Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-23
A POSSIBLE PRESIDENT.
Speculation as to Who Would Be
Parker's Secretary of State.

From the Wall Street Journal
Suppose that Judge Parker is elected
President and with him Henry G. Davis as
Vice President, there would be immediate
Iy an intense interest and concern as TO
the man selected by Judge Parker to be the
Secretary of State.
The reason for this special concern lies
in the fact that Mr.. Davis would be eighty
two years of age when inaugurated as Vice
President, and therefore, although now IN
the enjoyment of vigorous physical ana
mental health, might not live out his term.
In the event of his death. under the new
laws of the United States. the Secretary Oh
State would take the place of the Vice
President as the successor to the President
in the case of the latter's death or inca
pacity This is the position today. There
being no Vice President, Secretary of State
Hay would succeed President Roosevelt IN
case of his death. No one feels any sense
of insecurity now on account OF the situa-
ton, because of the great confidence which
is felt in Secretary Hays policy and char
acter.
But who, it is fair to inquire. would most
likely be Secretary of State II Judge
Parker be elected President? It Is usual
for Presidents to name as Secretary OF
State men who occupy such command
ing position In the party that they have
either been candidates for presidential
nomination or stand naturally in the order
one President has named for Secretary OF
State the man he defeated in the conven-
ton for the nomination, or the man who
has been in the preceding campaign de-
feated nominee for President. Thus. In
1925, President Adams appointed as Secre-
tary of State Henry Clay, who had been
one of his opposing candidates for the
presidency. Daniel Webster was more than
once a candidate for the presidential nomi-
nation. and was twice selected for Secre-
tary of State. Lincoln named as his Sec
rotary of State w. H. Seward. who was
the leading candidate against him in the
republican convention of 1850. Garfield Sc
lected as Secretary of State James q.
blaine, who had been one Of the two lead
ing candidates for the republican nominal
ton the year previous. Cleveland selected
as Secretary of State Thomas F: Bayard.
who had been a candidate for the demo-
cratic nomination for President. Harrison
selected James G. Blaine for Secretary of
State after Blaine had been the defeated
candidate of the party in 1884.
If Judge. Parker, as President, chose to
follow any of these presidents, and should
honor the democrat who received the Iarg-
est number of votes In the democratic con-
vention next to himself. his choice for Sec
rotary of State would be William Randolph
Hearst: or IL he desired to honor the de-
feated leader of his party in two preceding
campaigns. and also extend the "olive
branch to the opposing faction in his
Bryan: or II he desired to pick out one OF
the most noted democratic leaders of his
own political family, a man who had been
governor of the state of New York. United
States senator and a candidate for the
democratic nomination for President In
1892, as well as for many years the leader
OF the party in his state. his choice would
naturally be David B. Hill. This choice
would be, indeed. most probable, inasmuch
as ex-senator Hill has engineered the cam
paign for Judge Parker. and was largely
instrumental In securing his nomina ton at
st. Louis. and has, moreover. been his po-
htical friend for a great many years. As
governor, Hill appointed Parker to the
bench. and when Hill was candidate for
governor in 1855. Judge Parker was chair
man of the democratic committee, and thus
managed Hills campaign.
What would. therefore. be thought OF an
administration made up as follows:
Judge Parker as President.
Ex-senator Davis (aged eighty-two) as
Vice President.
David B. Hill as Secretary OF State.