Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-07

says ne Is fully prepared to meet any
call that may be made upon him.
General Gillespie finally got into COM
munication with Secretary Root and
Assistant Secretary Sanger, and
as result of telephone talk
he proceeded to use some OF
the forces at his disposal. He
telegraphed an order to Fort Foster N
Y, to have an officer, physician and a
squad of men proceed Immediately to
the hospital where the president is lying
to act as guard
Steps were next taken to provide for
| the future of the executive branch OF
| the government. 1t was realized that
even under the most favorable condi-
tions the presidents injuries are of such
character as to make it almost certain
that he cannot undertake for along time
to discharge the duties of chief execu-
tive, even In the most formal way. Ev-
cry member of the cabinet, able to trav-
ell is expected to speed at once to Buff
falo, to decide upon the course to be
followed by the executive branch. Vice
President Roosevelt, Of course will hold
himself in readiness to do whatever is
necessary to meet the obligations i'm
posed upon the vice president by the
constitution of the United States
These are contained in paragraph 6,
section I, article II. in the following
words:
"Six-In case of the removal of the
president from office or of his death,
resignation, or inability to discharge the
same shall devolve on the vice presi-
dent. ETC.
Under the terms of this article, as
soon as Mr.. Roosevelt is assured by pro-
per authority. probably in this case by
the senior member of the cabinet, Sec
rotary Hay, who will doubtless be in
Buffalo by this evening. he will under
take at once, in provisional way, to
discharge such duties as may devolve
on him. Much will depend upon the re-
port of the physicians upon the charac-
ter of the presidents injuries, as to the
extent of which Mr.. Roosevelt will dig
charge tie presidential duties, If he I'M
dertakes them at all, and it is almost
certain that in the absence of great
emergency in public affairs, even If
called to assume these obligations, the
vice president will confine himself in the
exercise of his powers to the discharge
of the most routine and indispensable
functions.
For the present the thought of fatal
termination of the presidents condition
is referred to with awe-like apprehen-
sion and there is a hopeful. even pray
erful anticipation that there may be no
need for meeting those grave emergen-
cies which would follow fatal termina-
ton of the tragic event. Should the
worst come, however, it is realized that
important changes in the public affairs
of the country would soon be brought
about. Whether there would be an ex-
ira session of congress is open to ques-
ton but there seems no doubt that an
extra session of the senate would be es-
sential, as an incident to change OF
administration.
All this has been thought of here only
in the Vaguest manner and confidence is
almost universal here, based on the
presidents magnificent constitution, his
present excellent health physical condi-
ton and the tremendous strides that
have been made since Garfield's time in
surgery, that there will be no occasion
to resort to the constitutional provisions
made to meet the demise of president
in Office.