The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-19
A Scrap of some History Concerning
President Cleveland. y

President Cleveland.
Behind the law Of presidential success
ion is curious chapter of unwritten his
tory. 1t was told by a Missourian,
who has been for many years trusted
official of the U nited States Senate. 1t
explains fully an incident, almost forgot
ten now. but once the cause of much
criticism of President Cleveland. Until
ten years ago, the the law was that the
President 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 President pro tempore. the
succession devolyed upon the Speaker.
But either of these officers only acted as
President until Congress could be con-
venad on twenty days notice and a
special election could be held. Early in
the first term of MIR. Cleveland, Vice
Presidents 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 q
President pro tempore. He had been
able to do this by declining to vaeate the
chair and to recognize that privilege.
The Senate was. Republican by a narrow
majority. Tho Vice President, having
some political advantage in mind by so
doing, steadfastly refused to let the Re-
publicans organize. When he died the re
was no President pro tenipore. The
death occurred between the dissolution
of one Congress and tia regular session
Speaker. At the White House, President
Cleveland was completing his prepRra-
tions tn go to Indianapolis to attend the
funeral. Senator Edmunds was at tho
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 contemplated journey
to Indianapol1sT
ssSenator Edmunds,'' said the Mis-
sourian, "Was much disturbed. The
more he thought of the peculiar possibili-
ties, the graver the situation seemed to
him. He asked me to find some other
Senators and send them to him. Only
two were about the capitol. They were
soon oloseted with Mr.. Edmunds. He
told them his opinion of the situation.
He said that : if anything should
happen to Mr.. Cleveland the country
would be without a head. Tners would
be no one with evan the temporary aH-
thority to call an 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 regular date for
the assem- Sling 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
sETho law then relating to presidential
succession was laid before tie other Sena-
tors. The anomalous condition had not
occurred to them. They agreed at once
that Senator Edmunds was right. When
he suggested that under the ciroumstan-
ces the President ought to be especially
careful they approved the suggestion AS
the result of the conference Senator Ed.
munds came out and asked me to get @
carriage for him. He rode direct to the
White House and told Mr.. Cleveland he
must not go to indianapolis. He went
over thesgrOund, showing The President
that if accident happened to him the
country would be left without an exeou-
tive for months, until December came,
The PreSluenb was ast0nlshed. lie nhu
not had the slightest realization of how
much depended on his life ct that time.
He acknow edged the force of Senator
Edmunds's argument, Immediately can
celed the orders for transportation and
remained in Washington.
There was much criticism over the fail
ure of Mr.. Cleveland to he present at the
Hendricks obsequies. The newspapers
couldn't understand tho apparent lack of
consideration. The President said moth
ing. This is the first time the GircEm-
stances of the senatorial conference and
Senator Edmunds's hurried visit to the
White House have been told.
AS soon rs Congress convenel after
Mr.. Hendricks's death Senator Edmunds
fathered and pushed to enactment q bill
which made impossible the repetition of
such crisis. The law of succession now
is such TINT vacancy in the office Of
President of the United States is beyond
all probability. If the President dies.
the Vice President takes the office and
holds it to the.en of the term Il both
the President and the Vice President
die, the Secretary of State succeeds and
is acting President until Congress- can
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