Americus times-recorder., 1919-12-07
THE PRESIDENT.


The question of the Presidents health is still
causing considerable worry in Washington. not
ssithstandng repeated statements made by Dr.
Erayson, the President personal physician. to tn
e#ect that the Presidents health is slowly bu
steadily improving
When mention of this matter was made a
the White House few days ago. the officials ther,
stated that the President Monday completed writ
ing his annual message to Congress which was reac
TO the Senate and House of Representatives the
next day. This, it was asserted, was an indication
khaa The Presidents mind is clear and that he i.
slowly recovering.
1t is reported however, that not single mem
ber of the Cabinet was consulted by the President
regarding the message and that they are as curious
the general public. 1t also appears that in con-
ducdng the tremendously important negotiations
with Mexico regarding the Jenkins matter, Mr.
lansing has not had the benefit of personal in
Rerview with the President.
Friday afternoon Senators Hitchcock and
Fail called on the President to discuss the Mexican
situation They are the first persons who have been
permitted to interview him, and then speak freely
OF his condition afterward, The Associated Pres:
tells of the conference in the following language:
The discussion with the President produced
no definite conclusion as to Mexican relations,
buf it was suggested everywhere as bearing on
subject of endless speculation in Congressional
circles whether the long illness of the Chief Ex-
ecutiye has to any extent rendered him physic-
ally incapable of the duties of the Presidency.
Propped up. in bed the President talked of many
FEATURES of the Mexican tangle. With right
hand and arm free above the cover, the Senators
said, he shook hands with them and took up
and read papers which were on the table beside
ann He was described as weak and nervous
Duf 4 said he jested about exaggerated re-
ports of his illness and promised within a few
days to give Congress his advice on what it
should do about Mexico
He appeared to be sick man, said Sena-
for Fall afterward, but mentally alert and per
fectly able to cope with any question with which
be might have to deal. He appeared to me,
certainly, in as good mental condition any
man could be after being i'll for nine or ten
weeks"
The other delegate of the committee, Sena-
tor Hitchcock, Democrat of Nebraska, said the
President seemed greatly improved since be saw
him two weeks ago.
My opinion is that he has been very
SICK man, but is improving, said Senator Hitch
cock. He has pretty good idea of the Mexi-
situation, and although he did not give a
final decision the subject he indicated that too
many serious considerations were involved to
warrant any hasty action.
The continued isolation of the President eve
from the members Of his Cabinet and the leade
OF his own party, notwithstanding the fact that tt
President has, according to reports, for some tin
been able to ride about the White House, out c
the veranda, and even on the lawn in a wheele
char. seems inexplcable, except on the theory tn
he is afflicted with malady which, if general
known would be likely to cause public demar
for the invocation of the clause of the constitute
Which provides that the Vice President shall act
President in case of the inability of the Preside
10 discharge the powers and duties of his Office
1t is no doubt perfectly natural that tho
closely associated with, as well as those related
the President should feel disposed to maintain tt
veil of secrecy regarding the Presid ents conditit
as long as possible in the hope that he will even
ezny recover his health and may thus avoid ev,
hemporarily turning over the duties of his off