The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-17
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
A SCRAP OF SECRET HISTORY CON-
CORNING CLEVELAND.
Absence From the Hendricks Funcr-
al ExpIained-CuriOsiti of the
Law of Succession
FROM The Philadelphia ledger.

Law of Succession.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
The Washington correspondent of the
st, Louis Globe-Democrat, in his disptach
of the Sth instant to that journal, pre-
scented the following valuable contribution
to the political history of the country.
Why 1t has remained so long untold is ex-
raordinary as it is of unusual interest
and of indisputable historical value;
Behind the law of Presidential success
sion is a curious chapter of unwritten his
tory 1t was told to-day by Missourian,
who has been for many years a trusted
official of the United States Senate. Il ex-
plains fully an incident almost forgotten
now, but once the cause of much criti-
cism OF President Cleveland. Until ten
years ago the law was that the President
pro tempore of the Senate succeeded to the
Presidential Office i'm the event of the
death or incapacity of both President and
vice president. In the absence Of PTesi-
dent pro tempore the succession devolved
upon the speaker. But either of these Of
tccrs only acted as President until con-
gress could be convened on twenty days
notice and a special election could be held.
Early in the first term of Mr.. Cleveland
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 pre-
vented the Senate from eecting a Prosi-
dent pro tompore. lie had been able to do
this by declining to vacate the chair and
to recognize that privilege The Senate
was republican by narrow majority. The
vice president, having some political adj
vantage in mind by so doing, steadfastly
of To IAt hn
When he died there was no President pro
tempore. The death occurred between the
dissolution of one congress and the regu-
lar session of the next congress. There
was no speaker At the white house, Pres
ident Cleveland was completing his pre-
tons 20 so 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 unit for duty by an accident
on this contemplated journey TO lndianap-
Oils?
Senator Edmunds." said the Missou-
rian, was much disturbed. The more ne
thought of the peculiar possibilities, tne
graVer the situation seemed to him. lie
asked me to find some other senators ana
send them to him. Only two were ABOUT
the capitol. They were soon cloSeted win
Mr.. Edmunds. He told them his opinion
of the situation. He said that u any
thing should happen TO Mr.. Cleveland the
country would be without a head. There
would be no one with even the temporary
authority to call an extraordinary session
of congress. 1t would be Impossible 70
take any step. No special election could
be ordered. There would be no reheI
from the confusion until the regular date
around in December. Until the senate
chose a President pro tempore ana we
House elected a speaker NOBODY coulu
perform any of the duties OF PRESIDENT.
1.-THE law then relating to preSldentldi
succession was laid before the other sem
ators. The anomalous condltloh haa not
that Senator Edmunds was right. When
he suggested that under the circumstanceS
the President ought to be escepially care
full they approved the suggestion. AS tie
result of the conference senator Edmunu5
came out and asked me to get a carriage
for him. He rode direct 70 tne Wn1aS
house and told Mr.. Cleveland he must not
go TO indianapolis. lie went over inc
ground showing the President that II
accident happened 10 MIN the country
would be left without an executive ior
months until December came. The Pres
ident was astonished. He had not had the
slightest realization of how muGh ue-
Dended on his life at that time. lie &C
knoUledged the force of Senator Ed-
munds' argument, Immediately cancelleu
the orders for transportation ana remain
ed in Washington. 81,
There was much criticism over the fall
ure of Mr.. Cleveland to be present az tle
Hendricks obsequies, Inc heWSpaPeIs
couldn't understand the apparent lack OF
considerations The President said nothing
This is the first time the CIRCUMSTANCES
of the senatorial conference ana OF SEN
ator Edmunds hurried Visit 10 inc Whlle
house have been told.
AS soon as congress convened after Mr..
Hendricks death Senator Edmunds rain,
cred and pushed 10 enactment Dill
which made impossible the repetition OF
such a crisis. The law of succession now
Is such that a vacancy in the once OF
President of the United States Is beyond
ali probabili If the President dies the
Vice President takes the Ofhce ana holdS
il to the end of the term. III both the
President and the Vice President dle
the Secretary OF State succeeds and is act
ing President until congress can be con
Vened and a special election can be held.
the law directing how and when the proc
iamafion for a special election shall be
issued Succession falls in turn upon the
members of the cabinet including the
term which would pass between the deaths
of President and Vice President and the
special election there are eight possible
acting Presidents. Those who ike 10 puz-
zle over almost impossible and certainly
improbable contingencies may try 70 im-
agine what would happen If Mr.. Mckla-
ley, Mr.. Hobart and all the members o.
the cabinet down to the secretary OF AS-
riculture should be removed suddenly.
By the law of succession II would seem
that Mr.. Wilson OF Iowa would DC Presl-
born in Scotland. The law prescribing the
qualifications of the President of the Unit
ed states SAYS he must mus have. nave Dee cen, porn
the next Secretary of Agriculture Is IA
milirarIy known in Iowa, become acting
President. The law of succession says
that members of the cabinet can only take
the Office of President temporarily, when
thew are "eligible under the constitution"
There Is nothing that requires a President
to choose as members OF his cabinet ma
lives of the United States, and yet tho
law of succession says that only native
american members of the cabinet can be-
come acting Presidents.
Senator Edmunds who is one of the two
foremost figures of the story Is now an
honored resident of Philadelphia, and his
courtesy has enabled the Ledger to verify
that Important part of II which Is true
and TO correct that portion which Is err
roneous.
Senator Edmunds has informed the Led
ger that the history of the incident as
fold by the Globe Democrats correspond
ent Is substantially accurate except that
he (Mr Edmunds) did not urge or favor
the present law of presidential success
sion. As to that he thought the Senate
and House, through their presiding off,
GERS, should govern until the executive
office should be formally filled. Again,
he saws that It is his belief that the nom
existence OF a president pro TEN. OF the
senate was due not 70 any deliberate i'm
tention or purpose of Vice President Hen