The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-04-03
A BIT OF UN WRITTEN HISTORY.


Behind the law of presidential sue
cession is curious chapter of un-
written history. 1t was told recently
by Missourian who has been Tor
many years trusted official of the
United States senate, says the St. Louis
Globe-Democat. 1t explains fully an
| incident, almost forgotten now, but
once the cause of much criticism of
| President Cleveland. Until a few
years ago the law was that the presi-
dent pro tempore of the senate sue
ceeded to the presidential Office in the
event of the death or incapacity OF both
president and vice-president. In the
absence of a president pro tempore
the succession devolved upon the
| speaker. But either of these officers
only acted as president until congress
could convene on twenty days notice
aud special election could be held.
Early in the first term of Mr.. Cleve-
land Vice-President Hendricks died at
his home in indianapolis. A situation
which was without precedent existed.
Up to the time of his sickness Mr..
Hendricks had prevented the senate
from electing president pro tempore.
The death occurred between the dis
solution of one congress and the
regular session of the next congress.
At the White House President Cleve-
land was completing his preparations
to go to Indianapolis to attend the
funeral. Senator Edmunds was at the
capitol, busy in his committee-room.
The suggestion came to his mind:
What would happen if the president
should be killed or be rendered unfit
for duty by an accident on this con-
templated journey to Indianapolis?
He reasoned that if anything should
happen to Mr.. Cleveland the |
country would be without head. |
There would be no one even with tenn
porary authority to call an extraordi- |
nary session of congress. 1twould be |
impossible to take any steps. No |
special election could be ordered. |
There would be no relief from the con-
fusion until the regular date for the as
sembling of congress came around in |
December. Until the senate chose a
president pro tempore and the house
elected speaker nobody could perform
any of the duties of president.
Edmunds went directly te the White
House and told Mr.. Cleveland he must
not go to Indianapolis, giving his
reasons therefor. He acknowledged |
the force of Senator Edmunds' argu-
ment. Immediately cancelled the order
for transportation and remained in
There was much criti-
cism over the failure of Mr.. Cleveland
to be present at the Hendricks OBJ
sequies.
AS soon as congress convened after
Mr.. Hendricks death Senator Ed
munds fathered and pushed to enact
ment a bill which mado impossible the
repetition of such crisis. The law
of succession now is such that
vacancy in the Office of the president
Of the United States is beyond all
If the president dies the
takes the Office and holds
it to the end of the term. If both the
president and vice-president die the
of state succeeds and is act
ing president until congress- can be
held, the law directing how and when
The proclamation for a special election
shall be issued. Succession falls in
,urn upon the members of the cabinet,
the secretary of agriculture.
In the brief interim which would pass
the deaths of the president
Ind vice-president and the special
election there are eight possible act
ng presidents.