East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-09-21

SoElal SCtftIdFA.
No matter which Bill is elected, II,
matter which Brother Charley stands
next % the While House throne, tn,
presidential election Of 1905 will be
famous in history. It will so down in
the annals Of America as being the
occasion OF the discovery of the vice
presidential office.
There have been vice presidents
ever since George Washington presid-
ed over the destinies OF the nation
but heretofore in campaigns the sec
o0d place on the national ticket has
occupied such a comparatively small
place in public interest that it has
been only mildly mentioned in the
heat OF the big fight.
But this year, while interest OF
course centers in the top Of the tick
Ct a growing feeling has developed
that the man who will be presiding
officer Of the senate. and who be-
comes chief executive in the event OF
the death Of the incumbent Of that
place, ought TO have more general
recognition from the nation.
Mr.. Bryan. the democratic standard
bearer. precipitated the discussion by
his frank statement that the vice
president ought to have a place in
the presidents cabinet.
The idea has many possibilities. As
presiding officer Of the senate, the
vice president has to figure largely
in the solution Of vital problems. II
he is with the cabinet at its weekly
sessions he is in an excellent position
to know in every detail the views not
only Of the president. but of the men
who have been picked as most COM
petent to discharge the affairs of the
various departments.
Mr.. Bryan said in the event Of his
election he would accord such a place
to his running mate. Mr.. Kern. but
added that he thought it would be
still better to have the constitution
so that the vice president
would-hold this place by virtue of the
organic law of the land.
II is the opinion Of the democratic
standard bearer that it was never the
of the makers of the consti-
tuition to have the second officer Of
the nation relegated to a place of mi
nor importance He even goes so far
as to say that he thinks a residence
ought 10 be made for the vice presi-
dent and his family in the White
house.
Kern in Accord.
Mr.. Kern is thoroughly in accord
with the views Of the Nebraskan. He
makes a telling point when he says
hat vice presidents in the past have
argely influenced legislation, but un-
they could not do It in the |
open. Their position has been that
II mere lobbyists who could do no !
more than invite senator's into their |
ooms, and tell what views they had |
N certain legislation, and how graft
led they would be at its passage or
lefeat, as the case might be.
The democratic candidate conc |
ends this Is wrong. He says that
ither the vice president should be
bsolutely forbidden to influence leg
Station in any way, or else he should
,e given a power to do it directly in
he open where the people could
udge Of his motives, and properly
pprove or dissent. To make the pre-
iding officer Of the upper body an
fficial who can only work in the
Mr.. Kern thinks, is a fatal
rror, and one that he would like to
ee redressed by having him a men,
'er Of the cabinet, in fact to a large
xtent the representative Of the presi-
ent and his policies in the upper
ody.
Something Of the new sentiment
hat is felt toward the office Is shown
y the care with which all the import
mt parties Of the country picked out
heir men for the second position this
ear. In the past it used to be that
be office was bartered 10 the re-
Dectable nobody whose dough bag
'as the biggest. Thus in the past
he senate, the greatest dellberative
ody in the world, has had to bear
ne humiliation Of having for presld-
lg officer men so devoid Of UNDER
anding parliamentary usages as not ,
, know how to call the body to order ,
? decide any Of the important ques-
ons that arise.
In the house the parallel officer is
mighty potentate. but he has reach
! his place Of power by a gradual i
-ogress. and because he possessed !
rs which enabled him to go above ]
Is fellows by fore Of character But s
the senate no chance Is vouch- I
fed Of picking out its head. The !
sople, speaking through their politi- J.
II conventions, do that, and often in '
le past the desire for a big contri-
ltion or the purpose Of offering
'p 10 a faction defeated in the Sc T
ction Of a presidential candidate, a
as resulted IN some painful blunders. a
But no matter who Is elected there s
no reason to expect any such mis-
Ike this year. The men for the Of
ce have been carefully picked out
II must not be lost to sight that in 7
Ie last Gg yparg Z terunu frou1 1QA0
date, no less than five vice presl-
snts have succeeded TO the office
? the death Of the men elected to
e presidency - Tyler, Fillmore,
,hnson. Arthur and Roosevelt
Another feature that has given new