The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-03
ROOT GLORIFIES
VICE PRESIDENCY
His Address to the Hon.
C. w. Fairbanks.
mo BARGAIN OR INTRIGUE
Declares Nomination Was Spontaneous
Gift of Republican Party, Not a
Plum of Disappointment.
mo BARGAIN OR INTRIGUE"


Plum of Disappointment.
INDIANAPOLIS. Aug. 3-Elihu Root,
ex-Secretary of War and chairman Of
the notification committee. spoke As fol-
lows today in giving the Hon. Charles
W Fairbanks official information of his
nomination to the Vice Presidency by
the Republican National Convention:
Senator Fairbanks:
The committee which now waits upon
you was appointed by the national con-
vendon Of the Republican party, held
at Chicago in June, and its agreeable
duty IS TO notify you of your nomination
as the Republican candidate for the Of
nee % Vice President Of the United
States, for the term 70 begin on the
4th day of March, 1908.
We give you formal notice OF that
nomination with assurance of the undi-
Nlded ana hearty support or the great
party which mas executed the peoples
viii IN the government OF this country
Tor the better part OF the last half cen
fury. The nomination comes TO you in
accordance with the best methods and
practices OF representative government
II was the result OF long and earnest
consideration and discussion by the
members OF the convention.
II was not the chance product OF an
excited hour, and IL was not upon the
ueIASAu OF any powerful lnnueuCe-DO-
nucal or NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the
judgment of the delegates. Il was not
made Tor the purpose Of conciliating
possible malcontents, or of swelling the
campaign fund of the party. No bar
gains or intrigues contributed to it
Nc suppressions of the truth or mis-
leading Of the convention as to your
principles and policies OF lovernment.
10 bring II about. 1t was the delibera te,
Informed and intelligent Judgment of
the delegates from every State and
Territory. and it was their unanimous
judgment.
Office of High Dignity.
1t is great Office 10 which YOU are
called. John Adams and Thomas JEFF
ferson, and George Clinton, and John
c. Calhoun, and Martin Van Buren,, and
many others whose names are illus
trious in the history of our country
have fled it. II is an Office of high
dignity and immediate. ever present i'm
portance. The credit and honor Of our
country are greatly concerned in the
character and conduct of the man who
presides over the Senate Of the United
StateS-that powerful and august body.
of which you are already so expert
enced, so useful and so honored a
member.
But the Vice President has other grave
duties Of imperative obligation. When
the people elect a President under our
political system. they do not merely Sc
lect the man for the office; they give
their approval TO certain controlling
principles and policies Of government;
and the Administration OF which the
Vice President Is a part is bound 20 give
effect 10 these principles and policies
The primary duty Of Hhe Vice PreSi.
dent TO be always ready 70 tuke-up thC
burden Of the Presidency If occasion Ie-
ouires. carries with II the duty to b
always ready 20 continue unbroken the
policies which the people have intrusted
tc the Administration for execution.
For the due performance OF ohis duty
the Vice President should be familiar
with the conduct OF affairs Ly the Ad-
rninistratiOn as Il proceeds, a part Of Us
cOunsels, and imbued with a knowledge
OF its labOrs. its perpleXities and Is
motives, that can come only from init
mate association and confidence ant
sympathy.
Assurance Of Harmony.
Too often it has happened that after
excited contests for the Presidentia
nomination the candidate for Vice Presi
dent has been selected from the defeated
faction for the purpose Of appeasinl
their resentment, and that after election
he mas remained antagonistic IN spirit
and a stranger to the counsels Of tn,
President whom he may be called upo,
to- succeed. Happily we are now in N,
such case. The people would fgin sc,
again such relations OF sympathy an,
as existed between President McKlnIel
and Vice President Hobart; and the per
Spnal relations between President RoOse
Ne't ana yourself, your mutual esteem
ana good understanding. assure us tina
these happy conditions VIII come agafi
after the fourth Of next March. w
count upon your wisdom and experienc
and loyal aid as an element Of eve
present strength in the coming Admins
tration.
Succession to Presidancy
As TO the supreme responsibility Of tn
Vice Presidency in case Of succession {
the Presidency, we shall all pray. an
no one more earnestly than yourself
that IL may not come to you. But "
are not a liberty to ignore the possibil
~ that Il may come. sad and bitter -
perience admonlshes US that provisio
for succession TO the Presidency is p
idle form.
OF the last twelve Presidents eIecte
BY the people Of the United States FIVE
nearly one-halt-have died IN office an
have been succeeded by Vice President.
a serious obligation rests upon the Do
ltical parties which select the Cand
dates between whom the people nu,
choose. TO see 10 IL that they nominal
men for this possible succession WIN
have the strength OF body and mind an
character which shall enable them, r. OF
caslOn comes, TO take up the burdens
tne great PRESIDENTIAL once, 10 culuT
its trying and cShaustinR demands, {
meet us great responsibilities. and wit
nrln hand and clear vision 20 guide Il
Government OF the country Until a.
people can express their choice again.
Choice Of the Democracy.
our opponents OF the Democratic part
have signally failed 10 perform this dut,
They have nominated as their caudidat
Tor the Vice Presidency an exceIer
gentleman. who was born during IN
Presidency Of James Monroe and wh
before the 9Th Of March next viii BE-
the eighty-second year Of hts age 3,
fore the next Administration IS ende,
be viii be approaching his eighty
birthday.
IL Is no Encouragement of this gent,
man. for whom j believe we all has
the highest respect. 10 say that D
shares the common lot OF mOrtals an
great age would furnish no safcguar
20 the American people against the Dis
aster which would ensue upon the deaf
or a President with a successor DC
competent 10 perform the duties OF III
Presidential Office.
II Is common experience that yer
aged men, however bright and actiy
they may appear for brief periods, car
not sustain long continued severe exel
ton. The demands Of the Presidents
office upon the mental and physical "
tally are 50 great. so continuous an