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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 1920)
ly Bee VOL. 4!) NO. 207. tUr at Mcand-clata Ktttar Mar 2. 1906. jl Omaha. P. o. aad.r act ( Mirth S. Itfi OMAHA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14,v 1920. By Mill (I yaar). Dally. J6.00: Siaday. $:.50: Dally and Sua., 17.04: utld Nad. loitas tra. TWO CENTS. nrn nn rnrc"TP P; u The Omaha DA , 7 TRAINMEN QUIT WAGE MEETINGS Suspend Negotiations 'Until Roads Are Returned to Pri vate Ownership Will Reply To Wilson Today. MAINTENANCE WORKERS' STRIKE O0DER TO STAND White House and Union Heads Refuse to Divulge President's. Proposal No Independent Strikes to Be Called. Washington, Feb. 13. Negotia tion of the union railroad employes for an increase in pay practically were suspended tonight until the rail properties are again in the hands of their owners. There remained as a finale onjy the presentation to Presi dent Wilson of the union reply to his statement given them earlier in the day and this nkely will fre sent to the White House tomorrow morning. Union officials conferred for six hours on the president's statement but they steadfastly refused to di vulge its contents, on which White House officials likewise maintained absolute silence. Nor would the union chiefs give any information as to their reply. Director General Hines conferred briefly late today with W. G. Lee, president .of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, and a committee from his organization. This con ference , so far as the railroad ad ministration is concerned was said to conclude the series of meetings on the wage question. . Strike Order Stands. Mr, Hines also late today sent a letter to the Brotherhood of Main tenance of Way employes restating his attitude toward that group's scheduled strike. He did not make public the nature of his communica tion, but it was hinted he had in formed the maintenance workers they could expect nothing further in the way of wage increases from the railroad administration. Members of the committee which has been representing the maintenance em ployes, however, denied this, but de clared there had been no decision to call off the strike which has been set for Tuesday. After Mr. Hines had given the ad ministration's final word to Mr. Lee's organization, the trainmen's president announced he regarded ihe White House decision "as bind ing on cur union as well as the others." Although Mr. Lee declined to discuss the next move he would niako, it was understood he would not break from the other organiza tions; It was indicated also that he would permit the wage agreement notice of abrogation of which was given for February 23, to remain in effect until the termination of fed eral control. Union Heads Disappointed.- The general attitude of the union officials after being made acquainted with the president's statement, in a conference on the south lawn of the White House was plainly one of dis appointment. Some of them were openly dissatisfied but the more con servative leaders urged that they bide their time in the hope of suc cess along other lines. Whether this attitude was proof that the president had flatly denied the requests for increases or was an indication he had submitted an unsatisfactory counter proposal was the subject of differences of opinion among union leaders who were not made acquainted with the president's reply. Many of the-m had believed, it was stated that a compromise would be offered by the president but there was a growing belief that the White House decision had been strictly in accord with the recom mendations submitted by Mr. Hines. Earnings Insufficient. It was understood Mr. Hines had tokl the president that the railroad earnings were insufficient to take care of a new pay raise. The df rector general was said to have in formed Mr! Wilson also that the railroad administration had adopted a policy las fall which , ended the "war cycle" of increasing the pay of its men and that any further revi sion in the wage agreements could be made only if there was more revenue provided. A complete review of the wage hearings and a statement of rail roads fiscal outlook was" m,ade a part of the director general's communica tion to the White house. Many of thp union officials were proposing to leave Washington to morrow. Several conferences were scheduled for eacly tomorrow but union officials who were -to attend expected only routine matters to be 4 taken up. The reply of the railroad unions to the president was expected to be submitted to the White house at 11 tomorrow by the committee com posed of B. M. Jewell, acting presi dent of the railway employees de partment of American Federation of Labor; E, J. Manion, president of the Order of Railway Telegraphers, and Timothy Shea, acting president