The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-09-09

afternoon the patient was kept in absolute
quie:udc. At one time he asked II he could
not again see Mrs. Mckinley. but when told
that the physicianS had ordered the con-
trary he acuuiesced without murmur.
!, After the consultation of physicians his
| temperature went up slightly, but this was
not deemed Of great importance. The day
closed with everything favorable. and Mr..
Cortelyou. in sending out bulletin at 8
O'Clock, said that the improvement in the
Presidents condition had been more than
had been expected.
ROOSEVELT AND HANNA
DENOUNCE CERTAIN RUMORS.
Vice President Roosevelt received the
earlier bulletins and after going to church
hurried to the residence. There he was
Joined by Senator Hanna. They came away
together and gave expression to the most
confident and encouraging sentiments.
The Vice President not only shared the
cheerful feeling but was extremely opti-
mistic. Both gentlemen took occasion to
denounce in unmeasured terms the state
ments gaining circulation in some quarters
that the doctors were not frank in their
communications to the public. They main
tained that the Presidents favorable con-
dition was even understated by the physi-
clans. through motives of conservatism. dur
ing the seventy-two-hour period.
Later Secretary Cortelyou took occasion
to emphasize this very point by issuing an
Official statement assuring the public of the
complete trustworthiness of the bulletins
cent out by the physicians. Senator Hanna
came again during the afternoon and was
house.
Secretary Root has taken up quarters i'm
mediately next door and was in frequent
consultation with those inside. He and Sec
retary Gage. Secretary Hitchcock and At
torney General Knox called together about
noon. and. indeed. there was no time dur
ing the day when some member Of the
Cabinet was not in the house where his
stricken chief lay.
Even those most prominent in public life
did not see him. as the doctors would not
relax the iron-clad rule they have laid
down to prevent the least drain upon his
energies and vitality. Those who came and
went moved silently and reverently. receiv-
ing the latest statements from the doctors
and departing.
QUESTION OF ROOSEVELT
ACTING AS PRESIDENT.
All the members OF the Cabinet are now
here except Secretaries Hay and Long. The
former telegraphed to-day that he would
start from Newberry tomorrow. probably
in time to be here tomorrow night. Secre-
tary Long also telegraphed that he was
coming. but did not specify the time
The Cabinet officers feel it to be their
duty to be here in this crisis to meet any
emers sency. They are holding no formal
meeting. although there are some matters
OF public business which they daily discuss
informally and the possible contingencies
should the President grow worse are also
thoroughly canvassed.
They do not believe that there is the most
remote possibility that Vice President
Roosevelt will tie called upon to exercise the
functions OF chief magistrate under the dis
ability clause Of the Constitution while the
President lives.
Vice President Roosevelt would not hear
Of such course. Still in the event of
grave international complications. an emer-
gency might occur and the question has
arisen in their minds as to who should pro-
claim the disability provided for By the
Constitution. That instrument Is silent on |
the subject. There is no precedent to fol- |
low. During the protracted illness OF Presi- |
dent Garfield. before his death. Vice Presi- |
dent Arthur was not called upon to act.
The consensus of opinion among the |
of the Cabinet Is that should the |
occasion arise they themselves would have |
to decide and proclaim the existence of the
disability The Supreme Court. they say |
could not do SO. as there would be no way
n which the question could be raised before
Phaf tribunal