The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-22
SHERMAN TOSTAY
Candidate for Vice President
Will Retain His Seat.
Ut Is Thought Until the Fourth
of March Next.
HE is A DIPLOMAT.
Barring "Uncle Joe" There Is
Said to Be
No More Popular Man in Con-
gress Than "Sunny Jim."
HE is A DIPLOMAT

washington, June zz.-1He QueS
ton as to whether Representatives Sher-
man will remain as chairman OF the
Republican congressional commlttee Is
not regarded as conclusively settled by
persons who are familiar with the
work of the committee in this CITY.
1t is exr acted that this matter Will be
determined when the Republican ma
tional committee meets July I, wnen
both Mr. Taft and Mr.. Sherman will
be present and when many matters
relating to the campaign Will be de-
termined. 1t is believed that in the
advance of the selection of chair
man. Mr.. Sherman himself has done
nothing to determine just what part
he will take in the campaign.
The positions of Secretary Taft and
that of Mr. Sherman so far as their
official duties are concerned are not
regarded here as at all identical. The
resignation of Secretary Taft was ex-
pected by every one as 1T was mani
festly impossible for hi INTO attend to
the duties of secretary of war and be
at the head of the Republican ticket.
There were other phases of his case
relating to the propriety of filling a
cabinet position and going activeiy
into the campaign, which do not apply
to the case of Mr.. Sherman. There
are many instances in which men nave
retained their positions as members
of the house of representatives and
have gone into campaigns ror other
positions, not reSigning from the
house until the result of their cam
paign has been known. Mr.. Sherman
will probably continue to be a men,
Der of the house of representatives
until the fourth of next March, even
in the event of his election to the vice
presidency. 1t is said here in addition
to filling the position of chairman of
congressional committee, he VIII neg
lect no dlty that he would have per-
formed il he had not been nominated
on the Republican ticket. In this
view of the case many of Mr. Sher-
mans friends here consider all talk
of his resignation either as chairman
of the committee or as member OF
the house as purely speculative.
sherman Is a Diplomat.
Two things combined to make
James Sherman, Republican nominee
for vice president. the most available
of all the men who had been sug-
gested to represent New York upon
the national ticket.
First and most important, perhaps.
was Mr.. ShermaRs remoteness from
all the factional fighting of recent
years in this state. AS politician he
has little real Importance in the local
field; he does not influence a district;
he has had no significant share in all
the struggles that have torn the Re-
publican party to pieces in New York
in the last ten years.
Secondly, whatever prominence he
has is national; so that he is known
and recognized In the national field,
while there is no faction in the local
field which would be affected by his
nomination.
These two factors combined supply
q unique availability among New York
Republicans whose names were men
toned for the second place on the
ticket.
Sherman was born in Utica, October
4, 1856. He was elected mayor of Uti-
ca in 1884, and two years later went to
congress.
More than nine years ago, when the
late Speaker Reed retired from the
house of representatives, Sherman's
name was mentioned for that place;
and at that time, as now. his peculiar
advantage over all his New York Re-
publican association lay in the COM
plete aloofness he has maintained to-
ward local squabbles.
Subsequently. President Mckinley
named him as one of the appraisers of
the Post of New York, but Mr.. Sher-
man declined this, in obedience to a
mass meeting of his constituents. He
was a close friend of Reed and was
prominent among the candidates to
- succeed him. In the course of his leg
yslative career he has shown great in
terest in Indian affairs. and is at the
present time chairman of the commit
tee on Indian affairs.
Two years ago Sherman took a step
forward in the national field when he
was chosen chairman of the Republi-
can congressional committee. 1t was
at this time that he acquired one of his
few nicknames, his call for dollar sub
scriptions for the campaign fund earn
Ing him the sobriquet of Send Your
Dollar Jim."
Mr.. Sherman is TALL broad and
strong. He is robust, mentally and
physically. He has full face, which
carries the color of vigorous circulation,
and a broad, high forehead. about
which his dark hair is just touched with
gray. For many years he has been
rated as the wealthiest man in Utica.
Is Called Sunny Jim.
Washington. June 22-Barring only
Speaker Cannon himself, there was no
more popular man in congress than
Jim" Sherman OF New York. or Sun
ny jim" as he is called by his asso-
ciates in the house of representatives
His nomination by the Republican ma
tional convention for the vice presi-
dency of the United States meets with
the appreciation of practically every
Republican member of the house, 1t is
perfectly safe to say, and in so far as
Democrat can approve of a Repub-
lican. the minority members of that
body are likewise pleased over the
honor given to one of their collea CUES
in the popular branch of the national
legislature.
Mr.. Sherman is officially entitled to
wear a red carnation in his button
hole on the floor of the house. which
is an honor enjoyed-officially, it
must be remembered-by only five be-
sides the speaker. In other words,
Jim" Sherman is one of the "big five''
of that body. When Uncle Joe" looks
down from his rostrum over the sea
of faces on the Republican side, won-
dering whom to recognize next to quell
some exasperating Democratic demon
stration. IL he sees red carnation his