in any hT the ' 1 league, Switzerland's admission to the league, however, is. dependent :tjpon a Swiss referendum confirming , these conditions. . k Arthur J. Balfour, the British repre sentative, who presided at the meet ing, announced that a commission com posed of members of the council would be Instructed to summon a conference of the states concerned to study Inter national exchange and finance difficul ties.. . 'v . -. Saar Baaln Commission.' 1 A Saar basin commission was ap pointed, consisting of M. Rault, mem ber of the French . council of state, chairman;. Alfred won Boch; lanSrath of f&arlouis to ; feir'r tk)tspjr Mm I -Hvidtf tfidti. o 71e'ttmar an4 1 tiVir t; lamperc. xor Belgium. a nun member of -.the commlssiotv will be -announced later. ' Bach member will be paid 100, 000 francs' yearly", the chairman receiv ing" an extra 50,000 f rants f or - enter? tainlngl , i . -.-,-'.; - r -, The council agreed on . a note to Jugoslavia regarding Fiume, which, it is intimated, plainly inTorms the Jugo slavs that some agreement must be reached soon if quiet is to be expected in the Adriatic premier Nitti, of Italy, Is reported to be satisfied with the note prepared today. f ' Although M. Trumbitch the Jugoslav minister. Is in Lonlon, he was not call ed into the conference today. The councils note probably will be handed him tomorrow. . New Note to Holland .Notes to Holland- and Germany, the former emphasizing the unanimous view of the Allies that the presence of the former German emperor in Holland is a danger to the peace of Europe and appealing to Holland not to create greater difficulties by insisting on his right of asylum, and the latter dealing with the allied extradition demands, have been completed and will be dis patched immediately. The council con sidered the question of not making public the texts of the. notes until re plies to them had been received, but nothing definite was decided. The council referred the vexing ques tions of the non-delivery of coal ' by Germany, as provided - in the peace Ureaty, to the reparations commission. : - DBMPSEFS RECORD CONDEMNED Petersburg, Va;, Feb. 13. -Petersburg Post No. 2, American Legion, passed a resolution tonight condemn ing the war record of Jack Xempsey. ; GOVERNOR BICKETT GIVES FREEDOM TO WINSTON RIOTERS Believes That Certainty Of Pun ishment Is Sufficient To Demonstrate Law : (Special to The Star.) I Raleigh ( Feb. 13. Governor Bickett today commuted the . sentences of all men convicted of engaging in the Win-Bton-Salem riots more than a year ago who have not already been commutod or pardoned. , . ' Fifteen men were convicted of , en gaging in the riots. Five of them have previously been commuted, par oled or pardoned. The . sentences were from fourteen months to v six years in most instances. The gov ernor cut the court sentences in half. Before taking this action Governor Bickett visited Winston-Salem and talked to city and county officials and the Solicitor, and as result of this conference decided "It would be in the interest of public justice to modi fy the punishment imposed." While impressed with the fact that the conviction "of these men for at tempting to break into jail to lynch a negro was a triumph for. law and order, the governor "believes that certainty of punishment rather - than v Its; sever ity demonstrates the efficiency of the law., ''- WILMINGTON, N. CAROLINA OFFERS DISMAL PROSPECTS TO G. 0, P. HOPES Republicans CT1 Whistling As They Pass I GSs :.; '-. ,-3 FORMER Sip P I 1 ' W- L . . ugn ronucai lard BUTLER ACQ AT CAPITAL Ability To DL-Jt State To Their Party Is Better Than Doubtful (Special to The Star.) Washington, Feb. " 13.North Caro lina republicans are whistling as they pass through their dismal and unvit ing political graveyard. . They' en deavor to be cheerful over the outlook, but the future is so dark for them that they can only promise to do their best in their efforts to turn, the state over to their party. ' ; Marion Butler'tr Activity v , - Marion Butler," former senator from North Carolina, who of late years has been making his home in Washington, and still takes a deep Interest in his party affairs in North Carolina, has become active in the republican organ ization of the Pistrict of Columbia. It is the pronounced policy of this or ganization to have a varigated dele gation to the national convention, as at the meeting of the league of repub lican clubs it was announced that there would-be no "lily white" delega tion, but will be composed of an equal number of whites and blacks. : Former Senator Butler wasi present at this eeung, out ne encouragea intermix- lre wn me nopeiut ; assurance tnat XT A T T - . ... orm Carolina wouiq preoaoiy go-republican in the torthcomtag. presiden tial election. ' ' : : y Other republicans, however, who are Just as deeply interested in their party in that etate, express" grave doubts as to the ability of the republicans to carry North Carolina. Col. O. T. Col lins, of New York and North, Caro lina, .said that while there is a chance, it is not probable that the-republicans can carry North Carolina. 