of the Brotherhood of Firemen and Enginemea. which saw Mr. .tyiUon todajfe Will Act as Head Of State Department In Wilsons Cabinet ii Washington,. Feb: 13. Frank L. Polk, under secretary of state, will be made secretary ad interim tomor row to act until President Wilson appoints a successor to Robert Lan sing. This is expected to be in the very near future. Several names were suggested to night in administration circles, but officials frankly admitted that they had no definite information as to whom the president had in mind for the place. Chief among those' suggested was Mr. Polk, but his friends say that. he will not accept the appointment if offered him because of the state of his 'health and in fact has long had in mind to resign from the state de partment and take a long rest, which his physicians have urgently advised. Mr. Polk entered the State de partment as counselor September 16, 1915, .succeeding; to the post Mr. Lansing held before becoming, sec retary. He was made under-secre-tary of state June 23, 1919,. under the letislation passed by the last con gress creating the office. Hp served as acting secretary -offltate. through out the time Mr. Lansing - was at the peace conference in Paris, Be fore entering tne state department Mr. Polk was corporation counsel of New York City and also was a member of the civil service commis sion thtjre. - 't : ' COMrOTfGARDS FOR CONSUMERS SENT RETAILERS Economy Campaign Director Asks All Purchasers to Write Out Their "Kicks" Lincoln, Feb. 13.(Special.) Mrs. C. G. Ryan, state director of the Economy campaign, is sending out cards today which will give every individual a chance to get in com munication with her department. The cars w ill be placed in the hands of merchants and any individual is welcome to one. When any purchaser becomes dissatisfied with a purchase, one of these cards can be made out and sent to the local economy director and investigation will be ma'de. The communication is as follows: "You will receive with this letter a number of the consumers' com plaint cards. "We send this package with the request that you assist in the dis tribution of the cards by having your salesmen put them iii the hands of yourcustomers. ""It is believed that retail dealers will welcome these cards as an op portunity to show their good faith and to convince customers tliey are co-operating with federal authorities to weed out profiteers. v "You realize tjjiat high costs are causing discontentment, that many consumers trace the trouble no fur ther than their immediate handler of merchandise and hold him re sponsible for profiteering and other ills of which he my be, and probably is. entirely innoceirt. - "We believe the . complaint card will focus attention upon legitimate complaints and check distrust, ex aggeration and misstatements. "Your salesmen will be of service if they put these cards in the hands of the trade with the suggestion that the retailers invite their cus tomers' attention to them, thus showing a generous spirit, of co operation in efforts to reduce the high cost of living." ' Hoover Republican Club Organized in Home Town Palo Alto, . Oil., Feb. 13. The organization of a Hoover Republi can' club "to give active and volun tary expression to. the demand for Herbert C. Hoover ' for president of the United States and , to obtain his nomination by ;the republican party" was perfected here today by fellow townsmen of the former food administrator. South Dakota Town Razed 1 By Fire for Third Time Mitchell. S. D.. Feb. 13. For the third time in four years the town of Fulton," 14 miles east of .here,, is be ing razed by flames driven'before a strong wind. At midnieht the flames ATTEMPT TO BLOCK SALE OF 30 SHIPS Charge Price Offered by Bid ders Is Far Below Recon struction Cost Committee Grills Chairman Payne. SENATE DELAYS ACTION UNTIL BIDS ARE MADE New York Publisher Asks Injunction to Stop Sale Charges of Private Agree ment Are Denied. Washington, Feb. i.. Vigorous opposition to shipping board plans for the sale of 30 former German passenger liners, broke out in ;he senate today, expressed in sharply critical debate and presentation of several resolutions proposing to block the action. While the debate was in progress other developments came thick and fast. John B. Payne, chairman of the board, appeared before the senate Commerce committee through its chairman, Senator Jones of Wash ington, reported to the senate that no immediate action was necessary. No action accordingly was taken. Give Out Payne Letter. At the White house there was made public a letter concerning the proposed sale sent by Mr. Payne to the president, which remarked on the "vicious but characteristic at tack against the shipping TJoard ema nating from a certain quarter re garding the sale of the ex-German passenger ships." In the District of Columbia su preme court William Randolph Hearst of New York appearing as a taxpayer, filed an application for an injunction to prevent the pro posed sale of the ships at auction Monday. 