The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-05-28
PRESIDENTIAL SUGGESTIONS
SOME UNwRIrTEN HISTORY
why President. Cleveland Fail~d TO aitesa
the FaBsr~i 81 Vice PEssident Head
rieks-Ths Incident Caused Congress
20 Provide For the Oniee.

President Roosevelt was the vice.
president Of the United States, and
by the lamentsble assassination Of
President Mckinley, he succeeded.
under the constitution, TO the pTesi-
deDcy.
A conversation between q number
Of gentlemen in q resort Of Occur a.
AIeDe, listened 10, but not psrti-
cipated In by the writer, suggests
this article.
One Of the statements made was.
that in the event Of the desth of
President Roosevelt at the present
time, the president pro tenn Of the
senate, would succeed 20 the presi
dency. Another maintsined that the
successor Of the president would be
the speaker OF the house OF represent
stives. sin smother asserted that
congress would have 10 call 3 special
election, al which q new president
should be chosen.
There is a little inside history
pertaining 20 this question, which is
not Understood by tie general public.
Prior 20 1856. there was no definite
law snd no provision Of The oonsiitu
tion in this respect II was general
ly understood that ia the event Of
the death Of the president. ard con
sequently the vice presidency becom-
ing yacant by The assumption Of the
incumbant Of that office 10 the presi
dency, that the presiding officer pro
tenn OF the senate soul3. in the event
Of the demife or other disability Of
the president. succeed to the office.
Those who are old enough 10 re
member the impe achu eat PR sedinls
instituted Ia the national house Of
representatives against Andrew John
son and defeated by q bare msjority
of one 10 the senate will necullect
that prior 10 the finsl vote in the
senate upon impeachment, the press
Of the country was ontspoken IN the
assertion that tie presiding
officer president pro tenn of the
senate. relying upon bis firm belief
that the president would be impesch-
ed, made all preparations to move
into the white House.
In 1882, the sssassip's bullet ended
the life OF President Garfield and
Vice President Arthur succeeded 10
the presidency Mr. Cleveland and
Mr.. Hendricks we're elected TO the
presidency and vice presidency re
spec,ively in 1854, aud were in
Rugurated at Washington, ID. c.. on
the tth Of March. $50 Congress
vss then in session aud the newly in
augursted vice president became, Of
course, the presiding officer Of the
keuate.
Congress adjourned 20 meet sgain
IN December. The vice president,
having offioiRted up TO the time OF
adjournment, as a matter Of course,
no president pro tenn Of the senate
had been named.
On the 2bth Of November, 1885,
the eve Of Thanksgiving day Of that
year, Mr.. Hendricks suddenly died
Of heart failure at his home. He
bad been making preparations to 90
to Washington within a few days 20
preside over the senate at the early
approaching session.
L. was expected that president
Cleveland would attend the funeral
at Indianapolis, which was held on
the LIST day Of December, but the
president did not do so, much criti-
cism being INDUCED in by the friends
of the late vice president, in his own
state and elsewhere, for what az the
time seemed TO them a lack Of com
mon deceney as we'll as Of the respect
that the highest official of the nation
should show upon the death of his
immediate successor.
The writer of this was 4 nephew Of
MIR. Hendricks, and we'll remembers
his own feelings Of resentment, and
those Of other near relatives Of the
deceased vice president, Mr.. Cleve-
land, at the time, was much criticised
for what seemed to many to be
wanton slight upon the statesman.
who had been elected with him. But
his critice were wrong.
MIR. Cleveland had made all pre-.
prations TO start for indianapolis in
order to attend the funeral, when il
was shown to him by a number Of
senators both republican aud demo
cratic that Ia the event Of railroad
accident, or other disaster which
might deprive him Of life, the nation
would be absolutely without an
HulhoIiiive head.
There Was no president pro tenn Of
the senate, no vice president ahsol.
Continued on page TO-.