Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-02-01
THE VICE PRESIDENCY.
A Very Important Position In
Official Life.
SENATOR ELKINS MAY DE NAMED.
Snid to De Not Unwilling to Make the
Race with President Mckinley.
His Compliment to Mr.. Brynn-The
President's Wide Information.

Race with President Mckinley.
His Compliment to Mr.. Brynn-The
President's Wide Information.
WAsnISGToN, Jan. 2G.-[Special. l.
If Senator Elkins of West Virginia
should be selected for candidate of the
Republicans for vice president, it
would be the first time since 1884 that
the Republicans took their candidate
for that Office from the senate. That
year John A. Logan Of Illinois was
named on the ticket with James G..
Blaine. Since that time the Republic
ans have named Morton Of New York,
Whitelaw Reid of the same state and
Hobart of New Jersey. The Demo-
Gratis have twice selected candidates
for vice president from the senate,
Hendricks of Indiana being elected
with Cleveland in 1884 and Thurman
of Ohio defeated with him in 1SSS.
Some surprise has been manifested be-
cause Senator Elkins would even con-
sent to be talked of for the place, rs
the position of senator Is usually CON
sidercd better than the vice presidency.
But after four years in the senate Mr..
Elkins has had about enough Of very
active political life and would no doubt
like to round out his political career as
vice president. He has been n member
of the house, a. cabinet officer and sena-
tor. With four years in the vice presi-
dental Office he would no doubt be
content. At least that is the way his
friends talk, and this talk is in no way
distasteful to him.
An Important Place.
A feeling has grown up in some sec
tons that the vice presidential office Is
unimportant but the senators who
paid tribur to the late Vice President
Hobart demonstrated that such Is not
the case and that the vice president
can, If he will. become very impor-
tant figure in official life. In the case
of Mr.. Hobart, who was very close to
the president and whose advice the
president sought on all important oc-
casions, the place was prominent.
Coupled with this was the fact that he
had the respect and esteem Of the SEN
ators, which made him a central figure
in official life. The relations OF Vice
President Morton and President Harri-
son, though friendly, were not close nor
intimate, while Vice President Steven
son and President Cleveland had nei-
Their intimate nor very friendly rela-
tons. In the senate, while both were
popular, neither possessed that genial
ity which made Mr. Hobart so popular,
nor did either take that active interest
In the affairs of his party in the SEN
ite as did Mr.. Hobart and thus bring
me presiding officers position in such
close relation with the senators.
From the viewpoint Of man who sees
more in the Office than a mere name
and who, like Senator Elkins, would
make more of it, there Is no reason
why it should not be considered de-
sirable.
Elkins and Bryan.
When William j. Bryan was here.
he was in the marble room Of the SEN
ate, where senators receive their
guests. Senator Elkins was passing
through the room and stopped to shake
hands with the Nebraska man LET
me say to you right now" said Senator
Elkins in his most genial manner Il
don't need you in West Virginia this
year Mt all. This Is free country and
of course there is nothing In the laws
to prevent man from going from one
state to another. We can't quarantine
against you, but l want you to under
y
nil and you needn't come on my ac-
count" This allusion to his campaign
ing powers pleased Mr.. Bryan, and he
lauGhingly responded that he thought
he would have 10 consider West Nir-
ginia debatable ground and visit SEN
ator Elkins' state some time during
the coming canvass.
The Presidents Information.
1t is really surprising how President
Mckinley manages to keep so well in
formed upon all matters Of i'm
portance that pertain to the United
States, and not only the important
business sections, but the outstanding
territories as we'll One of the recent
callers at the White House was a rep
! reSentatlVe OF the people OF Alaska,
who sought an audience with the prcsi-
dent in order to briefly lay before him
the wants Of the Alaskan people He
bad but brief talk with the president
that is, his talk was brief, bu: the
president manifested the greatest in
terest in the statements and frequent
| ly interrupted with questions or sug-
gestions that evidenced thorough
knowledge Of the situation IL Alaska,
better knowledge than some men
who have been in the territory. In
Veaking Of his interview aftcrward,
BIS gentleman said: 1T is really re.
Markable how the president, with all
the matters that press upon his atten-
ton. can be so thoroughly in touch
with our affairs. He not only knows
Of the situation generally, but goes
into particulars in way that is most
surprising. He appreciates the wants
of our people and seems to have some
remedy for our evils. OF course we do
! oil PONG hut 7