Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-16

the United states ever had, Theodore
Roosevelt, rose to the chief magis-
tracy Of the nation through the vice
presidency as did various other ex-
ecutives. while In the early period of
our national history an experience in
the Office Of vice-presidcnt was not
deemed an utter disqualified ton for
the higher office.
1t should be stated in this connec-
ton. however, that this condition of
affairs when such men as John Adams
and Thomas Jefferson were promoted
from the lower to the higher office
was unquestionably due in part to the
ract that previous to 1904 each elector
voted for two candidates for presi-
dent and the one receiving the great
est number of votes was declared pres
ioeht' while tho one receiving the next
| higheet number Of votes was declared
me vice-presidcnt 1t is Interesting
III this connection to note that the
early promotion rule was broken by
the Infamous Aaron Burr.
| Be all this as it may the fact re-
! mains that at the prescnt t,r,o .ho
man chosen Tor the vice presidency
seldom expects to reach the prcsidercv
except through the death or disouo,i-
hcation of his superior in Office. AS a
rule, he is not chosen for the place bo-
cause of his qualifications to fiji the
Office of president in case of need hut
far too often IN these days because of
the belief that tho appearance Of his
name on the presidential ticket will
The late William A. Wheeler of Ma
lone. n. Y, did not hesitate to pub
licly state when he was nominated on
the ticket with Rutherford b. HAYES
In 1876. that IL meant for him the DO
litical- shelf. and now another we'll
known citizen of the Empire State Is
experiencing all the horrors Of slow
political death on the vice-prcsidential
ledge
Nice-President James S. Sherman.
who is q Nermonter by brcvet as we'll
rs 10y inheritance. ana who has re-
Gently entertained people Of the Green
Mountain state in different localities
on both sides of Lake Champaign. has
recently conflded to friend. accord
ing to the Albany correspondent of
the New York Tribune. the painful in
! telligence that he is not altogether
happy in his present political predic-
ament. AS the legend runs. Mr. Sher-
man on a recent visit to Albany at
tempted to identify a young man who
wanted a money order cashed at the
Capitol postofice. but payment was re-
fused. the clerk declaring that he did
not know the Vice-President.
Writing to the secretary of States
secretary. Mr.. Sherman asks: How
can one be happy who finds it neces-
sary to be identified at the United
States postofflce in the Capitol Of his
own State?"
He tells Of a subsequent experience
in New York. He had occupied box
in a theatre with a party OF friends
when one OF them thought 1t would be
n joke to have the star direct some
observations at MI sherman. The
friend sought out the doorman. told
him that the Vice President of the
United States was in Box a, and sug-
Eestcd that word be passed back to
the stage.
"The doorman took kindly to that
suggestions" writes Mr.. sherman. "and
| said: Let me see. that Is Mr.. Fair
banks, is it mott My friends efforts
to perpetrate a joke then and there
ceased. and in the shadow of obscur-
ity 7 am unhappy"
ice-Fresident Sherman may be un-
happy in the knowledge that he s
slowly passing into the great unknown
this side Of eternity. but he has cer-
tainly perpetrated a happy bon mot in
! that connection. Willie neither thought
possessea the quality Of extreme nov
city. beside Vice-Presldent Wheeler $
tribute to the presidential shelf
! will stand the picture of Vicc-Presi
dent Sherman in the shadow of OBJ
security"
Some time in TIE not distant future
the people Of the United States will
rise above the exigencies of partisan
politics and nominate men for the
vice presidency. who are entitled to
receive the next highest number OF
| votes for the presidency" thus carry
ing out tho intent of our Constitution
and reviving the. spirit of the fathers
FUTURE OF CANADA AND THE
UNITED STATES.
Canada's Grand Old Man" Goldwir
Smith, is statesman OF the Hrst mag
nitude. Other men play politics; his
eve Dierces the future beyond the keI