The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-04-15
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.


~cession is a curious chapter Of unwrit'
ten history. 1t was told today by
Missourian, who has been for many
years a trusted official of the United
States senate. lie explains fully an in
cident, almost forgotten now, but once
the cause of much criticism of Presi-
dent Cleveland. Until ten years age
the law was that the President pre-
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 a President pro tempore, the sue
cession devolved 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 to
the time Of his sickness Mr.. Hendricks
had prevented the senate from electing
a President pro tempore. He had been
able to do this by declining to vacate
the chair and to recognize that privi-
lege. The senate was Republican by
a narrow majority. The Vice-Presi-
dent, having some political advantage
in mind by so doing, steadfastly re-
fused to let the Republicans organize.
When he died there was no President
pro tempore. 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
10 Indianapolis TO attend the funeral,
Senator Edmunds 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 Edmunds." said the Mis-
sourian, was much disturbed. The
more he Thought of the peculiar posi-
bilities the gTaver the situation seemed
TO him. He asked me to find some 9TH
er senator's and send them to him.
Only two were about the capitol. They
were DOR closeted 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 a head. There would
be no one with even the temporary au-
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 fromithe confusion until the reg
ular date for the assembling of con-
gress came round in December. Until
the senate chose a President pro tenn
pore and the house elected a speaker,
nobody could perform any Of the duties
Of President.
The law then relating to Presiden-
tial succession was laid before the 9TH
er senators. The anomalous condition
had not occurred to them. They agreed
"S IN lhot Ia a
right. When he suggested hat under
the circumstances the President ought
to be specially careful they approved
the suggestion. AS the result of the
conference Senator Edmunds came out
and asked me TO get a carriage for
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
The President was astonished.
He had not had the slightest realiza-
ton of how much depended on his life
at that time. He acknowledged the
force of Senator Edmund'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
nunds' 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 a bill which made
impossible the repetition Of such a cri-
sis. The law of succession now is such
that a vacancy in the Office of President
Of the United States is beyond all prob
ability. If the President dies the Vice
President takes the office and holds it
to the end of tbs term. If both the