'The court issued an order requiring the board to show cause Monday why a temporary injunction should not be issed. No Sale to be Made. Chairman Payne assured the sen ate committee and his assurances were repeated to the full senate that the board merely receive bids Monday for the vessels and would report the results to the senate before acting. He met charges that the sale of the vessels to a single purchaser for $28,000,000 was in tended wih a flat denial, but re peated his own conclusion that the sale of the ships to American pri vate owners at the present time was to t he advantage of the govern ment. Senator Ashurst. democrat of Arizona opened the debate and later brought it to a head by offering a concurrent resolujjon directing the shipping board not to sell the ships except through regular bidding after three months advertising. He and the senators supporting his resolu tion declared the board's action would rernlt in the sale of vessels worth $200 a ton and more to pri vate interests for around $80 a ton. The possibility that they might go to English ownership was strongly intimated by opponents of the im mediate !ale. Committee Quizes Payne. Before the committee Mr. Payne faced prolonged examination. Sen ators cited the price offered the board for the Leviathan, the 54,000 ton, leader of the ex-German fleet, which was $4,000,000. This was com pared with an original construction cost for the vessel' of $10,000,000 and a present cost of duplicating if in American vards of $25,000,000 or $50,000,000. This latter figure was furnished by Homer S. Ferguson, president ot the United States i Chamber of Commerce, a ship yard I head, who was present. i Chairman Payne likewise fur-! niajied the estimates of shipping board experts that it would cost ! $7,500,000 to recondition the vessel, from a troop transport to its former capacity of passenger carrier. Only one concern wanted to buy the Le viathan, Mr. Payne said, but frorn two to five bids were received on btiicr vessels of the fleet. Wine Necessary for Soul, Says Maeterlinck in Chicago Chicago. Feb. 13. M. Maurice Maeterlinck and his bride arrived in Chicago aboard the private car Mayflower, usually reserved for traveling presidents. He found a series of functions planned for his reception. "Functions," sighed the dramatist when newspapermen arrived to in terview him. "Wnat is a function a , speech and a pitcher of water. Some day when America is not so naive it will realize that wine is necessary for the soul." Elihu Root Is Honored by V the Council of the League London, Feb. 13. Elihu Root has been invited to become a member of the committee to prepare plans for the construction of a permanent court of internationafju.stice. The list was announced at today's ses sion of tb council of tht league of WOMEN DEMAND PROMPT ACTION ON SUFFRAGE LAW Special Sessions Urged in States That Have Not Ratified Bill. . Chicago, Feb. 13. Governors of the various states that have not rati fied the federal suffrage amendment will receive telegrams demanding immediate consideration and prompt action by the legislatures as a result jof action decided upon today at the j opening of the fifty-first annual con : vention of the National American Woman Suffrage association. I Delegates to the convention uum j bering more than 2,000 are desirous I that ratification be completed so that ! 1I .. f .1.. ..... 4... (til wwiucu ui wic iuui!u i an jjai in itiate in the presidential election. Survey of Campaigns. The report of Mrs. F. J. Schuler. corresponding secretary and chair man of campaigns and surveys, con tained a review of the suffrage rati fication campaign. In addition to the federal amendment Mrs. Sliuler named the following suffrage vic tories of the y?ar: Presidential suffrage gains in Mis souri, Tennessee and Iowa; the grant of municipal suffrage in Or lando, Fla.; the extension of muni cipal suffrage to the women in the democratic primaries in Atlanta; the upholding of the constitutionality of the presidential and municipal suf frage laws in Nebraska and the deci sion by the attorney general of Ne braska that women have the right to vote for delegates to the national political party conventions; the pas sage of a woman watchers' bill in the. Ohio legislature, and the favor able decision of the Texas supreme court on the constitutionality of th state primary bill. Recommend Many Changes. The executive council of tM Na tional American Woman Suffrage association at the night session rec ommended that the association dis solve, as the object of many years' endeavor, the securing of the vote for the women citizens