'In giving his. view of the situation in that state, he eaid: , . Southerners Independent "Southern delegations to the -repub- (lican 'national convention.: this year will have .a' different character from -any c, ; nave , onnreyiosja : iWr-rM rJJVVQ; rgfCtVJ lUiy ..:"mfc ... Mw.yrJT; be so .easy .to: handle perhaps.. In pre vious national election years the re publican leaders of the north have had' a large 'influence " upon " the southern delegations. - They have, In fact virtu ally controlled. themi But - southern republicans; this time are thinking. for themselves, and they ' have . made -up their.jninds that they ..are going to" be . just as independent as the rest of them.: Take, for Instance, North Caro lina. While there is hardly a probab ility that the state can be carried by the republicans, there is a chance. Cer tainly the republican vote- thls-'year will be greater than ' it has - been in any previous election ' year. It is for this reason ' perhaps that the republi can leaders of the state are engaged in a rather vigorous contest for dele gates.,, - . .. . ' . . Carolina's "Big Four? "It has ..been virtually settled that Colonel Duncan, former' national com mitteeman, will be one of the "big four" from North Carolina, .and Mr. Morehead likely - will .-be - another These two men have been trying to iron out their difBcuJUee and get to gether. ',They . will probably control the delegation, though JZeb Vance Wal ser's interest in Wood arises from his close relationship with the late-Colonel Roosevelt. It . Is not likely, however, that Walser will be chosen a delegate-at-large unless he promises to be good. Both Duncan and Morehead, It Is said, are Inclined to favor Senator Harding for the nomination, and it'ismy guess that when the times comes the North Carolina vote will , be cast for the Ohio senator. Convention ' at Greensboro "The state convention will be held at Greensboro March 23, and will be one of the first to choose delegates. Judge Jeter. Pritchard will be named as North Carolina's choice for the presidency, but the second choice of the delegates will be the most im portant 'figure." PLACE McADOO'S NAME ON GEORGIA BALLOTS Petition To That Effect Been Signed . Has Milledgeville, Ga., Feb. 13. More than 150 names were signed to a petition here today to place the name of ' William. G. McAdoo in., the Georgia democratic presidential primary, to be held April 20. Under " the primary rules only one hundred signatures are necessary. Mr. McAdoo, who is a native of Georgia, spent several years.'here when his fa ther was editor of a newspaper . here in the 70s. - - - The-name of the former secretary of the -treasury " Is the second' which by petition will' ba placed In the prefer ential . primary, a petition to' put Her bert Hoover's name in : the primary having been signed by more than one hundred, persons at Gainesville a few days ago. - .-V. hy -a . " PROMISED IMMUNITY : y IF SUPPORTED NEWBERRY Grand Rapids, Mich, Feb. 13 Morel testimony concerning the conversation behind the prescription case inj Wil liam McKleighah's drug, store in which, according to testimony given ; yester day, threats were . made : to send Mc Gelghan to Jail on charge of assault and robbery if the druggist politician did not support Truman H.-Newberry's senatorial primary : campaign,; was . of fered by the prosecution today in the jNewberry- trial. , O, SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 14, 1920. LANSING IS THIRD MEMBER OF CABINET i TO QUIT HIS POST Bryan And Garrison Both fte signed Following Differences ... With President TO RETURN TO PRACTICE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW Mr. Lansing "Entered State De partment As Counsellor In . The Year 1914 Washington,. - Feb. 13. Secretary Lansing is the third cabinet officer ap pointed by President . Wilson to quit after differences-with the executive. ' .William .; Jennings ;Bryan was the first. He resigned-on June 9,. 1916, be cause of a ..disagreement with the President -over the ; handling of diplo matic correspondence - with Germany growing out of submarine warfare. , , The second was Lindley M. ' Garri son, secretary, of-war, who gave up his post on February -19,: 1916, because of differences "with Mr. Wilson over the question of independence - for the Philippines...' v;: 4 -: .;, " :--i,t Mr. - Lansing -.was appointed secre tary state ad interim after the resig nation of Mr. Bryan-and served until June 23, of the. same ; year, when he was mad secretary.