Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-29
Possible Death of Mr.. Sher-
man Starts Speculation.
General Opinion Is That They
Would Make a Choice.
GREELEY CASE AS PRECEDENT
Following His Demise, After Election
Day, Votes Were Cast for
Thomas A. Hendricks

Thomas A. Hendricks.
Much speculation has been started by
the reports from the home of Vice Presi-
dent James Schoolcraft Sherman. at
Utica, N. Y. to the effect that he Is Sc
riously Ill and may die. The complica-
ton, Of course, comes through the fact
that Mr.. Sherman is the nominee of his
party to succeed himself in the vice
presidency.
The consensus Of opinion among those
who have studied the situation is that.
in case of the death of Mr.. Sherman and
the election OF Mr.. Taft, the choice of a
Vice President would rest with the cleo
toral college. The votes to be cast in the
election a week from today are not cast
directly for the presidential or vice presi-
Dental candidates Of the several parties.
but for the electors of the parties. When
death does not intervene. the electors are
morally bound to vote for the nominees
Of their parties, but only morally, and
not legally.
In the case of the death of candidate
for one Of the two high offices, II Is
therefore argued, the electoral college
would be free to vote for another person
OF other persons in his place. This rule
would apply, 1t is contended. whether the
death occur before or after the election.
Case of Horace Greeley.
There Is one precedent within the
memory of many voters. that of Horace
Greeley, democratic and liberal repub-
ncan candidate for President in 1872. who
died after the election and before the
meetings Of the electors in the several
states. Except in the case of three elect
ors in Georgia. the electors on the
other than Greeley for President. Con-
gress. In canvassing the votes Of the
electors. counted all these votes for ether
candidates and declined to count the
three in Georgia cast for Greeley.
Few of the electors even felt duty
bound to vote for Greeleys running mate,
b. Gratz Brown of Missouri. and Thomas
A Hendricks Of Indiana received the
votes Of a majority of the Greeley,Brrwn
electors for President. The Greeley
Brown electors were in the minority in
the electoral college. and therefore their
votes were only complimentary.
The serious Illness of Vice President
Sherman at this time suggests further
Greeley died. Mr.. Greeley's demise came
after the election and before the meet
ingB Of the electors. Vice President Sher-
man might die or withdraw before the
Of the electors and before the canvass of
the votes by Congress. or he might die
after the canvass Of the votes by Con-
gress and before the Inauguration Of the
new President and Vice President.
The success Of the Taft-Sherman cleo
tors in the election. in any of these con-
tingencies, 1t Is conceded. might lead to
serious or sensational results.
Committee Might Nominate.
Shout Vice President Sherman die or
withdraw from the ticket before the
election 1t is thought here that
the national republican committee would
have authority to make a new nomina-
ton. The committee might not assume
here today whether or not the Chicago
convention made provision for such a
contingency. The names of Taft and
Sherman have been certified to the Sec
retartes OF states as the republican can
didates for printing ballots in all
states. 1t is thought a supplementary
petition. making new nomination for
Vice President. would be accepted in
most states where the ballots have not
already been printed. What would be
done in case ballots already have been
printed IL not known. and the short time
elapsing between now and election day
indicates this would be a serious prob
lem.
Should the national republican commit
tee make selection 1t Is generally be-
Heved the electors Of the republican party
success Of the Taft-Sherman electors
this would place enormous power In the
hands Of the committee, it is conceded
Politicians assert 1t would have bad
effect on the chances of the Taft-Sher-
man electors. should Vice President -Sher-
man die or withdraw before the election
and the nomination be vacant election
day.
Diversity of Opinion.
IN case Mr.. Sherman should die after
the electors have met in the several
states and the Taft-sherman electors
have voted for Sherman for Vice Presi-
dent there is diversity of opinion as to
what might be done. If the Taft-Sher-
man electors Were in a majority in the
electoral college. II is thought the electors
would be reconvened In the several states
70 make q new choice for Vice President
III another candidate for the vice presi-
dency has a majority this might not be
done. as 1t would be largely matter Of
form.
In the event of the death of the Vice
President-elect after the electoral college
Votes had been canvassed by Congress
and the choice formally declared and be-
fore the Inauguration. the complication.
II Is admitted. would be serious. 1t might
be argued by some that the choice then
would fall to the Senate as in the case
OF the failure of the electoral college to
give majority to any candidate In
the opinion OF others, the proper proceed
ure would be to reconvene the electors
IN the several states and let them vote
for a new Vice President
There Is also a possibility, 1t 10 pointed
out. that the vice presidency might be
allowed to go by default The succession
to the presidency is fixed in case of the
death or disability of the Vice President
during a presidential term. There Is, too.
the possibility that another general cleo
ton might be ordered to choose a Vice
President. Both OF these possibilities.
however. are conceded to be remote
Still Another Contingency.
In the event that the election of Pres
ident and Vice President should 20 to
Congress and Mr.. Sherman should die
there are wide ranges of speculation, be-
cause Of the probability that there would
be no republican candidate before the
Senate for Vice President. The Consti-
tuition specifics that the choice should be
between the two candidates receiving the
highest number Of votes in the electoral
college. In case one of those should die
after election day this would seem to
force the election Of the other although
he might be Of opposite political faith to
the majority OF the Senate.
There 10 only small speculation re-
gardtng the resulting Official changes
that would follow the death of Mr..
Sherman before the expiration of his
present term, March 4. Ordinarily the
President pro tempore OF the Senate
. AL