Americus times-recorder., 1919-10-16


them get ahead; so / mbuyng circus wagons and
I'm buying costly gems, and my wife is wearing
sables and has diamond diadems and bought
the whole caboodle on the monthly payment
plan, and I'm riding to the poorhouse in super
eight sedan.
lives-he may not be material force or factor
in anything.
Naturally the publication of such a statement
by United States Senator has caused earnest ef-
forts to ascertain the exact facts, and has even
started speculation as to what would follow should
the President be incapactated for an indefinite pc
Rod This contingency is, of course, provided for
by the following provision of Section of Article II
IF the Federal Constitution: In case of the re-
moval of the President from Office or of his DEATH
resignation inability to discharge the powers and
duties of the said Office the same shall devolve
On the Vice President = = and such officer shall
act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or
a President shall be elected.
While the above provision makes it clear that
the VicePresident is to act President if at any
time there is in fact an inability" or disability
on the part of the President to perform his official
duties the Constitution fails to prescribe any method
by which the fact of the Presidents inability" or
disability is to be determined and consequently
Manifestly if the Presidents illness should cause
cerebral paralysis or other mental abnormality or
Iif for any other reason there should be prolonged
period during which he is unable to attend to the
duties of his Office, he himself might we'll be unable
to decide the question of his own inability" or
disability and, unless the Vice-President volun-
tary assumed the duties of the office of President
and thus afforded an opportunity for judicial de-
cislon as to the legality of his acts as President it is
difficult to see how the matter could be determined
Apparently the Constitution is seriously def
cient in its failure to provide definite method of
procedure in situation of this kind, and this de-
hciency should be remedied Meanwhile there ;s
intense and widespread eagerness to know the pre-
else facts as to the Presidents condition. both be-
cause of the personal sympathy and solicitude for
his welfare and also because of the many questions
OF grave and tar-reaching Importance such as the
htioidl industrial conference at Washington peace
treaty ratification; pending legislation pardon mat
ters etc. which daily demanding Presidential
attention and action.
In the effort to ascertain the facts regardino
the matter inquiries have been made from all of
the parties supposed to be in position to know
including Mr.. Iumulty, the Presidents secretary.
DR.. Grayson, the Presidents private phvsician
Senator Hitchcock and others, but without satisfac
tory results. Perhaps the most disquieting feature
OF the whole matter is the fact that Dr. Gravson
and the other physicians attending the President
have thus far refused absolutely to DENY or to com
ment in any definite way on the alarming state
ments ascribed to Senator Moses regarding the
alleged cerebral hemorrhage for it seems obvious
that if there were no basis whatever for this r,I
NOR, it should be denied Immediately and empbat
ically
The latest report from Washington is to the
effect that there is to be conference of the Pres;
dents physicians and that at this conference full
statement regarding his physical condition will be
prepared for publication 1t is earnestly to be
hoped that this plan will be fully carried out and
that it will completely clear up all question as to
the Presidents ability fully and properly to per-
form the tremendously important duties of his