The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1895-11-22
TOMB FOR AMBITION.
Men Elected to the Wce-Presidency
<-.- Rarely Achieve Much
~ il AfterWard. "@'~-

. E-.~ Rarely Achieve Much
i Afterward. sa'
Since the day yice-President Martin
Van Buren, inherited the leadership Of
the Democratic party and the position of
President of the United States from Old
Hickory, Andrew Jackson, no vice-presi-
dent or ex-vice-president of the United
States has been chosen by the people to
the Presidency. -Four vice-presidents
succeeded to the great Office by the
deaths of Presidents, but each Of these
was unsuccessful in his desire for nomi-
nation to succeed himself. President
John Tyler and the Wing Congress fell
out over the question of the national
banks and high protective tariff. and
the President himself was soon closely
a1hiiating with the Democratic party.
He, however, failed to secure the nomina-
ton of the Democratic convention, but
was unanimously nominated at an indie
pendent Wing convention held in Baiti-
more Many prominent Wings and
Democrats advised the President to ac-
eept this independent nomina ton, hoping,
of course. that the Democratic candidate
would be Withdrawn and that he might
be Endorsed. and some of them undoubt-
ediy thinking that, whether Endorsed or
not. he might be elected OH the indie
pendent ticket.
Il have been told that | could carry
Michigan on the independent Wing tick
ct. said President Tyler at the, white
house to a famous old-time Wing politi-
clan of Michigan, who is still living, hale
and hearty, in his early nineties.
The Angel Gabriel could not carry
Michigan on an independent ticket" re-
piled the loyal but ingenious Michigan
man.
What states could l carry asked
the President
Not one. without Democratic endorse
ment. although with it you could be-
elected
President Tyler afterward declined
this independent nomination. and was
never again a candidate for the Presi-
| dency. President Willard Fillmore. who
| succeeded to the place by reason Of the
death of Zachary Taylor. was also hope
| fnl of nomination at the hands of the
Wing convention. but that party was
| carried away by the glamour of the name
| and fame of Gen. Winfield Scott -Four
years later the ex-vice-president was
nominated by the Native American party
for President. but he tailed the list Of
candidates at the polls.
| The efforts of Andrew johnson to Sc
1
| ident in 1868 and of President Chester
| A. Arthur to get the Endorsement of the
Republican convention of 1884 are still
| familiar. history.
| Fice-President John c. Breckenridge
received the nomination of the Southern
wing of stbe Democratic party, but bis
candidacy resulted in disaster to himself.
and. although his electoral vote was next
to that of President Lincoln. his popular
vote fell far behind that of his great
competitor, Stephen 4. Douglas
1t is, therefore, a rather curious cir
cumstance that fifty years after the
campaign in which vice-president was
last advanced to the presidency. the pres
ent vice-president of the United States
and the only living ex-vice-president
should both be candidates for the nomi-
nation of their respective parties. Vice
| President Stevenson has been from the
beginning of his term Of Office regarded
by his many friends throughout the coun-
try as promising candidate for the next
Democratic presidential nomination.
The election of ex-Nice-President Morton
to the governorship of the state of New
York and the recent remarkable success
| of Thomas c. Plat, vino is Gov. Nor
tons great supporter in retaining his
leadership in New York. have brought
the governors name to the front among
the Republican candidates. This circum-
| tue Oiu StOIS
the incident of banquet said to have
been held in the city of New York. during
which there was remarkable struggle
| between two men to secure by right the
most obscure place at the banquet ta BILE
According to the story, one gentleman
was seated in this apparently undesirable
place. when another stepped up. tapped
him on the shoulder and said. politely ::
II beg your pardon. sir. but believe this
| seat is designed for me-
| "My good friend" said the gentlema IL
who occupied the seat, not to be outdone
in pofiteness, Il should be glad to sur
render this seat if there were not special
reasons. which will appeal strongly to
you, why should be permitted to retain
it."
They will hare to be pretty strong
reasons" said the other. Ito weigh
against mine"
WHY. isn't this the most obscure place
at the table,"
Yes. sir. and that is why venture to
| claim it as my own
'Well. I guess not" said the sitting
man. Il am an eX-mayor Of New York.
"A very good claim" replied the other
"but it does not weigh against mine for a
minute. l. sir. am an ex-vice-president of
the United States-New York Recorder