-. He has not an nounced his plana; for the future, but it ia expected lie1 will, return to the practice of International law; as" did his father-in-law, 'John w. Foster, when y he completed; his term as secre tary of statet'v..v.''K.--'".j; r-u'-i:. s,, Mr.1 Lansing entered ' the state " de partment in 1914 -as--jpounsellor, after having represented-the government on a number of diplomatic' missions and arbitration commissions. . DOUBLE LAUNCHING, SEEN , ' . " AT NEWPORT JNEWS TODAY I- Newport" News. Va., .Feb. : 13. -A double launching wil be seen tomor row mornins at the plant of the New port News Shipbuilding, and Dry Dock company, - when the', torpedo boat 'de stroyers Abel P. Upshur and Hunt take the watery. The ..Upshur is, named for the famous Virginia.; lawyer,: of ; that. name, , who: at: one time was secretary j of thei navy r and WM vIater secretary n ... of state inHhe rjnatldnit 'WBiiii:, rot x i etcju-. 9 v'jraisviJ lor Timothy Atwaterfeutit a native of Connecticut; who was a naval comman der.' . . ... . ' INFLUENZA OUTBREAK AT GEORGIA. -ARMY POST Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., Feb. .13. Due to the outbreak of Influenza at Fort Oglethorpe a strict "' quarantine has heen placed by military officials which will keep all soldiers within' the limits of the reservation for a ten f days ' at least, while the number'- of cases of the malady has not been announced. a- was reported today :tbat there had been three fatalities among the .troops. SENATOR SIMMONS SEES DESTRUCTION MERCHANfjAME Fears That Proposed Sale Would Mean Operation Under For eign Flags Special to The Star) Washington, D. C, Feb. 13. Speak ing in support of a joint resolution In the seriate today deferring the sale of passenger ships by the United States shipping board until congXssj can agree upon a permanent, policy with respect to such ships, Senator Simmons expressed the fear that if ths sale should be permitted it would be an opehlng wedge to destroy the merchant marine built up by the gov ernment under the V war . emergency, and ' that the sale would mean the ships would eventually be . operated under foreign Hags.,- 1. . - Selling at low Value '.The, charge has been made that the ships' were to be sold at the' agreed price 'of f 28.000,000, whlph it is claim ed :is ' not more than one fourth of their value and that the purchaser would operate them under the British flag.'-' 'i ;. - -, v ', After " the exciting debate In ' the senate, in which vigorous protest 'was made against the sale, Judge Payne, chairman, of 'the ' shipping board, -appeared before the senate v committee on commerce, of Which Senator Sim mons is a member, and stated that the board contemplates merely receiving bids to see how much can be obtained and to bring about a final" policy. -He said it was proposed to "write into the contract of whatever sale was made a specific condition that the ships were to fly the . American flag and that they were to operate " in es tablished lanes of trade, ( He said it was not intended that the ships should go to any - one except . to Americans of unquestioned. Americanism. - i Future , f Merchant Marine In his- protest against the sale Sena? tor Simmons said if . "that permitted such disposal would mean the end of American ship ,; building,;, that now ; is the " best , opportunity '. the ' government has ever had or win ever have in the future to establish the "American mer chant,' marine on m ' permanent basis that would answer the growing needs of the country in coastwise and for eign trade f SECRETARY PRESIDENT MAKES ACCUSATION OF USURPATION OF POWERS TEXT OF CORRESPONDENCE PRECEDING RESIGNATION President, Says Secretary -rowers And Mr. Lansing's Denial Leads To Disclosure :That He Contemplated Step Washington. Feb. 13. The state de partment has issued th fniinwinr statement: . Secretary Xansing Jbas resigned and f f 5eaiBnation has been accepted, taking effect today, Following is the correspondence between the President and Secretary Lansing: Wilson's First Letter v "The -White, : House, Washington, 7 February, 1920: ''"My Dear Mr. Secretary: Is it true, as I have been told, that during my illness ,you have frequently called the heads of .the executive departments of the' government into conference? If it? is :I feel -it my duty, to call your attention to considerations - which I do not care to dwell upon until I learn from you yourself that this is the fact. Under our constituted law and practice, as developed hitherto, no one but " the President has the . right to summon - the: heads of the executive departments into