of the coun try, is about to be attained. An other recommendation which was approved was that the League of Women V'oters, now a section of the suffrage association, be organ ized as a new and independent so ciety. Another recommendation was that the present executives of the as sociation retain their relationship to the board of directors to be elected at this Convention, but they shall change their names, objects and con stitutions to conform to those of the National League of Women Voters and take up the plan of work to be adopted at the first congress of the league. Additional recommendations which were approved by the delegates in cluded a resolution that the League of Women Voters make political education for the new women voters (but not excluding men) its first duty in 1920; that the nation-wide-plan shall include normal schools in each state, followed by schools in each county, and that the league make an effort to have the study of citizenship required in the public -chools of everv state and also in the colleges and universities. As a permanent memorial to Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, former presi dent, the association decided to found a chair of political study at Hryn Mawr college. Will Call Session. Oklahoma City, Okl., Feb. 13. Gov. J. B. A. Robertson, in a state ment tonight said he would call a special session of the state legis lature for February 23, to ratify the woman suffrage amendment. Lincoln Watching for Men Who Got $70,000 From Bank in Kansas Lincoln. Neb., Feb. 13. The state bank of Rhine, Kan., was robbed Fridav night of $20,000 in money and between $40,000 and $50,00 in Liberty bonds, according to a mes sage received today by the police of Lincoln. Lincoln authorities were aked to be on the lookout for the robbers. Great Britain and Russian Soviet Sign Agreement Copenhagen. Feb.. 13. The pro longed negotiations between James O'tirady. representing Great Britain, and M. Litvinoft. on behalf of the Russian soviet government, ended in an agreement signed Thursday. Mritish war prisoners in Russia will be released and British civilians repatriated. Russian war prisoners in England will be released and Great Britain will provide transport for the repatriation of Russian pris oners in neutral countries. It also was arranged that the Archangel government should ex change bolshevik , prisoners for "white" prisoners held by the bol sheviki. " j Agricultural Bill Passes With Extension Clause! Washington, Feb. 13. After a week's debate the house completed work on the regular agricultural ap propriation bill carrying $30,500,000, or $7,100,000 less than granted by congress for the present fiscal year. Formal passage of the measure went over until Saturday. Efforts to reduce the $1,500,000 ap propriation for county extension and farm demonstration work was de feated, Representative Purnell, re publican of Indiana, leading the fight for the retention of the larger COMPROMISE OFFERED ON PEACE PACT Hitchcock Lays Modified Drafts of Article Ten Before Republican Senators 28 Signatures Are Appended. BI-PARTISAN AND TAFT PLANS ARE SUBMITTED Opposition in Canada to Re publican Reservation on Vot ing Power Causes Comment But No Definite Action. Washington. FVb. 13. Two modi fied drafts of the article 10 resolu tion to the oeace treaty were laid betore republican senators today by Senator Hitc-ck. the democratic leader, with the promise that about 40 democrats would support which ever of the proposals the republicans found preferable. Both of the propositions, however, had been rejected bv republican leaders in the course of the disrupt ed bipartisan compromise negotia tions and it was indicated tonight that there was little hone that eith c would be accepted now. The re it i'ilicans withheld a formal reply pending a canvass of the situation to be made tomorrow. One or the revisions offered by Senator Hitchcock was that worked out but not finally agreed to by the l)i;iartisaii conference and which President Wilson characterized later as "very unfortunate," in form. The other was the draft formulated In former President Taft and rejected by Sen.ito'- Lodge, republican lead er, when it was offered to the bi partisan conference bv the demo crats. Put in Writing. In approaching the republicans today Senator Hitchcock put his proposition in writing with the sig natures of 28 democratic senators appended. Those who signed in cluded, he said, virtually all who were at the capitol during the day and represented every element among the treaty's democratic friends. At least a dozen more, he predicted, would give their support to the move if opnortunitv offered. The proposal as presented first to Senator McCumber of North Dako ta, a leader of the mild reservation republicans, and then to Senator Lodge was as follows: "The undersigned democratic sen ators, as a means of securing ratifi cation of the treaty, will support as a reservation on Article 10, either of the following reservations, the first one being the reservation as framed in the bipartisan conferences recently held, and the second one being the last proposed reservation by former President 1 att. , Bipartisan Plan. 