The sun., 1919-10-04

thst the pervops condition. Is still
much in evidences.
Messages of sympathy from an
parts of the. world reached the White
House to-day. and there were many
Callers at the Executive Offices TO ex-
press sympathy. Chief Justice White
Of the Supreme Court OF the United
States. Samuel Gompers. president OF
thu, american Federation Of Labor, and
W. A. r., Ekengren. the Swedish Min
lister. were among the callers. .e
Among the other callers at the
White House was former President
Taft, who remained for half an hour
with Secretary Tumulty and departed
expressing earnest hope for the quick
recovery Of the President. Several
members OF the diplomatic corps also
called during the, day, Constant ID
apiries by. telephone were MADE
throusbout the day as 20 the condition
Of the President. s-.N
ssThe PRESIDENTS brother. John w.
Wilson. was. summoned from Baiti-
mofe. ,,.-;.-tr.. .,.,...-s..
WORD reached, the. White. House
through the State Department that
King Albert. Of the Belgians had can
celied ali his engagements on account
Of the Presidents iilness. The King
expressed a desire TO come to WASH
ington to personally express his SYM
pathy to the President. but it was ex-
planned to him that the Presidents
condition would not permit him to re-
ceive any visitors for the present.
Eject ON Affairs OF state.
The emergency in the AFFAIRS Of the
Government which protracted disability
on the part Of the President would oc-
casion is one which completely stumps
the leading constitutionalists OF Con-
gress On this point the Federal Con-
stitution does not define what shall be
construed as disability and makes nc
provision whatsoever for the assumption
Of the duties of president by the Vice
President. except to say that he shall
assume such duties The Constitution
on this point declares:
In case Of the removal of the
President from once or Of his death.
resignation or inability to discharge
the powers and duties Of said ONCE.
the same shall devolve on the Vice
President. and the Congress may by
death. resignation or inability. both
of the President and vice-Presidentr-
declaring what officer shall then set
as President. and such oucer rhaH
act Accordingly until the vdisAhiiity
be removed or q President shal ne
elected -
what shall CONSTITUTES Inability n po'
defined or even indicatsf, Netthcr 70 y
determined what oricef -ef-Goxernmen
or what branch of the Government. sinai
assume the right to take the actor
necessary to replace the disabled Presi
dent by his duly elected successor. III
vice-President, or In the event OF IN
previous death Of that ofiicer. the statu
tory successor to the Presidency.
Many Questions Are Open.
In the event that tho complete dis
ability Of the President Is physical II
character the questions as to the sue
cesston by the Vice. President are numer
GUS and altogether open. There 10 unde
the Constitution no means provided 10
forcing his assumption Of office. Seem
ingiy. according to- the Constitutions
experts, IL would b up to the Presiden
10 determine when he- should seek Tn
relief from once which disability woui
necessitate. ~
II Is pointed out -thaf fresoe,,
might be completely psralyHed IN ina
and voice vet clear In mind In thi
event he could perform all the function
Of Office In no far as his Judgment an
decision were concerned. Legally n
actually could sign state document
through the touching of pen to nj
hand. The same state Of AFFAIRS woui
maintain il ne became totally blind
deaf
On the other hand. n protracted ma
ady Of the gravest kind physically mgr
not impair the Presidents mentality
though he would be bedridden and ur
able to take under consideration an
public business as in the case OF lon
fever. Here, too, the question or II
ability to perform the power ana quite
of ONCE Is still an open one,
The situation Is peculiar IN that q,
spite the $50 years of constitutional III
OF the United States the question nev'
has been urgent.
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