The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-21

IRE unique position of the Hon. Will
lam Gregory of North Kingstown as a
candidate for tie lieutepant-aoyernor.
ship, TO flL so TO speak, the unexpired
term OF Iieute enant-G PotLier AZ
q running mate TO Governor Dyer,
| prompts SPECULATION as to his ultimate
| political destiny.
Assuming his election. OF which there
| ought not to be, and, indeed, Is not any
manner of doubt Governor Dyer will be
| the first executive in over gener Ation
TO have changed his running mate.
, with tho single exception Of Governor
Brown, whose third term found associet-
ed with him Edwin X. Allen of Hopkin-
ton, Lieutenant Governor Bull having
Governor Allen lapIel over and filed
The same Office with Governor Lippitt
retiring with the latter.
II appears that in oil these years the
lieutenant governor and the governor
have gone in together and gone out
together whether their terms were
one, two or three years, with the
single exception noted, mp to this pres
ent time. For this reason, Mr. Gregory's
position, in that no does not "start
even with the chief executive. is inter
ssting as bearing on his political future.
For instance. should Governor Dyer
not sesk third term, Nr. Gregory must
fail of the endorsements he will undoutt-
edly deserve, unless he is hitched up
with new governor, rs was the case
TO his taste Is matter of doubt OF
course, IL Governor Dyer does accept q
third nomination, why, that would give
the licutsnant- governor chance for the
customary endorsement and relieve the
situation of any embarrassment. And
thers is no reason why it may not DO
expected that our present executive is
not to be counted among the select COM
pany Of three-term governors, should hs
SO desire. Political life brings about
many changes in public opinion, hut
there Is no likelihood that the cordial
sentiments that Governor Dyer now com
rnands of his fellow citizens will be i'm
the least affected, except In the way OF an
increase, by successive terms in Office.
But should he decline third nomipa-
ton, may we expect to see Mr.. Gregory
a candidate for governor. rather than
running mate to new candidstef We
And in evsns Governor Dyer enjoys a
third term. may we expect that Mr.. Gregory
will be his successor theresftsrs Even
So He is a good fellow and ws should
rejoice. But this plsaFant conjecture
brings US face TO facs With history and
precedent, and perhaps with destiny.
For 1t is fact that there are since the
Constitution, but six exceptions to the
rule that lieutenant governors don't te-
come governors, and one of there was not
nominated and elected to that Office, bot
filed il for the unexpired term of an sx-
ecutlve who resigned.
Five of thess exceptional lieutenant
governors were Van Zandt. PadeIfori, 4
Turner, Harris and Diman, the sixth he
ing Lieutenant Governor Dimond, who
became acting governor to MI the va
csncy caused Dy the resignation of Gov
ernor Philip Allen. who was elected to
the United States Senate.
In word. the lieutensat-g t-governorship
has never bsen highly considered as a
stepping-stone to the governorship ex-
cept in the minds Of some lieutenant gov
ernors, with some OF whom, 1t is be-
lieyed, the failure to connect with the
higher Office when the time came around
has been q cause OF heart burnings. Men
in public life, indeed, who have been
ambitious to MI tie chair OF governor
have steered clsar of the associate Office
as something that hoodood ambitions
bright star. just why this should have
been so IL is not easy TO understand, but
such are the facts Of political history a.
made in this State.
60 far as Mr.. Gregory is concerned,
such speculation may smack Of looking
at the future through te escope. But
il Is suggested by the situation. We trust
IL Is unnecessary for us TO add that we
should rejoics TO see the gentleman from
North Rinsstown added 70 the exceptions
that seem to point the rule and become
one Of tie ssiect company Of Lieutenant
ufyernora uhn hava sf.pna1 ,,,o a..