The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-10

Democrats. If Wilson heads the ticket,
conservative Democrat from the West
will he sought and SO on These COM
binations failing, $ they often do dur
ing tho last moments OF a convention,
then some opulent captain OF Industry
with a plcthoric barrel" will be press
ed Into the servicee.
Of evils in these processes by no
means least Is that imbedded IN that
of awarding the vice presidency, as a
sop, to the minority faction In a con-
vention. In the event of the death or
disability of a President nominated by
the majority faction of his party. 1t
assures 4 reversal OF that majority's
policy and the adoption of minority's
rule And such was the result nota-
bly, in the case of Tyler and johnson,
doctrines-i In other words. minority
rule And such was the result notab-
~ in the case OF Tyr,r and Johnson,
both of whom faced impeachment.
The scarcity of presidential timber
available for the vice-perside is
due not only to ths fact that the office
has been degraded by the past stand
ards of most OF the nominees, but also
to the fact that In all OF our Consti-
tuition tinkerins. since the time of tho
fathers, we have never sought to make
our heir apparent's Office moro at
tractivc to big men--savc by insiEnifi-
cant salary raises, now and then. BE-.
fore the Ship of State was launched
James Monroe called the berth an 'un-
necessary office" and Mason. Of Eir-
Sinia, branded IL with tho same words
before the constitutional convention
Indeed the office was not provided for
at all IN the original draft of the Con-
stitutlon and the convention did not
consider it until II had discussed other
things for five months. 4 short-sight-
ed delegate who objected to a. Vice -Pres-
ident on the ground that he would be
| TOO intimate with the President was
reminded by Governeur Norris that I'm
such case Vice-President would be-
the first heir apparent who ever loyc1Y
his father"
Before he ever dreamed of filling the
vice presidency, Theodore Roosevelt,
in his American Ideas" C1S07l, sus-
Gcsted that the second gentleman Of
the realm be given a seat In the Cab
met voice in the debates of the SEN
ate and vote In that body. not only
in case of tie. as now, but during
ordinary proceedings. No one has ever
backed him UP on the proposition to
break the States uniform balance In
the Senate by giving the Vice-Presi-
dents state three votes, nor Is there
evidence that while President Mr..
Roosevelt ever invited Mr.. Fairbanks to
Sit at his Cabinet board. But this pro-
position to put the Woe President in
the Cabinet has been since voiced by
other public men. including former
Senator Beveridge, Of Indiana, who has
suggested. Furthermore. that the Pres
dents running mate be given the ap-
pointment of the Senate committees,
and. thus. power superior to that for
marty held by Speakers OF the Hoube.
THE Vice President Is q piece OF po.
littoal bric-a-bric He has nothing to-
do but entertain" complained MIR.
Bailey. OF Texas. a few years ago. in
tho Senate. And those who saw Theo-
odore Roosevelt yawn for several weeks
In the chair OF the Senato's presiding
officer appreciated the sincerity OF HIS
complaint at the time to Mrs. Rellamy
storer. that he was useless "ffth
wheel"
Az a matter OF fact tho Vice. Prssi.
dent has no powers beyond TIL, exercise