Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-11-27
THE PRESIDENTS TRIP ABROAD

The Journal is in receipt Of the
following letter from Il WE'LL known
New Mexico lawyer, who, because he
is a democrat, does not want his
name used:
Il am disappointed with your posi-
ton regarding President Wilson'S pur-
pose to go to Europe during the
peace conference. You contend that
il is all right. but ! do not believe
when the editorial was written you
had taken into consideration Article
IT, Section G Of the constitution,
which reads as follows:
In case OF the removal of the
president from office, or OF his death,
resignation, or inability to discharge
The powers aud duties of the said Of
flee, the same shah devolve on the
vice president; and the congress may
BY law provide for the case of re-
moval, death, resignation, or inability
both Of the president and vice presi-
dent declaring what officer shall
thcn act as president and such Of
ficer shall act accordingly until the
disability be removed or a president
shall be elected
IF congress, which will be repub-
lican in both branches after March A.
were to declare by joint resolution
that the president owing to his alb
sence in Europe, was unable to dis
chage the powers and duties of his
office, it would seem that the vice
president by virtue of that act be-
comes president until the return of
the president The mere fact thatIl
matters might come to such a pass
ought, it seems to me. to dissuade the
president from his unprecedented
project
The Journal readily admits that the
above presents a phase that II had not
considered, Also, if It is possible for |
him to attend to the business of the
country from Paris, it is surely more
practicable to participate in the peace
conference by cable from Washing
ton.
But we have very high regard |
for the president, aside from his par
t;sianism, and would like very much
10 see his greatest ambition achieved
to become the head of the league
of nations to abolish war.
Here is the way we guess the
president has it doned out At the
peace conference he would outrank
all other delegates and would, of
course, take the presiding chair he
would make the supreme effort of his
life in the opening address; by his
eloquence, and the world has no more
eloquent speaker. and by his private
conversations, he would bring about
a league of nations; the United States
is now the creditor of the world and
the banker of the world which fact
ould give the president added pres
Iise in the conference and in the
chancellors Of Europe Wilson
would become by virtue Of all of these
things the first chairman of the
league of nations and thus. in effect,
the president of the world.
This is an alluring picture surely,
and one calculated to cause every
heart to swell with par
donable pride. But what bitter dis
1t would be to ambitious
America, if the president should not
be able to accomplish these great
feats!
OF course the presidents first duty
IS TO attend to the duties which go
with the office of president. It was
for that purpose he was elected to
the highest office in the gift of the
people of this great republic :
Also there are some things that
cannot be done by cable--sign public
papers, such as bills passed by con-
gress, for instance, One statement
from Washington is that it is the
purpose of the president not to have
congress pass any bills while he is
absent from the country. 1t is said
Il any bill is passed the speaker and
he vice president will refuse to
sign it.