The Irish standard., 1908-06-13
This is the Way Parties Sometimes Make
Their Selections For This Position,
Though Not Always.
With the Presidential Nominations Virtually
Determined on, the Running Mates
., Now Have the Call.

It will be noticed that most of the
very few persons who have yet been
mentioned among the Democrats and
Republicans as possible nominees for
vice president are men who would fill
the presidency acceptably if anything
should vacate that Office during their
term in the second post, says Charles
NJ. Harvey in the ST. Louis Globe
Democrat.
This is the way which parties some-
times make their selections, though not
always. Generally geography or the
necessity of placating the element
which lost the presidential nomination
governs the selection of the candidates
for vice president. An attempt is made
t. distribute the candidates for the
first and second offices between the
sections. the East getting the second
or vice versa. And there is always
desire to give the second Office to some
prominent membor sof the faction
which sought the first Office and failed
to get it. In this aspect Of things the
vice presidency is a consolation prize,
and sometimes it has probably brought
strength to the ticket. There is often,
though not always, desire to name
for the second post a man who would
he big enough to meet the demands of
the first one should anything compel
him to go up.
Except in cases where the presiden-
tial nomination is virtually determined
on beforehand, there is generally little
thought. however, given to the vice
presidential selection until after the
convention meets. The presidency is
the engrossing subject. There is a
fair probability in 1908 that Taft will
head one of the tickets and Bryan the
other, and, therefore, some attention is
being given to the matter of running
partner for each. In general, all Of
the men who are mentioned promi-
nently for the first office may, in ad-
vance Of the actual selection, that it is
the first Office or nothing with them.
Usually, too, they mean this, although
there have been many instances in
which those aspirants, when they fail
t. get the supreme prize, accept the
other one when it is offered to them.
This was the case with Hendricks in
1876 and 1884. Logan in 1884, and in
some other instances. Those cases
have led many persons to suppose that
a vice presidential nomination has
never been refused. This is mistake,
however. John Langdon of New
Hampshire declined the vice presiden-
tial nomination on the ticket with
Madison in 1912, when a nomination
gave good promise of election, and
when it did bring election. Silas
Wright refused the vice presidential
candidacy on the Polk ticket. He did
this partly because he was friend of
Van Buren. who was beaten for the
candidacy in that year, and who was
angered thereat, and partly because
he preferred the domination for gov
ernor Of his state (New York;, which
was given to him in that year. Fitz-
patrick of Alabama refused the offer
to be a partner with Douglas in the
Democratic split of 1860, and Herschell
V. Johnson was CHI osen instead. These
were all men of prominence, and, in
the presidency would probably have
been able to make creditable record.
Van Buren the First.
The first man who was ever delib-
crately placed on the second end of a
presidential ticket to single him out
ax the heir to the succession to the
front end of the ticket was Van Buren.
This was in 1882. Previous to that
time the general public supposed that
Calhoun was Jackson's political heir.
Calhoun had been elected vice presi-
dent in 1924, when the second Adams
carried of the big prize, and in 1928