Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-23
TIE VICE PRESIDENCY.


The denomination of President Nc
Kinley being generally taken for
granted, the question of candidate for
vice president will chiefly engage re-
publican attention and as there is likely
to be a number of aspirants the ques-
tion will be of more than usual interest.
Ordinarily very little ante-conventiOn
consideration is given to the vice presi-
dency. The selection of candidate for
that office is usually determined by cir
cumstances arising in the national con
ventlon. Few of the men nominated for
vice president during the last thirty
years were seriously thought of in ad-
vance of the national conventions. Pend
ing the meeting of the next republican
national convention, however, the availa-
bility of a number of men will be
thoroughly discussed and as now indl-
Gated the selection of a candidate for the
second place on the ticket will he the
chief work Of the convention.
Already this matter Is receiving at
tention; indeed 1t begun to be dis
cussed before the death of the late vice
president. 1t appears to be the pre-.
vailing opinion that the candidate
should come from the east and It is
more than probable that the selection
will be made from that section, with the
chances perhaps more favorable to New
nlshing the candidate 1t is understood
there are several New York aspirants.
Secretary Root is talked of, also Gen
eral Frederick ID. Grant and Lieutenant
Governor Woodruff. Undoubtedly the
secretary of war would make strong
candidate, being very popular in his
state and generally recognized as a
man of first rate ability. There are sew
eral New England men, among them
Secretary of the Navy Long, who would
be acceptable to the party. 1t is pos
sible that the south may have a candi-
date and in view of the good feeling
which the present administration has
been instrumental in creating between
the sections Il southern candidate for
vice president would perhaps receive a
Soo' uSai VI SouSiueTdllON Ill Inc con-
vention. There is abundant and excel
lent material for the vice presidency in
the west, but there seems at present
to be no probability that western man
will be seriously thought of in the ma
tional convention. Judging from the
expressions already made on the sub
Ject 1t is believed to be most important
If not absolutely essential to republican
success that the vice presidency shall
go to the east. 1t is highly probable
that the democrats will nominate New
York man and it is therefore desirable
that the republicans shall have an east
ern candidate.
The office of vice president has been
given more Importance by the present
than it had under any
previous administration for many years. |
President Mckinley has recognized the |
vice president as something more than
a figurehead-merely the presiding Off
GER of the senate. He regarded that Of |!
fetal as entitled to some consideration |
from the chief executive and frequently |
conferred with the late Vice President |
Hobart on public questions. This is GER !
tanly due to the second official in rank |
in the republic and in earlier times the
vice presidents received such considera-
ton. Undoubtedly Mr.. Mckinley, If |
will show the same considera-
ton to his next associate on the ticket,
in an official way, as he did to the late