Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-10-30
PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THE
PRESIDENTS REAL CONDITION

Let us speak very plainly, though
very kindly and with no imputation
of any but the best of motives. It
must be said-and il has been uni
versally felt-that the secrecy which
was maintained concerning the pres
ident's condition was wrong to him,
to his attendants, to congress, and to
the nation. The presidents health
is a matter of direct public concern.
The people are entitled to know the
truth about it, We need not specu-
late upon the origin, or the basis or
lack of basis, of the various rumors
which have been extant. With the
slightest appearance of secrecy
and there was far more than mere
appearance of it-such rumors are
bound to rise. Some of the physi-
clans declined to dignity them by so,
much as denying them. Very well.
But they should have prevented the
rise of them by promptly satisfying
the legitimate, loyal and laubable
interest OF the people in the condi-
ton of their chief magistrate.
In addition to this universal pub
lie interest, congress had a special
interest in the presidents condition.
He and IL are coordinate branches
of the government. Cooperation
betN zen them is essential. When
he was stricken down by illness, con-
gres had in hand much business of
the highest and most urgent import
ance which, quite apart from the
mere signing of bills, it could not
satisfactorily execute without his
aid. It was entitled, for the sake
of public welfare, to know as nearly
as possible to what extent II any, it
would be permissible for him to con-
tirue his cooperation with 1t, and
how soon, according to the best pro-
fessional prognosis, he would prob
ably be able to resume his normal
activities. Nothing could have
been more unwelcome than for eth
err house formally to demand infor-
Iaation on the subject Such infor-
nation, of the fullest possible char
acter should have been forthcoming
without the asking.
The other respect in which greater
publicity-or perhaps we should say
a greater degree of cooperation
between the president and congress
lis now seen to be desirable, was
suggested by the colloquy in the sem
ate foreign relations committee be-
tween Senator Fall and Senator VIII
liams. Resolutions were proposed,
asking the president for information
of vital necessity In the cNnsidera-
tion of the peace treaty. To these
Mr. Williams objected. OH the
ground, that Gin view of the presi-
dents condition 1t would be exceed
ingly bad taste" Mr.. Fall retorted
that in that case the senate should
take recess until the president was
able to give IL the information with
out which IL could not properly do its
work. Here was an embarrassing
situation. Grant that II would not
be pleasant to ask a man for infor-
nation when he was too i'll to give
IL. We must also admit that It
would not be satisfactory for the
senate to remain indefinitely at
standstill in work which urgently
needed to be done promptly, all for
lack of essential information which
ought to have been placed at its dis
posal long before.
For this embarrassing situation
should have been avoided. 1t might
have been avoided. 1t would have
been avoided IL the president had
taken the senate. his partner in treaty
making-more. fully into his conf
dence. Just as his illness came
from his taking too much work up
on himself, so this awkward situation
arose from his keeping his counsel
too much to himself. He should
we say II without thought of CEN
seriousness or chiding-he should
have been more ready and eager to
give information than the senate
was to ask IT, That Is because he
not only had the information. tut he
knew in advance of all the details
which the senate would want to know
about In the course of its considera-
tion of the treaty OF course. II
the part Of the senate had been
merely to "sign here" without dis
erection of consideration, II would
not have needed any information.
But in view OF what its constitutional
duties were. II was necessary that II
should have the fullest possible in
formation such as. in this case, on
ly the president could give.
Even the tenderest symps can
not blind intelligent eyes an. inds
to the Lessons which this in.ident
should teach.-Harvey's Weekly.
-O-