Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-11-19
.DFMOCRACY'S SPOKESMAN
 WILL SIT AT PEACE TABLE PRESIDENT WILSON DEFINITELY DECIDES TO ATTEND PEACE CONFERENCE IN PARIS. TWILL RECEIVE HON0RS BETTING CHAMPION
 OF WORLD DEMOCRACY WHILE ABROAD Precedent Is Established By the Visits of Presidents Harrison to Canada, an Roosevelt to Panama and Taft to Mexico.
WILL RECEIVE HONORS BETTING CHAMPION

ous questions. This will be the work of the commissioners, he soon is to name to represent the United Sta teS.
 By carrying ont this universal pro- gram of having the conference draft and adopt q genera pleace treaty at the outset, the President and the entente premiers vii lbe 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 frs was made there has been much discussion here d to whether, while absent from the country. he could continue to set as President. 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 k that Nr, Wilson already has made up his mind on this subject He does not go to the peace conference as delegate, and, consequently, 1t is held. that should he relinquish his authority and functions of office he would be without power to act for the United States in the discussions. There is ample precedent for the President to leave the territorial limits of the United States Presi- dent Harrison in one occasion went into Canada. while President Taft visited both that countr wand Mexico. al. dent Taft visited the Panama Canal Zone.
 Both President Taft and President Roosevelt continued to perform the functions of their office while on the visits to the Canal Zone, sending in- structions 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 importance here while he is abroad.
 In all probability the President will cross the Atlantic on an Ameri- can battleship. probably one of the navy's newest dreadnaughts. While on such a ship it is claimed he is on American territory and technically would be absent from the country only for such time as he actually Is on foreign soil.
 If the President intends to dele gate any of the functions of his 0f- flee to Vice Preident Marshall. the vice president has not been so in- ormed and this fact in itself was &C., cepted in some quarters as clearly indicating that the Preident has de- cided that his physical absence from the country doe not screate such a vacancy in the office as Ito fall with in the section of the constitution which clothes the vice president with authority to discharge the duties of the office during the inability of the President to act.
 The question of what effect the Preident's absence will have on the work of Congres was freely discussed tonight in congressional circles. Many hold that the President could not approve or veto legislation while ab- sent as the actual signature of the President is required. Under tho provisions of the constitution if bills are not acted upon by the chief exc cutive within ten days after their passage they automatically become effective.
 Very little important business will be transacted by Congress in Decem- Der, under the program as now out lined. No pressing legislative mat ters now pending or in prospect are likely to be completed before the ex- pected adjournment of Congress for over the Christmas holidays. And, if Congress does adjourn. it will | not re-asemble until early in Janu- ary and the President probably will return home oon afterwards. There was no statement tonight as 1 to whether the American delegates to the peace conference actually will accompany the President, or will fol- l low at later date. In some quart CTS it was regarded as likely that ] they woud make the trip with the ! President os as to have tho advant- | ages of conferences with representa- tives of the allied nations before thS 1 peace congress conveues.
 Gen. Tasker H. Bliss. former chief l of staff. representative and militsYy ! representative the United States on the Supreme War Council, Is ex- pected to head the military represen. l tatives from this country who will assist in the NoYk of the peace cop- ference while vice-Admirsl Sims pro
 bably will be selected to head the naval delegations.