conference, and no one but the President and the congress has.' the right,; to ask their views or the -views of any ' one or them on any public question. ' ' . V "I take' this matter up with you be cause in the development . of every constitutional system, custom and pre cedent -are of the most serious -consequence, and I think we will all agree .In desiring not to lead in any wrong direction. I have, therefore-, taken the liberty, of writing you to ask you this question, and I am sure you will be glad to answer. ' , "I am. happy to learn from your re cent note to ' Mrs. Wilson that your' strength is returning. ; "Cordially and sincerely yours, . " i ;WOODROW WILSO N." - "Honorable" Robert : Lansing, Secre- tary;of-etatev:"--;'-; ; ; .. '';V-': Mr. Lansing's -Reply '' "The Department of State, Washing- .. ton, Feb. 9, 1920: " vf : ,,-'.r ' "My Dear Mr. President: Jt is true thatxfrequtly during -your Htness Tl MiHstja?a, -betli.ejail- oiMiecutly ttepartments of the-government tti meet for' Informal conference. v-r , "Shortly after you were taken ill in October certain members , of; the cabinet;- of Whicbwl was one, felt that, in view; of the . fact that we were denied communication .with you, it was wise for- us to confer formally together on'tnter-departmehtal' raatters and matters as to which action could not be postponed until your medical advisers- permitted you to - pass upon them. Accordingly I, as the ranking member, requested the c members of the cabinet to assemble for such In formal conference; and in view of the mutual benefit derived, .thev practice was continued. - I can assure you that It never for a moment entered my mind that I was acting unconstitution ally or contrary to your wishes, and there certainly was no intention on -my part to assume powers and exer cise functions which Under, the constitution-are ,; exclusively, confided to the President. , . -. . "During these troublous times, when jnany difficult and vexatious questions have arisen, and when in the circum stances I have been deprived of your guidance" and ' direction, it has been my, constant endeavor to carry out your poliotes as I understood them and to act in all matters as I believed you would wish me to act. , If. however, you think that I have failed in my. loyalty to you, and if you no longer have confidence in me and prefer to have another conduct our foreign af fairs, I am, of course, ready, Mr. President, to - relieve you of -Wjrar harassment, by placing my resignation in "your hands. . -I am. as always. tMuJ jrwra, : " ROBERT LANSING" - - V president Disappointed . "The White House, Washington, 11 February, 1920. " ' "My dear Mr. Secretary: I am very much disappointed, by your letter of February ninth in reply to mine about the so-called cabinet meetings. You kindly explain the motives of these metlngs. and I find nothing in your let ter which justifies your assumption of presidential authority in such a mat ter. Tou say you, 'felt that in view of the fact that you were denied com munication with me, it was wise to eonfer informally together on inter departmental matters and matters as to which action could not be postponed until my medical advisers permitted me to be een and consulted, but I have - to remind you. Mr. - Secretary, that no action could be taken; without me by the cabinet and therefore there could have been no disadvantage in awaiting action with regard to mat ters concerning which - action could not have been taken without me. -"This affair,. Mr. " Secretary, only deepens a feeling that was growing upon me! -While we were still in Paris I felt, and have felt increasingly eyer since, -that you accepted my guidance and direction on " questions with re-i rard to which I had to Instruct you only with increasing reluctance, and alios r my return to Washington I have beH- struck by the 4 nbmber . of mat tertrtln which you ." have apparently trIeTVo forestall . my judgment by form'ne action and fmerely asking my when it was Impossible for rftotsr'form an independent Judg ment because I had not had an op portunity to examine v the . circum stances with any. degree ofindepend- "I 'therefore, feel that I must frank ly take advantage of. your kind - sug gestion that If 'I should, prefer to have another to conduct our foreign affairs, you .are ready .to., relieve me of any em Wrassment by placing your resigna LANSING RESIGNS; Usurped Presidential tion in my hands, for I must say tht it would relieve me of embarassment, Mr. Secretary, the J embarassment Of feeling your reluctance and divergence of judgment, if : you would give your present office up and afford me an op portunity to select some one whose mind would more willingly go along with mlnel "I need not tell you with what