'Bipartisan conference reserva tion: "The lTnilcd St?tes assumes no obligation to employ its military or naval forces or the economic boy cott to preserve the territorial in tegrity or political independence of any other country under the provi sions of article 10. or to employ the military or naval forces of the United States under any other ar ticle of the treaty for any purpose, unless in any particular case the congress which, under the consti tution, has the sole power to de clare war, shall by act or joint reso lution so provide. Nothing herein shall be deemed to impair the obli gation in article 1, concerning the economic boycott. Taft Resolution, "Mr. Taft's suggested resolution: "The United States declines to assume any legal or binding obliga tion to preserve the territorial in tegrity '"or political independence of :ny other country under the pro visions of article 10, or to employ the military or naval forces of the United States under any article of the treaty for any purpose; but t)ie congress which, under the constitu tion, ha the sole power in the prem ises, will consider and decide' what moral obligation, if any, under the circumstances of any particular case, when it arises, should movte the United States, in the interest of world peace and justice, to take ac tion therein, and will provide ac cordingly. "Whichever of the above reserva tions is preferred by republicans supporters of' the treaty will, as a compromise,, be acceptable to us." The senators who signed were: Ashurst, Arizona; Pomerene, Ohio; (Continued on Pace Two, Column Seven.) Coalition-Unionist Is Elected to the Commons London, Feb. 13. In the bye election for the Ashton-Under-Lyne constituency to fill the seat made vacant in the House of Commons by the elevation of Sir Albert Stanley to the peerage, Sir Walter Defreece, the coalition-unionist candidate, won by a comparatively narrow margin. Will Grant No Extension for Income Tax Returns Washington, Feb. 13. Xo cxtet. sion of time for filing income ta.v j returns will be granted this year by j the bureau of internal revenue. Secretary A ccused Exchange of Notes Verifies Testimony in Congress of Paris Differences on Which Lansing Refused to Comment. : RESIGNATION WILL BE ! EFFECTIVE AT ONCEl Would Have Quit in Paris and Again Later, But Refrained Lest Action Would Be Mis construed Home and Abroad. Washington. Feb. 13. The State department issued the following statement : Secretary Lansing has resigned and his resignation has been ac cepted, taking effect today. Follow ing is the correspondence between the president and Secretary Lans ing: Wahington. Feb. 7. 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 depart ments of the government into con ference? If it is, I feel it my duty to call your attention to considerations which 1 do not care to dwell upon until I learn from you yourself that this is the fact. Under our constitutional law and practice, as developed hitherto, no one but the president has the right to summon the heads ,of the execu tive department into conference and no one but the president and the congres"s has the right to ask the view or views of any one of them on any public question. Break of Precedent. T take this matter up with you be cause, in the development of every constitutional system, custom and precedent 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 iisk you this question and I am sure you will be glad to answer. I am happy to learn trom recent note to Mrs. Wilson your strength is returning. . vour "that Cor- dially and sincerely yours, WOODROW WILSON. Frequently Called Meetings. Washington. Feb. 9. 1920. My Dear Mr. President: It is true that frequently during your illness, I requested the heads of the executive departments of the government . to meet for informal conference. Shortly after you were taken ill in October, certain members of the cabinet of which f was one, felt that, in view of the fact that we were denied communication with you, it was wise for us to confer informally together on interdepart mental matters and matters as to which action could not be postponed until your medical advisers per mitted you to pass upon them. Ac cordingly 1. as the ranking member, requested the members of the cab inet to assemble for such informal conference and in view of the mutual benefit derived the practice was con tinued. I can assure you that it never for a moment entered my mind that I was acting unconstitutionally or contrary to your wishes and there certainly was no intention on my part to assume powers and exercise functions which under the consti tution are exclusively confided to the president. Ready to Resign. During the troublous times when many difficult and vexatious ques tions have arisen and when in the circumstances I have been deprived of your guidance and direction, it has been my constant endeavor to carry out your policies as I under stood 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 con duct our foreign affairs, I am, of course, ready, Mr. President, to re lieve you of any embarrassment by placing my resignation in your hands. 