The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-27
VICE-PRESIDENT
HEADOF NATION
IF WILSON GOES
Wickersham Says COnstitu-
ton Makes Him Presi-
dent Automatically.
MANDAMUS IS POSSIBLE
Council on Foreign Relations
at Banquet Hears Reasons
for Abandoning Trip.

George W. Wickersham. who was
Attorney General Of the United States
during the. Taft Administration, calle
into question last night the propr.ety
and the legality Of President Wilson's
plan for directing the affairs OF the
nation by wire during his absence at
the peace conference in Versailles.
Speaking at the dinner OF the Council
on Foreign Relations held in the Hotel
Astor, Mr.. Wickershsm argued that
the moment the President left the
country on his peace expedition his
powers and duties, under the Constitu-
ton OF the United States. would de-
voive upon Vice-President Marshall.
The Presidents power OF veto, his
right TO adjourn both the Senate and
the House in case of disagreement
between those two bodies, together
with other functions OF an equally i'm
portant nature. Mr.. Wickersham de-
clsred demanded the presence of the
thief Executive In this country. II
was apparent, Mr.. Wickersham con-
tended that the President could not
perform these duties while he was
abroad.
The Constitution, Mr.. wickersham
pointed out, did not stipulate who had
he power Of deciding when such a SIT
Uation would justify the Vice-Pres.-
dent in assuming the powers of Presi-
dent. He suggested. however. that q
mandamus proceeding might be effac-
tive in solving the problem.
Alludes to Personal Ambition.
After discussing the Presidents
pan from a legal aspect Mr.. Wicker
sham called attention to the fact that
previous Presidents bad not been led
by the whisperings OF personal ambi-
ton" to depart from the paths OF ac-
customed action and that in conse-
Quence they had avoided the creation
o. new, uncertain and most dangerous
questions Of constitutional right and
powsr'
The Vagueless of President Wilson's
fourteen peacc terms was another sub
tect on which Mr.. Wickersham spoke
With some emphasis. No satisfactory
explanation, he maintained. had as yet
the President meant by freedom Of
the seas" and league of nations
The best basis for permanent
peace,' said Mr.. Wickersham, SIS com
mon good will and understanding be-
tween men, and venture to say that
the best league OF nations for the
preservation OF peace would he a
close association between Great
Britain, the United States and France
70 control the affairs OF the worid.'s
Referring to the crisis between
Peru and Chile, Mr.. wickersham
maintained that II was incumbent on
This country to see that the terri
,orial dispute was settled without
bloodshed. Otherwise" he added, I'VE
may see South America flowing with
blood at the very time peace Is pro-
claimed in Europe"
Among those present were Lindsay
Fussell. George Gordon Battle, ]. W.
H. Hamilton. Eugene II. Outerbridge,
William A. Barber, John B. Stanch-
neld, Brig,-Gen. L. r. Kenyon OF the
British War Mission, Herbert L. Car
p-nter, Or. Edward ]. Wheeler, Robert
nderNood Johnson. F. Cunliife owen,
Enrique Gil, Hudson Maxim, Frank E.
Ewing, Garet Garrett, Louis Wiley,
'ohn Meta OF the French diplomatic
service, Brig.-Ge Guy Ei Tripp, John
Barrett director general of the Pan
american Union, and Herbert S. Hous-
:on.
Quotes Federal Constitution.
MI Wickersham said, in part:
The projected journey OF the Presi-
cent 10 France and his suggested So
lourn there for an indefinite period
brings up for serious consideration for
ne first time in our history the ques-
ION OF the effect OF such absence and
., the powers of the Vice. President
because OF the absence. The Constitu-
ion Of the United States. Article H.,
section l, provides:
IN case OF the removal OF the Pres
!oent from office, OF OF his death, res
gnation or inability to discharge the
powers and duties OF said once, the
same shall devolve ON the Vice. -Presl-
oeRt, and the Congress may by law
pro'ide for the case OF removal, death,
resignation or inability, both OF the
PRESIDENT and Vice President, declar-
lng what officer shall then act as
resident, and such off1cer shall 'act
accordingly until the disability be re-
moved or President shall be elected
The two most important functions
1he PRESIDENT has TO perform In cJn-
"ecton with n session OF Congress are;
f1rst-From time to time to give
70 congress information OF the state
'r the Union and recommend to their
'ohsideration such measures as he
shan judge necessary and expedient.
"second-To consider bills which
snail have passed the House OF Repre-.
sentatives and the Senate, and IL he
approve TO sign them, and II he does
hot approve TO return them with his
objections to the House In which they
shaH respectively have originated in
order that such House may recon-
Sder the measure and determine
whether or not by q two-thirds vote
20 pass 1t over the veto and to send It
20 the other House for It's recon
sideration.
-, Not only does this function require
N' residents personal consideration
M MS personal signature, IN the