re luctance I take advantage of your sug gestion, or that I do so with the kind liest feeling. In matters of transcen dent Importance like this the- only wise course is of perfect candor, where personal feeling is as much as possible left out of the reckoning. "Very sincerely yours, "WOODROW WILSON." , "Honorable 'Robert Lansing, secre tary of state." Formal Resignation "Office of The Secretary of State, Washington, Feb. 12, W20. "My Dear Mr. President J "I thank you sincerely for your can did letter of the eleventh, in which you state my resignation, would be ac ceptable to you, since It relieves me of responsibility- for an action which I have been contemplating and which I can now take without hesitation, as it . meets . your wishes. ' f'l have the honor, therefore, to ten der my resignation as. Secretary of State, the same to take effect at your convenience, . - ; ...-.-." " : "In thus severing our official rela tions. X feel, Mr. ., President, I should make the following ; statement, which I had prepared recently and which .will show you that I have not been .' un mindful that - the 'continuance of , our present relations was impossible, and that I realized that it was clearly my duty to bring them : to an end. at tffe earliest moment; compatible with the public interest..' ;- - r:; s "Ever since.'' January," 1919, I -have been conscious of the fact that, you,-no gotiations in Paris, to our foreign ser vice or to international affairs in gen eral. Holding these, views I would, if I had consulted my personal Inclination alone, have resigned as Secretary of State and- as a. commissioner .to negotiate- peace.. ..i, felt, however, that such a step might have been. misinterpreted both at, home, .'and abroad and - that it was, my . duty , to cause , you no. em barrassment in carrying forward .the great task in which you were then en gaged. Possibly. I erred-In this, but if I did it was with the best of motives. : -Had Contemplated Step. - "When I ; returned- to- Washington in the -latter part of July, 1919, my per sonal wish to resign' had not changed, but again I felt that .loyalty to you and my duty toward the administration compelled me to defer action as my resignation might have been miscon strued into hostility of the peace trea ty or at least into disapproval of your views as to the torm of ratification. 1 therefore remained silent, avoiding any comment on the frequent reports that we were not in full agreement. Sub' sequently, your serious Illness, during which I have never seen you, imposed upon me the duty at least I construed it to be my dy to remain in charge of the Department of State until your health-permitted you 'to assume again lull direction of foreign affaira. "Believing that that time had arriv ed, I had prepared my resignation when my only no u tot as to the propriety of placing it in your hand was remov ed by your letter indicating that it weulu be entirely acceptable to you. "I think. Mr. President, in accordance with the fraakness which has marked this correspondence; and for which I am' grateful you. that I cannot per mit to pass unchallenged the imputa tion that In calling into informal con ference the heads of the executive de partments I sought to usurp your pres idential authority. I had no such in tention, no such thought. I believed, then, and I believe now, that the con ferences were for the best interests of your administration and of the repub lic, and that belief was shared by oth ers . whom I consulted. I further be lieve the conferences were proper and necessary in ' the circumstances, ' and that I. would have been derelict in my duty if I had failed to act as I, did. Forestalling Judgment. ' "I also feel.' Mr. President, ;that can dor compels me to say that I cannot agree with your statement that J have tried to forestall your judgment in certain cases by formulating action and merely asking your approval when it was impossible for you to form an independent judgment because you -had not had an opportunity to examine the circumstances 4with any degree of in dependence, l' have, it, is true,' when I thought a case demanded immediate action, advised you what, in my opin ion, that action should be, stating at the same . time the reasons on which my ; opinion - was based. This I oon ceived to be a function of the Seore tary of State, and I have followed the practice for the' past four years and a half. I confess that I have been 8ur prised and . 