1 auras alvvavs. faithfully vours, ROBERT LANSING. Disappointed by Reply. Washington, Feb. 11, 1920. My Dear Secretary: I am much disappointed by your letter of Feb rtianry 9, in reply to mine asking about the so-called cabinet meetings. You kindly explain the motives of these meetings and I find noth ing in your letter which justifies your assumption of presidential authority in such a matter.. You say you "felt that, in view of the fact that you were denied com munication with me it was wise to confer informally together "on inter departmental matters, and matters as to which action could, not be post poned until my medical advisers per mitted rat" to be be seen and con sulted, ' 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 matters concerning which action could not have been 1 taken without me. Started in Paris. This affair, Mr. Secretary, only deepens a feeling that was growing upon me. While we were still in Paris, I felt, and have felt increas ingly ever since, that you accepted my guidance and direction 011 ques tions with regard to which I had to (ContiiitMd in I'm Xwu, Coluuu IJv.) : h . . of State of Usurping Power Third Member Quits Wilson's Cabinet son s LaDinet m bpht Over Policies: robert"j;ansing . 'Washington, Feb. 13. Secre tary Lansing is the third cabinet officer appointed by President Wilson to quit after differences with the executive. William J. Bryan was the first. He resigned June 9, 1915, because of a disagreement with the presi dent over the handling of the dip lomatic correspondence with Ger many growing out of submarine warfare. v The second w as Lindley M. Gar rison, secretary of war, who gave up his post on February 10, 1916, because of differences with Mr. Wilson over the question of in dependence for the Philippines. Mr. Lansing was appointed sec retary of state ad interim after the resignation of Mr. Bryan and served until June 23 of the same year when he was made secretary. He has not announced his plans for the future, but is expected 'to return to the practice of inter' national law. as did his father-in-law. John W. Foster, when he completed his term as secretary of state. Mr. Lansing entered the State department in 1914 as counselor after having represented the gov ernment on a number of diploma tic missions and arbitration com missions. These included service as associate counsel in the Bering sea arbitration in the early nine ties, counsel before the Bering sea claims commission in 1896 and 1897. solicitor and counsel for American representatives on the Alaskan boundary tribunal in 1903, and counsel in the Atlantic fisheries arbitration. 10 years ago. The retiring secretary is 55 years of age and was born and raiseil at Watertown, N. Y.. where he still maintains a home. He was graduated from Amherst college and practiced law for three years before beginning his work as rep resentative of the government on various international arbitration commissions. With the passing of Mr. Lans ing there remain only five mem bers of Mr. Wilson's original cab inet and one of these, Secretary Lane, will retire March 1. The others are Secretary of the Navy Daniels, Secretary of Labor Wil son, Postmaster General Burlesor. , and Secretary of the Treasury Houston. Mr. Houston originally was appointed secretary of agri- culture and was moved to the treasury recently when Carter Glass entered the senate. Besides Mr. Lansing, Mr. Bry an. Mr. Garrison and Mr. Lane, the members resigning have been As sociate Justice Reynolds of" tho supreme court and Thomas Watt Gregory, who served as attorney general; William Gibbs McAdoo and Carter Glass, who served ai secretaries of th treasury, and William C. Redfield, of the depart ment of commerce. Aviatrix Killed When "Pack" Parachute Fails to Open San Francisco, Feb. 13. Tangled ropes, it was learned, prevented - a "pack" parachute from opening and caused Mrs. Ethel Broadvvirk to fall 2,000 feet to her death. . The parachute, invented bv her husband, was carried on Mrs. froad wick's. back like a knapsack and when she leaped from an airplane the parachute failed to open. She had made more than 3,800 parachute leaps and she was attempting to make her second "test" leap with the "pack" parachute. The Weather. Forecast. Fair Saturday and Sunday; rising temperature Sunday and in northwest-Saturday; - Hourly Temperature. it . 