The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-04-10
PRESIDENTIAL succEssIoN.
circumstance. That Kept cleveland from
Hendricks Funeral.

Hendricks Funeral
Behind the Law Of Presidential sue
cosslon Is a curious chapter Of unwrit-
ten history. II was told today by q
Missourlan. who has been for many
years a trusted ofhcial 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 ONCE 10 the event Of the
death or incapacity Of both President
and Vice-President In the absence
OF a President pro tempore. the sue
coG.on dcyoved upon the speaker.
But either OF these officers only acted
as President until congress 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 10
the time Of his sickness Mr. Hendricks
had prevented the senate from electing
a President pro tempore He had been
able 10 do this by declining 10 vacate
;he chair and 20 recognize that priyi-
lege. The senate was Republican by
narrow majority The Vioe-Prosi-
dent. having some political advantage
In mind by 90 doing. s,eadfastly re-
fused 10 lct the Republicans organize,
When he died there was no President
pro tompore. The death occurred be-
tween the dissolution OF one congress
and the regular session OF the next
congress There was no speaker A.
the white House President Cleveland
was completing his preparations 10 go
20 indianapolis 10 attend the funeral
Senator Edmunds was AZ the capitol.
busy In his committee room. The sug-
gcstlon came 20 his mind. What would
happen n the President should be
killed or be rendered unfit for duty BY
an accident on this contemplated jo0r-
uey 20 indianapolis?
Senator Edmunds." said the Mis-
lourian. was much disturbed. The
more he thought Of the peculiar posi-
bllities the graver the situation seemed
to him. lie asked me 10 find some 9th
or senators and send them 20 him
Only two were about the capitol They
we're soon cloaeted with Mr Eimunds
He told them his opinion Of the situa'
ton. he said that u anything should
happen 10 Mr. Cleveland the country
would BE- without a head There would
be- no one with even the temporary au'
thorl.y 20 call an extraordinary session
Of congress. Il would be impozslbl,
20 take any step. No special election
could be- ordered There would be No
relief from the confusion until the reg
ular date for the assembling Of con
grcas came round in December. Unit
the senate chose a President pro TEN
pore and the house elected a speaker
nobody could perform any Of the dutie
~ President
THE law then relating 20 PresIden
tial succession was laid before the 9th
or senators The anomalous condition
had not occurred 20 them. They agree
az once that Senator Edmunds va
right when he suggested that unde
the circumstances the President ough
20 be specially careful they approve
The suggestion. A. the result OF N
conference Senator Edmunds came OF
and asked me 10 get a carriage Il
him. He rode direct 20 the Whit
House and told Mr. Cleveland he mul
not go 10 Indianapolis. he went ov,
the ground. showing the President thi
II an accident happened to him n
country would be left without an q
ecutive Tor months. until Decomh'
came. The President was astonishet
he he'd not had the slightest reallzi
ton Of how much depended on bis M
az that time. lie acknowledged n
force OF Senator Edmund's argumen
Immediately cancelled the orders q
transportation and remained In Vast
ington."
There was much criticism over N
failure OF Mr.. Cleveland % be preser
a the Hendricks obsequiea The new
papers couldn't understand the appai
ent lack o; consideration. The Pres
dent said nothing This Is the iu
time the circumstances OF the SEM
torial conference and Of Senator +,
munds' hurried visit 20 the WIFI
House have been told. A. soon as col
grcss convened after Mr.. Hcndrick
death Senator Edmunds fathered an
pushed to enactment a bill which mao
impossible the repetition % such a CT
sis. The law Of succession now is sue
! that a vacancy In the once OF Presidei
Of the United States Il beyond all pro-
ability. II the President dies the Vic
President takes the once and holds
to the end OF the term. II both u
President and the vlcc-Presldent al
the Secretary OF State succeeds Su
cession falls In turn upon the membe
OF the cabinet, including the secretal
OF Agriculture.
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