'disappointed at the fre quent disapproval . of my suggestions, but I have, never, failed to follow year decisions, however, difficult it made the conduct of our foreign affairs. ' , , "I -need hardly add that I leave the office of r secretary i of . state - with only good will toward you, Mr. President, and with a sense of prooud relief. ; ,"Li "Forgetting our differences and re membering only your many kindnesses : (Contained : on. Pag two.) WHOLE NUMBER 30,083; President Took Offense At Action of Secre . tary Calling Cabinet Meetings ? FAILED IN LOYALTY Lansing Maintains He Would Have Been De relict If He Had Fail ed To Act. Washington, Feb. 13. Robert Lansing ended his career as sec retary of state today after President, Wilson had accused him of usurping the powers of the President by calling meet ings of the cabinet during Mr, Wilson's illness. 1 Mr. Lansing denied he had sought or intended to usurp the presidential authority. He add ed, however, that he believed then, and still believes, that the cabinet conferences were "for the best interests of the repub lic"; that they were "proper and necessary" because of the Presi dent's condition and that he would have been derelict in his duty if he had failed to act as he did:- ; v-..' As the record stands, Mr. Lan sing tendered r his resignation and Mr. Wilson accepted it The resignation was . offered, how ever; only y after the President, under date of February 7, had written asking if it were true that Mr. Lansing had called cab u bucii wersvine, case ne xen u necessary to say that "under oui constitutional ; law; and practice, as developed hitherto, no one bui the President has the right tc summon the heads of the execu tive departments into confer- ence." ' . ''-'.Aeted (r the Bett. Mr. Lansing answered two days la ter last Monday -saying he had call ed the cabinet conferences because hi and others of the President's official family "felt that, In view of the fact that we were denied communicatioi with you, it was wise for us to confei ;. informally, together, on , mat- -ters as to which action could not bi postponed until your medical advlseri permitted you to pass upon them." The secretary .concluded by saying , that If the President believed he ha failed In his "loyalty" to him. and 11 Mr. Wilson on longer had confidence-It him, he was ready to "relieve you ol any embarrassment by placing my res. :; ignatlon in your hands." ' The President replied last Wednes day that he was "much disappointed by Mr. Lansing's, letter regarding "th ' so-called cabinet, meeting." He fount nothing in the secretary's letter "whick : justifies your.-assumption of presiden tial authority in such a matter," and added that he "must frankly take ad vantage of your kind suggestion to re- -sign." . V . , t , ' . : ' "I must, say," .continued the PresI- dent, "that it would relieve me of em- 1 barrassment, Mr. Secretary, the em barrassment of feeling your reluctance : and divergence of judgment, it . yot would give up your pre-sent office and allow me to select some one else whosa ; ' mind would more willingly go along with mine.' Sleetlns; Called Off. , Before this . letter, was . written . tb ' date for the regular cabinet meeting last Tuesday 'had passed, and the cor- . respondence discloses why the cabinet did not meet. On. the same day thai he received this letter from the Presl-V dent, Mr. Lansing announced he had written the' cabinet , officers that h " would not call any more cabinet con- . ferences for the present, but. no ex- . planatlon-was offered.- 'Inquiry at tbt white house brought? only the state- . ment that Mr. Wilson himself probably would call and preside at the next ses- x sion of his official advisers, r But ; - the : differences between t th President .and the secretary long pre dated , the first cabinet call by Mr. Lansing, which ' was issued, last. Octe- ' ber fifth, seven days after Mr. Wll- V son returned from ' his .western speak- -ing tour and took to his -ed. Thej began at the peace conference ' Mr Paris, as Mr. Lansing disclosed' in hit final letter to the President, ; under date of yesterday,' and 1 bad continued ' since that time- one of the chief diff erences being over the , government'! attitude toward Mexico. ' " When the cabinet mat on October 5, Joseph Pt Tumulty, private secretary to the President, Issued a formal state ment explaining the - reasons for the: conference.?., j He said:- ..- Allay Indnstrtal Unrest. a '"The cabinet meeting was called ti consider questions In .which more that one department, was concerned, and al- so to discuss the ' Industrial confer ence." ' , '" . He referred 'to' the : first conference called by the President 'with the hopa of allaying the industrial unrest. In his statement Mr. Tumulty said that Rear Admiral Grayson, Mr. Wll-.' son's physician, was present, and "sug . 1 . (Continued . on Pase Two.). . ? in I! Mi . J! i. 1l
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 14, 1920, edition 1
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