The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23
.V|RG|N|AN FOR
SECOND PLACE
William G. Conrad, Now of Mon.
tana, Being Discussed as
Bryan's Mate.
Times-Dispatch Bureau.
NItinsnY Build in-

washington, II. -, FeD. ~
AS time moves. unregarding. toward
the national convention which will
name the next President of these
United States, the figure most consid-
cred Isl of course. the head of the
| ticket, whatever the party. People
think little of other than the candi-
date for the first place; little thought
is given 20 the candidate for Vice
President
But that factor in the succession is
not to be ignored with due regard to
| the strength and welfare Of our insti-
tutions. Yet ii is this very factor
which has been most ignored by the
advocates of special favorites. In the
instance of only one candidate has
anything like proper attention been
given to rounding out a presidential
! ticket with good man for the second
place. The very fact that the present
| occupant of the White House arrived
where he is by lis right OF succession,
with the reflection that he might never
have come from his State as a favor
lite SON." has not been lost from the
minds of candidates ambitious to head
the ticket nor has it been outside of
the calculations OF the friends of these
candidates.
Fl Taft have been noticeably busy in
this respect. Not few vice-presi-
dental possibilities have been held out
to this and that State as worthy to
go upon the ticket with the distin-
guished Ohio statesman, the chosen
| one OF the White House. The Taft
range-finder has gone up and down
| the country--north, south. east and
west-looking for a nice, clean, proper
/ man for second place on the Chica-
| go ticket. 1t is singular. but true,
| that there has been little or no dis
cussion among Republicans about a
man for Vice-Fresident. except in con-
nection with the candidacy for Presi-
dent of Secretary Taft.
Others Bacl<ers Are Idle.
The other candidates for President
| seem to have been quite absorbed fur
thering their own personal ambitions,
overlooking tho other end OF the
ticket, II might in the future prove
as important as it has developed in
i the past.
But the Taft folks have gone ahead
/ looking out for the right man for
second place. with all the assurance of
having settled the countrys choice as
this is sensible and enlightened poll
tics will certainly be realized before
the campaign is over. The Republi-
cans assume that they have not lost
the habit of winning, and the most &C
tive Republican candidate has lost no
time cultivating sentiment that may
accrue from kindly hints as to the
quarter from which the running mate
may come. The Massachusetts Repub-
icans, for instance. have been flatter-
ed with the idea that Governor Guild
would be just right for Vice President;
Governor Fort, of New Jersey, has OF
late been heralded as excellent timber
for second place on the TAFT ticket
Indeed there is no doubt, from the
| line of tactics pursued by the Taft
managers. that in other States, the
same art of persuasion has been en-
ployed to swing desired and needed
delegations to vote for the reputcd
Roosevelt fayorite. 1,
The Taft people, whether by counset
of the administration is unknown, have
gone so far as to suggest southern
man on the ticket with tn cir candl-
date for President. and 1t is urged that
the right man should be availabie re-
CARELESS OF past party nlnllatlons-
meaning good, conservative Demo
crat, conservative with respect to Re-
publican person, would be Just about
right to coma to washington and pre-
side over the deliberations OF the
United States Senate ,,,
This, 1t is suggested. would pc can
| tivating of the good VIII OF the south