Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-11-28


which it originated in Congress. This
would be possible under existing an
initiation of time and space, which
could not possibly have been taken
into consideration by the Fathers of
the American Constitution.
In this connection an interesting
possibility arises. Suppose a bill
should be received in Paris by our
President still claiming to act as
President and to be fulfilling the full
duties of the Presidency (Which du-
ties he has no right to delegate), that
bc determined to veto such measure
as improper legislation and detri-
mental to the interests of his coun-
try; that he returned the measure
with his veto message explaining to
Congress his reasons for destroying
the work of it's deliberations, but that
through some delay in passing from
Paris to Washington the Constitu-
tional ten days period was overrun
and the measure had become law
without the Presidents signature. 1t
seems to us that in such case the
President had voluntarily and delib-
erately made himself unable to dis
charge the powers and duties of his
Office" for no duty of the Presidency
is more vital to the nation than that
Of the veto power. The consequence
Of such voluntarily created 'inabil-
ity" would be that the Presidents
prerogatives and duties would, until
his return from Europe devolve upon
the Vice. President. Mr.. Cadwalader
with whom we cannot quite agree)
apparently goes further and holds
that in such case the Presidential alb
1ication is not merely temporary, but
permanent.
A striking illustration Of what
might occur in the temporary alb
sence of the President is the posi-
hility of an emergency arising such
as demanded the instant and deter
mined action Of President Cleveland.
Our readers of the middle generation
will recall the vital facts Of the Incl
dent to which we refer: The spring.
ing up of a dangerous growth of
anarchistic menace to the welfare of
the second largest city in the United
States, of the honor of a state, and
involving the possible disgrace of the
American people. At that time John
+. Altgeld was governor of Illinois
He was VIGOROUSLY in sympathy with
that element in Chicago now COM
monty known as the bolsheviki and
now parading the streets Of some
cities of this country and at least half
a dozen other nations under the red
rag Of dishonor and sedition. Cover
nor Altgeld bluntly refused to inter-
fere with the utterances and perform
ances of an element in Chicago that
was rapidly becoming alarming.
There was no precedent upon which
Il weak President of the United
States could interfere in the affairs
of state. But as every American,
then and up to this time had and has
reason to thank God. we had in the
White House at that hour an ex-
ecutive of strength and courage and
wisdom. He said: Il have the in
herent power vested in me by the re-
quirements of my oath of Office to
protect the United States and es-
pecially to safeguard the United
States mails. Without precedent /
shall act in the interests of the
American people,
These, Of course, are not the exact
words of Grover Cleveland but they
express in substance his determine
ton and his performance, for he
promptly sent United States troops to
the city of Chicago and SlIpDressed