The indicator., 1897-04-03
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
circumstances That Kept Cleveland from
Uepdricks' Funeral

Uepdricks' Funeral
Behind the law OF Presidential sue
cession is curious chapter of unwrit-
ten history. 1t was told today by a
Mlssourian. who has been for many
years q trusted official of the United
States senate. Ie explains fully an in
cident, almost forgotten now, but once
the cause of much criticism Of Presi
dent Cleveland. Until ten years ago
the law was that the President pro
tempore of the senate succeeded to the
Presidential Office in the event Of the
death or incapacity Of both President
and Vice-President. In the absence
of President pro tempore. the sue
cession devolyed upon the speaker
But either of these officers only acted
as President until congress could be
convened on twenty days notice and
special election could DE 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 prevented the senate from electing
President pro tempOre. He had been
able to do this by declining to yacate
the chair and to recognize that prlvt-
lege. The senate was Republican by
a narrow majority The Vice-Presi-
dent. having some political advantage
in mind by so doing, steudfasty re
fused to let the Republicans organize
When he died there was no President
pro temporg. The death occurred be
tween the dissolution OF one congress
and the regular session OF the next
congress There was no speaker, AT
the White House President Cleveland
was completing his preparations to go
to Indianapolis to attend the funeral
Senator Edmuuds was at the capitol.
busy in his committee room. The sug-
| gestion came to his mind What would
/ happen if the President should be
/ killed or be rendered unfit for duty by
an accident on this contemplated jour
ney to Indianapolis?
Senator Edmuuds.' said the Mis-
sourlan. was much disturbed. The
more he thought of the peculiar possi-
bilities the Huver the situation seemed
/ to him. He asked me to find some 9TH
| er senators and send them to him.
/ Only two were about the capitol. They
were soon closetei with Mr. Edmunds
He told them his opinion of the situa-
ton. He said that If anything should
happen to Mr. Cleveland the country
would be without head. There would
| be no one with even the temporary au-
| thority to call nn extraordinary session
of congress 1t would be impossible
to take any step. No special election
could be ordered There would be no
relief from the confusion until the reg
ular date Tor the assembling Of con-
gress came round In December Until
the senate chose Il President pro tenn
pore and the house elected a speaker,
nobody could perform any of the duties
of President
"The law then relating to Preslden-
tial succession was laid before the 9TH
er senators. The anomalous condition
had not occurred to them They agreed
at once that Senator Edmunds was
right. When he suggested that under
the circumstances the President ought
to be specially careful they approved
the suggestion. AS the result of the
conference Senator Edmunds came out
anu i6htu i44' " SGT Il lldEt lOl
him. He rode direct to the White
House and told Mr.. Cleveland he must
not go to indianapolis. He went over
the ground, showing the President that
If an accident happened to him the
country would be left without an ex-
ecutive for months. until December
came. The President was astonished
He had not had the slightest reali2q-
tion OF how much depended on his life
at that time. He acknowledged the
force of Senator Edmuud's argument
Immediately cancelled the orders for
transportation and remained in Wash
ington."
There was much criticism over the
failure of Mr.. Cleveland to be present
at the Hendricks obsequies. The news
papers couldn't understand the appar-
ent lack of consideration. The Presi-
dent said nothing. This is the first
time the circumstances of the sena-
torial conference and of Senator Ed
munds' hurried visit to the White
House have been told. AS soon as con
gress convened after Mr. Hendricks
death Senator Edmunds fathered and
pushed to enactment @ bill which made
impossible the repetition of such a crt-
sis. The law of succession now is such
that vacancy in the office of President
of the United States is beyond all prob
ability. II the President dies the Vice
President takes the Office and holds it
to the end of the term. II both the
President and the Niae-Prosident die,
the Secretary of State succeeds. Sue
cession falls in turn upou the members
of the cabinet, including the Secretary
of Agriculture.