The Sentinel=record., 1918-11-19

VIII DG a3lP SOOll aitcf tue puliDiSnlSl CTS assemble to their own countri $ and attend 10 important business at home
 Since the suggestion that the pres I ident attend the peac conference first I was made there has been much dis lcussion here as 10 whether while ah- sent from tho country could con- itinue 10 act as president Tae con stitution itself is silent on the Qpes-
 tion, and generally the question is re- garded as what th president himself must decide
 The prevailing opinion here is that Mir. Wilson already had made ID his mind on this subject. He does not go l to the peace conf renee as a delegate land consequently it is held. that lshould he relmquish his authority and functions of office he would be with out power to act for the United States lin ;h discussions
 There is ample prece dent for the president to leave the territorial limits of tho United Stat $. President liar rison on one occasion weTt into Can- ada while President Taft visited ooth that country and Mexico President Roosevelt and also President Taft visited the Panama Canal zone.
 Both PtesideBi Taft a8a President Roosevelt contmned to perform theI functions of their office while on thel visits to the canal zone. sending in- |structions to Washington both by ca ble and wireless
 It was phinted ont to day that ihe president also could in this manner attend to any pressing matters of im- portance here while he is abroad h all probability the president will cross the Atlantic oi ali American bat |tlcshir. probably one of the rayys newest dreadnaughts. While on such a ship it is claimed he is on American territory and technically would De ab-
 sent from the country only for such
 time as he actually is on foreign coil
 If the president intends 10 delegate any Of the functions of his office to
 Vice President Marshall the vice p-e5-
 tent has not been so informed and this
 fact in itself was accepted in some quarters as clearly indicating that he
 president has decided his physical ab-
 sence from the country does not create
 such a vacancy in the office as to fall within the section of the constitution
 which clothes the vice president with
 authcritv 10 discharge the duties of|
 the office during the inability Of the
 president to act
 The question of what effect the prcs- ident's absence will have on the work Of congress was freely discussed to- nieIht in congressional circles. Many held that the president could not ap-I prove or veto legislation while absent as the actual signature of the pres ident is required Under the provis-
 ion Of tle constitution if bills arc not aetcd upon hy the chief exec utive within ten days after their pass 'aee they automatically become effect i've. Very little important business will he transacted by congress in December under the program as now outlined.
 No pressing legislative matters now pending or in prospect are liable 10 be presented before the expected ad- iournmen. of congress for over the Chrigtma, holidays And if congress does adjourn it will not reasscmble until early in January and the presi- dent probably will return home soon afterwards
 There was no statement tonight as .to whether tae American delegates to the peace conference actually will ac- company the president or will follow lat a later date In solno quarters 1t was regarded as likely that they would
 make the trip with the president so as to have the advantage of conference with representatives of the allied ma tions before the peace congress con
 vened.
 Secretary Lansing will undoubtedly head the American commissioners Others regarded as probable selections as delceates are Colonel House. Louis ID. Brandeis. associate justice of the supreme court and ftiihu Root former secretary Of state.
 General Tasker IT. Bliss, former chief of staff and military representa-
 tive of the United States on the su-
 preme war council is expected to head the military representatives from this country who will assist in tho