Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-19
To Attend Opening
Continued on Page 3, Col s.

The suggestion ,hat the President
tend the peace conference first waS
made there has been much discussion
here as to whether While absent from
the country he could continue to aGt
as President. The constitution itself
is silent on the matter and generally
the question is regarded as one
which the President himself must de-
eide. The prevailing opinion here is
that Mr. Wilson already has made up
his mind ON this subject. He does
not go to the peace conference as
delegate and consequently it is held
that should he relinQuish his author
ity and function Of office he would be
without power to act for the United
States III the discussions.
There is ample precedent for the
Pr, Sident to leave the territorial
limits in the United States. President
Harrison on one occasion went int"
Canada, while President Taft visited
both hat country and Mexico. Presi-
dent Roosevelt and also President
Taft visited the Panama Canal Zone,
Both President Taft and Preside x
Roosevelt continued to neriorm i"e
visits to the canal zone, sending IN
structicns to Washington both by "a
be and wireless. II was pointed out O.
day that the President also could IN
this - >ner attend to any pressing
matters of inn ortauce here while he Is
abroad. In all probability the President
Will cross the Atlantic on AN Amer an
battieship, probably one of the nav,'s
newest dreadnaughts. While on sucn
ship it is claimed he is on Amers IN
territory and technically would be 3o-
sent from the country only for su a
time as he actually is on foreign oil.
If the President Intends to delegate am
Of the functions of his Office to Tics
President Marshall the Vice PreSidait
has not been so informed and this .,ct
in Itself was accepted in some quarters
as clearly indicating that the Presid mt
has decided that his physical abse ace
from the country does not create su,a
a vacancy il the office as to fall WITH
in the secticn of the constitution which
clothes the Vice President with author
ity t. discharge the duties Of the of-
flee curing the Inability CT the Presi-
dent to act. The question of what effect
the Presidents absence will have on me
work of Congress was freely discussed
tonight in Congressional circles. Many
held that the President could not aT-
prove or veto legislation while absent.
as the actual signature Of the Pres
dent IS required. Under the provisi )hs
of tie Constitution If bills are not acted
upon by the chief executive within 10
days after their passage they auto
matically become effective. Very h:.ie
Ct Importance will be transacted by
Congress in December under the pro-
gram as now outlined.
No pressing legislative matters now
pending or in prospect ire likely to be
completed before the expected adjourn
ment of Congress for over the Christ
mas holidays. And IL Congress does adj
journ II will not reassemble until early
in January and the President probably
will return home soon afterwards.
There was no statement tonight az to
whether the American delegates to .he
peace conference actually will acco n
pany the President or will follow at a
later date. In some quarters ii was ie-
the trip with the President so as to
have the advantage of conferences vita
representatives. Of Allied nations before
the peace congress convenes. Secretary
Lansing will head the American con-
mssioners. it is probable. Others re-
iarded as probe Bile selections as dele
gates are Col. House. Louis ID. Br4n-
deis. associate justice of the supreme
court. and Elihu Root. former secretary
of state. General Tasker II. Bliss, for
mer chief of staff and military rep:c-
sentative of the United States on .te
supreme war council, is expected to
head the military representatives fro,n
this country who will assist In n.
work at the peace conference, while
Vice Admiral Sims probably will be Sc
lected to head the naval delegation. BE.
sides the delegates and the military ?ni
naval representatives there will be n
secretary to the delegation and a num-
Der OF assistant secretaries and clerk,