The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-11-22

charged with the direct administration
There is no express constitutional re-
quirement preventing the president
from leaving the country during his
term OF office. But there is a tradition
OF this kind which goes back to the be-
gtnnings Of the republic Its validity
has been recognized. The president
can perform no service 70 the United
States or to the world in personal att
tendance at the peace conference in
Europe which he can not as well per
form from his official post in Wash
ington.
New York clobs-His rank would be
different from that Of CIemenceau.
Lloyd George or Orlando. To equalize
matters, 1t is possible insistence would
arise in Europe for the attendance of
Poincaire. OF George Of Great Britain.
ana Victor Emmanuel. of Italy. Then
silly issues OF precedence might arise.
Moreover. the president is only part OF
our treaty-naking power. His partner.
the senate. might demand representa-
ton Furthermore. If the plan IS for
the president to participate only part
OF the tfrne the influence Of the Ameri-
can delegation after his departure
would be lessened. If there are wang
iings. as there may be. the president
should not take part in them. 4 school
master attitude at the peace conference
would not be helpful On the whole.
tho weight Of the argument is rather
against the presidents going.
New York AEaiI--There will be plenty
Of work for the president to do on the
spot at Washington at about the time
the conference is called. The problems
which he viii be called to solve will
be the gravest in many respects that
this nation ever has confronted The
president. we venture to predict, will
prefer to be on the spot to take up those
problems in person. In the second place,
the president, from his desk at the
white house. could take as important'
as immediate, and as personal part in
the peace conference as If he were seat
ed at the green table. We do not think
the president viii decide to 80 to the
peace conference in person.
Boston Herald--The unwritten law OF
the republic which forbids the President
10 90 outside OF its territory while hold
ing office is essentially wise and desir-
able. With the present-day methods OF
communication he can remain in abso-
lutely close touch with the peace con-
ference without being in actual presence.
We, therefore feel that II is time for a
certain national modesty. With our
president at the peace conference the
world would naturally believe that we
expected to assume a leadership in the
reconstruction of the world. and that,
we think, we have no right to ask for
ourselves or for the chosen head of our
republic.
New raven Journal-Courier - The
suggestion that this country. presumab-
Iy Washington. should be selected as the
place of assembly can be dismissed as
not feasible. There would be a sense Of
permanency ATTACHED TO Mr.. wilson's
absence which could not escape causing
nervousness and possibly apprehension
at home. As never before. the Presi-
dent is needed at his desk. Questions of
grave Importance are soon to be raised
for his consideration and for the con-
sideration of the congress.
Utica Press-There is nothing the
President could do there which could
not be as well done by carefully selected
representatives. No President of the
United States should subject himself to
the risk or consent to absent himself
so long from the duties he was elected
TO discharge. dis going would be with
out precedent or parallel. and the per-
sonaI glory he would get out of it is
not sufficient compensation A man big
enough TO be President should be big
enough to put every personal considera-
ton, behind him in the interests of the
service and Of the responsibilities which
rest upon him.
ni1waukee sent1nel-It is hoped
President Wilson viii dispose promptly
of the romantic surmise in some quar-
tiers as to his intentions TO go abroad
TO attend the peace conference in per-
son Mr. Wilson was elected and sworn
in TO perform the prescribed duties of
the President. Performing diplomatic
Offices in Europe is not one of them.
There is nothing in the national cOnsti-
tuition that expressly forbids him to go
abroad on that errand, but there is moth
ing in il which empowers him TO under
take any such quasi diplomatic function,
ana the office OF President is one of
strictly defined and delimited power.
baltimore American-.Neither the at
tendance of Mr. Wilson upon the con-
ference nor his presidency Of the body
appear TO be feasible or practically de-
sirable The man to whom the finger
of logic points as the one who should
direct the deliberations is Premier Lloyd
George. There would remain for Mr..
wilson the post Of presiding at the
council at which Will be framed the
conditions for the permanent peace OF
the world The man. of all others fitted
for the post of president of this tribunal,
or parliament. would be Mr.. Wilson,
who. by then. would probably have ceas-
ed to be President of the United States.
This council should be held at Washing
ton.
Hartford Courant-Unless the SOW
ereigns of Great Britain, Belgium and
italy, and the President of France at
tend also the presence of President
Wilson at the peace conference would
be embarrassing. in way impertinent.
Albany Knickerbocker Press-lf the
President Is guided by good sense. he
will not 70 to Versailles. He would be
out az place there, and he would ex-
pose himself to criticism The evident
desire Of the Presidents adulators to
make this war his personal property