The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-21
The Inadvertent Confession OF On
Absentee President.

The Inadvertent Confession OF an
Absentee President.
There is much In the Presidents
message by cable to Congress that Is
practically negligible as advice, rec
ommendation or oblter dlcta ; negiigi-
BILE for the reason stated by himself,
namely, his protracted absence and
his consequent unfamiliarity with
those domestic affairs which ordi-
narily occupy the major part Of the
Executives communications to the
Legislative department Of the Gov
eminent. Barring his brief visit to
the United States during the last few
days of February and the first few
days of March, he has been for more
than five months thousands Of miles
away from his post Of duty.
There is one feature Of this cabled
message, however, which Is not neg
ligible. We refer to the passage In
which the President, apparently with
out much thought of tho bearing Of
the confession on his own personal
responsibility for this unprecedented
state Of affairs, directly admits his
self-disqualification for the perform
ance of the duty imposed upon him
by the Constitution.
In all the Messages and Papers Of
the other Presidents of the United
States nothing quite like this can be
found by the most diligent search:
'T hesitate to venture any opinion
or to press any recommendation with
regard to domestic legislation while
absent from the United States and
out OF daily touch with intimate
/ sources OF information and counsel.
I am conscious that I need, after 80
long an absence from Washington.
70 seek the advice of those who have
remained in constant contact with
domestic problems and who have
known them close at hand from day
to day; and trust that 1t will very
soon be possible for me to do so.'
That is to say, the President now
blithely admits that on account Of
his self-determined removal from the
seat of Government he is unable to
do that very thing which he is charged
with doing by the second section Of
the article defining his functions. The
language of this section Is so plain as
10 leave room for no other construc-
tion than that which leaps to the eye
and the apprehension: HE shall
from time to time give to the Con-
gress information of the state Of the
Union and recommend to their con-
sideration such measures as he shall
judge necessary and expedient." This
is a requirement, not privilege ex-
tended. 1t is mandatory, not permits
sive. 1t may be said that the man.
date leaves it open to the President
TO choose his own time of communi-
eating the required information and
recommendations. From the begin
ming of our Government one time for
the performance Of the Executive
function has been invariably fixed by
NHO VI TIC dOcculullnk VI SUIl-
gress. And now President WILSON,
with seeming Inconsistencies OF the
gravity of the default, tells the Con-
gress that he is unable to venture any
opinion or make any recommendations
with regard to domestic legislation
because he has put himself out OF
touch with the necessary sources of
information. He must wait, he says
until he gets back to his post Of duty
and ascertains what has been going
on in the United States during his
Drotracted and self-imposed absence
and he hopes TO get back soonl
Now. pray compare the foregoing
tnadvertent confession Of a conscious.
ness on his part that he has not full.
filled his sworn obligation to keep IN
touch with domestic legislation with
what the President said to Congress
on December 2, 1918, when he frst
announced, to the amazement of the
Legislative department and of the en-.
tire country, his intention to &c
abroad at the expense Of the taxpay.
ers to reorganize the political system
of the other hemisphere in accordance
/ with his personally formulated md
individually proclaimed "ideals":
II shall be in close touch with you
and with AFFAIRS on this side of the
water, and YOU will know all that I
do. / shall not be tnancsssi
1 BILE. The cables and the wireless will
/ render me available for any counsel
4 or service you may desire OF me, and
II Shall be happy in the thought that