Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-09-07
WEE PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
Will Hold Himself in Readiness TO Take Duties
oi Executive.

Washington. Sept. C. Steps have beer
taken to provide for the future OF the EN-
ecutiV" branch Of the government. Ii
was realized that even under the most ia
vorable conditions the Presidents inju-
ries are OF such a character as Ia maxi
it almost certain that he cannot under
take for a long time to discharge the du-
ties of Chief Executive even in the mos;
formal way.
Every member Of the cabinet able t.
travel is expected 10 speed at once to Euf-
falo and there a council will be held To
decide upon the course to be followed by
the executive branch.
Vice President Roosevelt is understood
to be in Vermont, this afternoon. being
the Information furnished by his rela-
uves here. and of course will hold him
self in readiness to do whatever is neces-
Sary ana 10 meet the obligations impose!
upon the Vice President by the consti-
tuition OF the United States. These are
contained in Paragraph 6. Section /. Ar
ticle >. in tne following words:
I'm case of the removal of the Pres
ident from office. or of his death. resig
nation. or inability to discharge the pow
ers and duties of the said office, the sam .
shall devolve on the Vice President. etc. '
Under the terms of this article. as soon
as Mr.. Roosevelt is assured by proper
authority. probably in this case by the
senior member OF the court, Secretary
Hay. who will doubtless be in Buffalo b,
tomorrow evening. will undertake at Cnc,
in provisional way to discharge such
duties as may uevove upon him.
Much will depend upon the report of the
physicians Oh The character OF the Presi-
dent injuries rs to the extent to which
Mr. Roosevelt will discharge the Presi-
DENTAL duties il hr undertakes them at
ALL 1t is almost certain that in the alb
sence Of great emergency in public af-
fnir llnl ol,1s
CATION, the Vice President will cOnfine
himself in the exercise of his powers to
the discharge OF tue most routine and
indispensable functions.
For the present the thought of n fatal
. termination of the President condition
is referred TO with awe-Iike apprehension
and there is q hopeful anticipation that
there may be no need for meeting those
grave emergencies which would follow a
fatal termination of the tragic event.
Should the worst come. however. 1t is
realized that important conditions in the
public affairs of the country would soon
be brought about. Whether there would
be an extra session of Congress is open
To question. but there seems no doubt tina t
an extra session of the Senate would be
essential as an incident to a change of ad-
I ministration
=, All this has been thought of only in
the Vaguest manner and confidence is al
most universal here, based on the PreSi-
dents magnificent constitution. his pres
eht excellent physical condition and the
tremendous stride that has been made
since Garfields time in surgery that there
VIII be no occasion to resort to the con-
sututionai provisions to meet the demise
of a President in office.
Major Pruden. assistant secretary to
tne PRESIDENT. and Col. Crooks. disburs-
ing ofhcer both veterans of the White
Rouse force. arrived together shortly af-
ter ) O'Clock and assumed charge OF the
executive mansion. Major Pruden had
passed similar experience when Presi-
uent earned was shot and Col. Crooks
SaSsinatiOn. 49,
Probably the closest friend Of the Pres
ident in Washington at the time of the
shooting was Charles G. Dawes. the
comptroller of the currency whose rela-
tiors with the President are of the most
intimate character. Mr. Dawes left for
Buffalo on the '.l5 o'clock train. accom-
retary to Senator Hanna.