Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-09-06
new NEWS or YESTERDAY
Grave Question That GarfieId's
Cabinet Side Stepped.
Could Not Decide Upon the Manner in
Which the Presidents Inability to
Perform His Duties Should
Be Declared.
BY <. j. EDWARDS.

William Window, federal represen-
tative and senator from Minnesota,
one Of the early advocates Of recipro-
city and the gold standard and candi-
date for the Republican presidential
nomination in the three national con-
ventions Of the party held in the
twelve years beginning with 1880, was
also secretary of the treasury in two
cabinets-Garfeld's and Benjamin Har-
risons.
About year before Mr.. Window re-
turned to Washington as a member Of
President Harrison's Official family,
he spoke at length to me of his recol-
lections of the period when his first
presidential chief lay desperately ILL.,,
and his cabinet was in daily doubt
whether the president would survive
the wound, or die.
Many were the incidents connected
with Garf1eld's illness that impressed
me greatly" said Senator Window,
but the one that left with me the
most vivid impressions occurred the
latter part Of July, or it may have been
about the first week in August.
"You may remember that all
through the presidents illness the
members Of his cabinet remained con-
stantly in Washington. We had many
informal discussions as to what our
duty was under the circumstances,
and upon one occasion Mr.. Blaine, the
secretary of state, said to two or three
of US that he was anxious to discuss
with us personally and unoficially
what seemed to him to be a very i'm
portant contingency that might arise.
He then went on to say that he had
been reading the clause in the Con
stitution which defined the Office and
responsibilities of the president and
that he had been trying to discover
some precedent or at least hint in
the discussions that took place in the
convention that framed the Constitu-
ton which might serve as guide to
the cabinet should it have to face the
contingency that he had in mind.
Il asked Mr.. Blaine if he had
reference to the clause in the Constr
tuition which declares that in case of
the death or disability Of the president
to perform the business of his Office,
the vice-president shall assume Office.
/ remember perfectly Mr.. Blaine's re-
ply, which followed grave nod of his
head
1--WE have had two cases where this
clause of the Constitution has applied,
he said. Each of them, however, was
a case involving the death of a presi-
dent. 1t was the unquestioned right
of the vice-president to succeed, al
though l have learned that at the time
of John Tyler's accession there were
many who thought he should sign him
self "Vice-president, acting as pres
ident." There has never been a case
when the question of the inability Of
a president to perform his duties has
been raised. 1t may be easy enough
to determine whether president is
completely incapable of performing
the duties of his Office or not. That
can be established by medical author
Aty. But who is to make the announce
ment? Who is to call upon the vice
president?
Then Mr.. Blaine went on to say
that in his opinion-and he presumed
in that Of all of us-President Garfield
was totally incapacitated, and would
remain in that condition for some time,
even though ultimately he should get
well. Suppose then some great emer-
gency, like the imperative need of is
suing pardon, or warlike complications
should arise-an emergency which
called for the assembling of congress.
Would it be perfectly within the mean
ing of the Constitution if the vice
president were called upon to act as
president? And Mr.. Blaine ended by
insisting that the cabinet should be
prepared for an emergency of that
kind.
"The result of this unofficial taking
of counsel was that the suggestion was
and purely personal consultation with
the attorney general, Wayne Mac
Veagh Mr.. Blaine did breach the
subject to the attorney general, and,
though l did not hear the conversation
2that took place between them, l was
: authoritatively informed that the at
y
ctorney general was of the opinion that
.6the ce-president, in case the disabil-
: ity of the president was unquestioned,
could .rtghtfuily assume the duties of
SpEesd eHti the Constitution was unmis-
s taxable Oh this point. But the attor-
odeg general asked If the vice
>pFss1daat gets the presidency in that
? wag Bow in i e world is he to be TAX
enSS0yB 81 It hAtase the president re-
cdveSs sand is Snce more able to per-
: fSr@ tEeSdutfess pfothe Office to which
: 6eAwsS -aettsdRS >
q . ss'1f&Raf qdss{t89nSTSs$ a puzzler," con-
s tansds 0seeSta k@vSa9nA and there
! Sege 50 mShE sSSotthey SPECIFICATIONS that
~e$en6Lallsf @eSH1 frSorhafl& decided to
7SaRe~ e>action 6Slssgoa Sno8to impera-
kttseS pereencx ar6sS 8 $aFe always
3 been ShasEfh s3hat 8 Ing ema9gegcy of
thg sort S5dtd A1QE aSiss:S. yet I$zy3hink