Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-19
PRESIDENT TO
Be PRESENT At
PEACE Meeting
Continued From Page One.)

the conference now proceeding at
Versailles as the preliminary to the
meeting of the peace commission
ers. He thus will have opportunity
to discharge in person for tn. first
time the duties of his membership in
the supreme war council in which
he is now represented by Col. Z.
M. House.
In the general view here the SEES
sions of the supreme war council,
which bring together the entente
premlers with the representatives OF
the United States, are of first impor-
lance, for in all probability it will
be at these sessions that the gen.
eral program, which is to govern
the peace congress, will be ar
ranged.
The president will attend the
opening sessions of the congress
at which the broad principles of the
treaty will be settled, but he will
not remain for the subsequent de-
tailed discussions and settlements
Of the various questions This will
be the work of the commissioners
he soon is to name to represent
the United States.
Unusual Program.
BY carrying out this unusual pro-
gram of having the conference draft
and adopt a general peace treaty
at the outset, the president and the
entente premicrs will be able soon
after the commissioners assemble
TO return to their own countries and
attend to important business at
home.
Since the suggestion that the
president attend the peace confer
ence first was made there has been
much discussion here as to whether
while absent from the country he
could continue to act as preside t.
The constitution itself is silent on
the question and generally the ques-
ton is regarded as one which the
president himself must decide.
The prevailing opinion here is that
Mr.. Wilson already has made up his
mind on the subject. He does not
go to the peace conference as
delegate, and consequently it is held
that should he relinquish his author
ity and functions of office he would
be without power to act for the
United States in the discussions.
Harrison Left Country
There is ample precedent for the
president to leave the territorial
limits of the United States. Presi-
dent Harrison on one occasion went
into Canada, while President Taft
visited both that country and Mex
leo. President Roosevelt and also
President Taft visited the Panama
canal zone.
Both President Taft and Presi-
dent Roosevelt continued to per-
form the functions of their Office
while on the visits to the canal zone,
sending instructions to Washington
both by cable and wireless. It was
pointed out today that the president
also could in this manner attend
to any pressing matters of impor-
lance here while he is abroad.
On American Ship.
In all probability the president
will cross the Atlantic on an
American battleship, probably on
one Of the navy's newest dread
naughts. While on such ship, it
Is claimed, he is on American ter
ritory, and, technically, would be
absent from the country only for
such time as he actually is on for
eign soil
If the president intends to dele
gate any of the functions of his Of
Ace to Vice-President Marshall, the
vice-president has not been so in
formed, and this fact in itself was
accepted in some quarters as clearly
indicating that the president has :
cided that his physical absence from
the country does not create such
vacancy in the Office as L., fall
within the section of the constitu-
ton which clothes the viee-pre1i-
dent with authority to discharge
the duties Of the office during the
inability of the president to act.
Freely Discussed.
The question as to what effect
the presidents absence will have on
the work of congress was freely
discussed tonight in congressional
circles. Many hold that the presi-
dent could not approve or veto
legislation while absent, as the &C
tual signature is required. L der
the provisions of the constitution. if
bills are no acted upon by the
chief executive within 10 days after
their passage they automatically b.
come ffective.
Very little important business
will be transacted by congress in
December under the program as
now outlined. No pressing legisla-
tive matters nov pending or in
prospect are likely to be completed
before the expected Adjournment OF
congress for over the Christmas
holidays. And if congress does ad-
journ it will not reasonable until
early in January and the president
probably will return home soon aft
erwards.
Lansing to Go.
There was no statement tonight
as to whether the Americans to the
peace conference actually will &C
company the president or will fol-
lowsat later date In some quar-
tiers it was regarded as likely that
!