7 m. . . m. . . .1.1 ,14 .m ,.7 ...... !...... Wwa-U in. . in.. i. m. f . m. in a. m. 11 s. m. IX araoa, m nt l ) I j: taaaaaaaaaaamBffiaMaaamaaaacaalMil ill ffl w Resigns; Climax of Peace Conference Clash Reached When Wilson Attacks Advjscr fop Havjnq called Cabinet Meetings. BREACH ALSO WIDENED BY NOTE TO CARRANZA Conferences in Controversy Discussed Coal Strike Settle ment and Results Were Re ported to Executive. Washington, F e b. 13. Robert Lansing ended his ca reer as secretary of state to day after President Wilson had accused him of usurping the powers -of president by calling meetings of the cabinet during Mr. Wilson's ilbness. Mr. Lansing denied that he had sought or intended to usurp the presidential author ity. He added, however, that he believed then and still be lieves that the cabinet confer ences were "for the best inter ests of the republic," that they were "proper and necessary" because of the president's con dition and that he would have been derelict in his duty if he had failed to act as he did. Follows Sharp Note. As the record stands Mr. Lansing tendered his resignation and Mr. Wilson accepted it. The resignation was offered, however, only after the president, under date of February 7 had written asljin? if it wre true that Mr. Lansing Jiad called cabinet meetings and stating that if such were the case he felt it necessary to say that "under our constitutional law and practice, as developed hith erto, no one but the president has the right to summon the heads of the executive departments into con ference." Questioned His "Loyalty." Mr. Lansing answered two days later last Monday saving he had cajled the cabinet conference be cause he and others of the presi- dent's official family "felt that, in view of the fact that we were denied communication with you, it was wiser for us to confer informally to gether on matters as to which action could not be postponed un til your medical advisers permitted you to pass upon them." The secretary concluded by say ing that if tlve president believed he had failed in his 'loyalty" to him and if Mr. Wilson no longer had" confidence in him he was ready to "relieve you of any embarrassment ' by placing my resignation in your hands." Resignation Is Desired. The president replied last Wednes day that he was "much disappoint ed" by Mr. Lansing's letter regard ing "the so-called cabinet meetings." He said he found nothing in the sec retary's letter "which justifies your assumption of presidential authority in such a matter" and added that he "must frankly take advantage of your kind suggestion" to resign. "I rmist say," continued the presi dent, "that it would relieve me of embarrassment. Mr. Secretary, the embarrassment of feeling your re luctance and divergence of judg ment, if you would give up your present office and afford me an op portunity to select some one else wnose ininn would more willingly go along with mine." Before this letter was written, the day for the regular cabinet meeting last Tuesday had passed and the correspondence discloses , why the cabinet did not meet. On the same day that he received this letter from the president. Mr. Lansing an nounced that he bad written other . cabinet officers that he would not call any more cabinet conferences for the I present, but no explanation was of fered. Inquiry at the White House ; brought only the statement that Mr. Wilson himself probably would call and preside at the next session of his official advisers. Differences In Paris. But the differences between the president long pre-dated the first , cabinet call by Mr.'Lansing. which w as isuued last October S, seven davs i after Mr. Wilson returned from liis western tour and took to his bed. i They began at the peace conference - in fans, as -Mr. Causing disclosed in his final letter to the president, un der date of yestefday, and had con tinued since that time one of the chief differences being over the gov--ernment's attitude toward Mexico. When the cabinet met on October 5. Joseph P. Tumult y. private secre-' tary to the president, issued a formal statement explaining the reasons for the conference. He said: "The cabinet was called to con- (..-ua i,iiuii.i ill TV 1 1 I V. I IIIWIl. I ! I 1 1 'one department was concerned and I I i J . I. . , ... c aiso to niscuss i nc industrial conter ence." He referred to the first con ference called by the president with the hope .of allaying the industrial unrest. In his statement Mr. Tumulty said that "Rear Admiral Grayson'. Mr. Wilson's physician, was present and "suggested that only urgent matters (ContumeU on ri Xv Column On.) i tiki I Si! !1 n i ft i rl KM 1 lit 1 1