Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-10-31
DEATH DOOR AjAR
FOR is. SHERMAN
Vice President Not Expected to
Survive for many Hours.
FAMILY GATHERS ABOUT HIM
Mrs. sherman and Her Three Sons
Wait Summons TO Death Cham
ber-politicai Complications
May ensue.

Utica, N. y. Oct. 30.-Vice Presi
dent James S. Sherman lies at his
hcme in this city in the shadow of
death, with not single ray of hope
In the opinion of his family or his
physicians. The vice president is
Slowly but surely losing ground and
death apparently is a matter of but a
short time.
End Must Come Soon.
The end may come within twenty.
four or forty eight hours or the suf.
fercr may survive a week, but his
case apparently is hopeless and the
end, 1t would appear, cannot be de-
ferred for long. Hypodermic iniec-
tion has been resorted to by his ply
sic'anS to relieve his sufferings from
the involvement Of the kidneys.
which have now failed to perform
thor functions, and as result of the
administering of these quieting medi.
cines the vice president sleeps with
very few periods Of wakefulness.
DR.. Peck is constantly at the bed
side Of the patient and the members
of the vice presidents family, Mrs
Sherman and her three sons, Sheriff.
Richard and Thomas. are in the Sher.
man home waiting for the summons
to the sick chamber they so dread.
but which they realize is inevitable.
No visitors are received beyond rela-
tives or intimate friends and absolute
quiet prevails in the Sherman man
sion. No one is permitted in the sick
room but the physicians, nurses, Mrs.
Sherman and her three sons.
Death Would Bring Complications.
Washington, Oct. 30.-A very com
plicated situation would probably be
created by the death of Vice Presi-
dent Sherman either before or after
election. IT was suggested by prom
inent Republican leaders that Mr..
Sherman, in view of his critical ill.,
ness and the fact that his doctors
had pronounced him incurable, might
authorize the withdrawal of his name
as his party's candidate for vice pres
ident. In such contingency the duty
of filling the vacancy on the Repub-
lican ticket under immemorable usage,
would devolve upon the Republican
national committee.
1t is said by persons who attend
ed the convention at Chicago that
just before adiourning the conven.
ton, conforming to precedent, passed
a formal resolution authorizing the
national committee to fill any vacan-
cy that might occur on the ticket or
in their organization.
1t was suggested that if vacancy
occurred before election the commit.
tee might name Governor Hadley Of
Missouri, who was urged as President
Tafts running mate at a time when
It was understood Vice President
Sherman would not be a candidate
for reelection
When the house of representative
canvassed the vote of the electors
chosen on the Greeley-Brown ticket
in 1872, Mr.. Greeley having died after
the election and before the vote was
canvassod, it was found that all but
three of the electors had voted for
other than Greeley Three
from Georgia voted for Greeley The
three cast for Greeley were thrown
out because the man for whom they
were cast was not alive and they were
held to be IRREGULAR.
Electors Might Make Choice.
In view Of the Greeley precedent
electoral votes cast after the vacancy
could not be canvassed as cast, but it
Cured after the votes were cast and
before the vote is canvassed the prob
lem could be solved by reconvenine
the electors in the several states and
having them make another choice.
A more serious complication, how
ever, would be created by Mr.. Sher
mans death after election day II the
selection of a president were throw,
into the house of representatives. as
is entirely possible. The house is
now evenly divided between Repur-
licans and Democrats. and in case it
should fail to elect a president the
duty would devolve upon the senate
of selecting a vice president, who. il
turn. would become president. Their
choice. unlike that in the house,
would be limited to the two cand-
dates having the highest number of
votes for the Office.