The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-06
MR.. M'KINLEY's RUNNING MATE
The Presidents Personal Views in
the Matter.

| (From the st. Louis Globe Demoerat)
Whom does the President wish TO have
/ on the ticket with him ," The question
has been asked widely. It will continue to
| be asked probably. until the eve OF the con-
ventiOn. It has been put to the President
with extreme frankness by some visiting
| politicians. The Presidents reply has been
| characteristic. He has said to this question
several times that in so far as personalities
are concerned he has no choice to express.
but he has decided opinion that the party
should canvass the situation carefully and
should select a candidate with the pOssibil-
ity of succession to the Presidency always
in view The President can well say this
March 4. 1901 will find him Just past fifty
eight He comes Of a family of excellent
stock and lOng-lived. He is we'll preserved
man In public life there are few who
would be counted by the insurance COM
panies in his class OF good risks. But the
President recognizes the uncertainties OF
life. He realizes. Notwithstanding his own
splendid constitution and present health
the strain Of the position and the posi-
bilities Of breakdown. He has seen ro-
bust man like Vice President Hobart sicken
and die before his eyes. When be advises
that the party should keep in mind the
succession. the President gives utterance
to Thought uppermOst in his mind and
one that he thinks the convention should
have before It, The Vice President has
passed away in this Administration. The
Vice President in Mr.. Cleveland's first term
died in the first year. Mr.. Mckinley was
in Congress when it was found necessary
to enact legislation to provide for tenn
pOrary succession. and when. had Mr..
Cleveland followed Vice President
Hendricks. there would have been con-
fusion and distraction. The succession. il
Presidency and Vice Presidency should be-
come vacant. was provided for. but it is
at best a temporary provision until spe-
cial election can be held Once in four
years is often enough for the country 20
pass through the turmoil Of a Presidential
contest. To keep in mind the uncertain
ties OF life and to guard to the utmost
against the necessity Of a special election,
the President wisely advises that the sue
cessiOn be kept in view when the Vice
President is nominated.
II New York could have presented Sec
rotary Root former Secretary Bliss. or
Governor Roosevelt the nomination for sec
ond place would by common consent Of the
party have been conceded to the Empire
State. When one after the other Of these
three names was. for a variety Of reasons,
found to be unavailable. the best thought
of the party turned naturally and with
unanimity to some good Western man"
It would have been pleasing to the Presi-
dent to have had either Secretary Root
or former Secretary Bliss on the ticket
with him The relations Of Mr. Mckinley
to the members Of his Cabinet have been
peculiarly close and friendly in the per
s0nal sense But the President has not by
word or act attempted to influence the Sc
lection Of. either Mr. Root or Mr.. Bliss
It may be aided with confidence that at no
time will the President usurp in any
degree the prerogatives Of the Philadelphia
Convention He is punctiiious in this mat
ter. Those closest TO him agree in stat
lag that they have never heard from him
one word which could bear the construction
OF desire to dictate the nomination Of Vice
President