The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-06
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
No Law Now Makes vice President

NO LHW NOW MIKES vice IEtrtoeht-
Elect Succeed the President-EIcct.
Washington Correspondence Boston Tran
script.
OF the twenty-five or more amendments
10 the Constitution which have been pro-
posed at the present session OF Congress.
the one which stands the largest chance
OF actually becoming the sixteenth amend
ment OF the Constitution is that which pro-
poses to give Congress the power TO pro-
vide for the presidential succession in the
event OF the death Of the President-elect
between the date Of casting the electoral
vote in January and the 4th of March. Most
authorities agree that the actual election
OF President takes place on the day when
the electors OF the several States meet in
the State capitals and cast their votes.
rather than on the date in February when
their findings are opened and read by the
two houses OF Congress in joint session.
But IN either construction. there IS an en-
DarrasSlng hiatus for which the ConSutu-
ton has made no provision. IL has pro
Nlded that an actual Vice President may
succeed an actual President. and through
an act OF Congress for which the Constitu-
ton gave authority. for a succession
through the Cabinet in case of the death OF
pom. but II mas not made a Vice Presl-
dent-elect the successor Of a President
elect. although IL is likely that had such
a problem arisen in the past this would
have been its practical solution. Had Lin
coin been aSSassinated at Baltimore on the
way TO his Inauguration, OF which there
were some reasonable fears, Hannibal
Hamiin. OF Maine, would doubtless have
assumed the presidency by general consent
But by what warrant of law does not APP
pear.
Aside from the DISADVANTAGE OF leaving
such succession 10 pOular consent there
is the further contingency that both Presi-
dent-elect and Vice President-elect might
become disqualified in the six weeks before
Inauguration. OF course no new Cabinet
is officially in existence until the nominal
lions are sent TO the Senate. after the in
auglratiOn. In case OF an anarchistic out
break such a disqualification of the two
OfhcerS-elect would not be out of the range
of possibility. The weeks preceding the
4th OF March are ones of mOmentous in
terest. and in cases OF disputed elections.
and where the results have bitterly an
tagonized the defeated minority, OF intense
feeling. 1t is plainly a mistake 20 leave
these weeks so unprotected.
Mr.. Blaine, who was prominent candi-
date for the presidential nomination IN
1892, died on the 9th day of January fol-
lowing Had he been nominated and elect
ed IN November the question would have
arisen in practical form. There have
doubtless been other cases in our history
illustrating the slender thread of life among
the Nations rulers. William r. King who
was elected Vice President with Pierce.
became seriously Ill and went To Cuba for
his health. By a special act of Congress he
was permitted TO take the oath Of office as
wee President in that country. He came
Dack IN the same year TO die in his Ala
bama home
What plan Congress would adopt for the
PRESIDENTIAL succession during this six
weeks lntermission has not yet been dis
closed. The movement for this amendment
originated with constituent of Senator
Frye, who wrote vigorously and intelligent
| ly in Its behalf. Mr.. Frye first introduced
the resolution on Jan. Is. four years ago.
Mr.. Hoar, from the judiciary committee
reported it with some change. on March Il.
and about two months later IL was debated,
further amended and passed by the Senate
IL did not get further, as amendments TO
the Constitution travel with great slow
ness: But the death of President Mckinley,
making the third presidential assassination,
has awakened public interest IN amend
ments or this class and they have now
more popular momentum than ever before.
change the date OF the Inauguration.
The amendment in which the general pub
lie is really most interested is that for the
popular election of senators. The unani-
nous passage in the House of Representa-
tives of resolution looking toward its
adoption a few weeks ago has revived gen.
eral discussion Of the project. In the argu-
ments of those conservators of the Consti-
tuition who oppose this change. one notable
oversight may generally be detected They
assert that il would be a change I'm the
choice OF United States senators from the
State Legislature to a nominating conven-
ton, or, in the words of Senator HOar:
For choice by a permanent body, there
must be a choice by a body lasting but
day" In a two-column article on this line
in one OF the New York newspapers a few
]
choice would be made by a nominating con-
vention, and there is no suggestion Of any
other element in the decision. In fact, the
existence of this other element is the
aspect of the case of pre-eminent impor-
lance.
A convention in existence but q day
would, under the proposed plan, nominate
the man, but il would not elect him. The
people at the open ballot boxes would have
TO do that. A party organization hoping
for success would make the selection,
rather one by which success had been
achieved and into whose hands power had
been Internationally bestowed. IL Is no
rare sight in the United States Senate to
see men who could never have run the
gauntlet Of popular election, and although
the States of the far South are securely
! Democratic and in certain parts of the
! North quite securely Republican, and
so likely TO ratify at the polls any decision
made in party convention. there is still a
] great middle stratum of debatabe States
! in which the personal strength OF the cali
didate would be an important. and often. a
| decisive factor.