PRESIDENT'S HEALTH.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3334, 12 November 1919, Page 2

PRESIDENT'S HEALTH.

MR WILSON’S ILLNESS‘

C'ONFLI~CTING RUMOUBAS.

.S1~I()lFLD VICIt}—PRESIDEN’.I‘ ACT’?

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 14.

All sorts of rumours are current in regard to the real state of President Wilson ’s health. An apparently author-i,_t.a'tive mmouncement was made by the Providence Journal yesterday. According to this Mr Wilson is suffering from a ‘very dangerous cerebral hemorrhage,‘ following two slight shocks, the first of which came -at Pueblo during his western trip, and the second on the iuorning of October 1, after his return to Washington. ‘There is partial physical pa.l'a.lysis and brain lesion of such a character that he has suffered seve.ra.l periods of aphasia, although 21 high Governnient official says they have {been less frequent in the past few days. Even if the President should show signs of improvement by the gradual absorption fof the hemorrhage, any mental strain to which he would be subjected by the attempt to take up public matters would mean an immediate recurrence of the earlier ‘symptonis and it more dangerous condition than at present

It is also declared that there is no posibility that Mr Wilson will be able to perform the functions of his office. either in the immediate or the remote future, éml that while the medical bulletins state the facts, the physicians in attendance are agreed than any mental strain "Would plunge the patient into a. condition far worse than anything that has yet resulted from cerebral hemorrliage. V

Ofiieials told the journal that the question as to the performance of the l’resident’s duties, either by the Vice President, Mr Marshall, or in some other way, has become vitally urgent. An unchallenged report is that the late Secretary of the Treasury, Ml‘ VV. G. l\/Ic.«\cl0o, son-in-law of the President, and :1 picture proprietor, is directing and overseeing‘ -Grovernnient policies along lines known to heve been approved in the past by the President. Colonel House is to assist Mr M_c:\doo in this Work. Cabinet tentatively agreed that it should itself _a.ssume coiitrol of affairs, but the law oflioei-5 of the Government have been able to final nothing in the Constitution conferring such power. A similar difiiculty has aris‘e-n in connection with the status of the vice—president, as the Constitution is silent on the manner in which the inability of Ya president shall be ’-determined. It was persistently rumoured in Washington that steps towards bringing a suit to test the physical capacity of the Presiclent to perform his duties are being serious considered. \\'hile the ':>.e.tuzll condition of the

iP:'esident and the question of his ilcioixstitutional inability to.fd~ischarge til!) duties of his ofiice were being discussed by the Senate Cpjlillllittce on Foreign Relations, Drs. Grayson, Ruffin. and Stitt gssued a. ieiissuring bullletin frankly intended To Set at rest {the sensational rumours current concerning his illness, but they carefully evucled any reference to the character lof his nilment. It is the suppression of the diagnosis that accounts for the I rumounsv which have been flying thick ’and fast for the past ‘ten days. I Dr. Grayskon declined’ to affirm the authenticity of _~a statement, by Senagtor Moses that the President had a brain lesion. This statement caused indignation at White House. Itvisn ‘asserted by some officinls that the President is transacting public business every ‘day. The doctors express {the utmost confidence in the ultimate I recovery of the President.