The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-12-02
VICE PRESIDENCY AN
AMERICAN ANOMALY
The Governments Fifth Wheel With
Little Participation in Administration.

AnOWledge Ihal Cne wee presidency mas
been used TO harmonic" the party by
giving to the weaker faction the nOmi-
nation of the second officer of the re
public.
Just where does this lead? As our
party system has evolved, there has
been developed within every parry two
sets of opinion almost as violently op-
posed to each other as the principal OPP
posing political parties themselves are
opposed to each other. Let US suppose,
then, that the immense majority of
sentiment in given party is highly
conservative in economic policies, or, if
economic policies are not to the front,
that there is a strenuous difference of
opinion as to certain foreign programs.
Very well, A candidate for President,
who vigorously holds to the views of
the majority, is nominated by his party.
1hereupon, in order to make sure the
election, Vice President is nominated
Svh0 Just as staunchly holds to the views
of the minority of the party. Both are
elected, but the President, having be-
gun to carry out the policies the
strength of which among the people Sc
cured his nomination, dies or is incapac-
itated. The Vice President, represent
ing antagonism to these policies, there
upon becomes President Immediately
he reverses the policies of his prede-
cessor, or, if not Immediately, he Ger
tainly reverses them in the end.
Not only is it fact that he does so,
as is Illustrated by Tyler and by Andrew
johnson, but it is nothing more than
human nature that he should do so. In
his heart he does not believe in the pol
1cIcs of his chief, no matter what he
may say for political effect. More i'm
portant still, he owes his nomination to
that element of his party opposed to
views of the element which nominated
the President Thus the will of the
people can be negatived in a single
moment How grotesque that ty
id germ or weak heart or bit of
| and a pinch Of powder should sud
ly change the designs of great
lie and the course of a mighty ma
is plain to all thinking people that
Ghis Is weak link in our chain of gov
eminent which needs strengthening.
The bestw to strengthen the chain
u the strongest chain is never strong
than its weakest link is of course to
polish the office of Vice President
ut that is quite out of the question.
1ch amendments to our Constitution
'e noF virtually impossible.
md besides, the resOurcefulness of
linkers usually finds some way of
mplish1ng the popular will and
.ralizing dangers without amending
Constitution. The abolition Of the
vice presidency, the taking out of this
dangerous, unnecessary and illogical
fifth wheel in our government, is PLAIN
ly desirable, because, for the reason
already given. the vice presidency is
now and always has been an useless
office. Moreover, the law of succession
passed in 1896 renders it worse than
useless, for that law provides that in
case of the death of the President land
the Vice Presidency the Secretary of
Ntpfn cianl -1,nanart +, ThN Il
and after him the Secretary of the
Treasury and after him the other
members of the cabinet in the order of
establishment of their offices. If we
had no Vice President this law would
insure to the republic a President chosen
by the chief magistrate himself, be-
cause first, of his harmony of views
with the chief executive, and, second,
because of his great ability, learning,
patriotism and force of character.
Thus under the present law, if there
were no Vice Presidents, the country
would be certain, in case of the death
of the President, of successor who
would faithfully carry out those policies
which the President himself was elect
ed t. carry out; and there would be no
reversal of the will of the people in
case of succession.
What is the next best thing to do?
First, the powers of the Vice President
should be enlarged, either from an ex
ecutive point of view or from a legisla-
tive point of view. The office should
\ be exalted in real Importance. The
Vice President should no longer be the
''queen bee kept in reserve, as Mr.
Oliver picturesquely described him; he
should no longer be an heir apparent"
calling for the morning papers at every
sunrise to find whether the events of
the night have raised him to the throne
and with nothing to do meanwhile ex-
cept to let this corrugating thought
dwarf and malform his soul He should
be given substantial, tangible, power
full part either in the executive or legis-
iatiye branch of the government.
Either might accomplish the supreme
purpose of compelling political conven-