The Washington herald., 1913-11-17
With the Political Procession.
BY f. b. G.


I reliable Republican. was big enough to
resign from the highest appointfve state
office after a months service ana 90
back to his bank with no regrets In
fact the regrets were at the Charleston
| end of the line, because he did not con-
tinue In office or course the one lament
Of Secretary Reed is that West virginia
did not elect six instead Of four Repuoh-
cans to Congress last year, but CONSIDER
| ing the subsequent gyrations OF
Iauehlin. who was almost elected year
ago. there is some satisfaction among
| true blue Republicans that he was lett
out.
Northern West Virginia expects the
nomination for Governor three years
hence, as Hatfield, the present rather
erratic Chief Executive, comes from the
remote Southern section. 1t matters not
that the northern counties have the Sena-
| tor, and three years ahead OF time
Howard Sutherland, now Congressman at
large, Is receiving attention for the Gov
/, ernorship with smiling silence from the
| Hon. Howard himself. when the matter
| is mentioned.
OF course the northern range of counties
may crowd things somewhat with con-
nicting ambitions. Davis Elkins Is too
young and too resourceful in politics to
4 a
for a full term, and he claims legal resi-
dence in Morgantown. very much to the
north, while the family home is at Elkins
where Sutherland has a permanent aoid-
ing place.
There will be some fine political work
before the next Congressional election of
next year, and IL is up to both Elkins
and sutherland to see that their Con-
gressional district, the Second. elects a
Republican over William G. Brown. who
pulled through with fourteen votes a
year ago.
Some one wonderfully interested in
other peoples personal affairs wrote an
able article for a magazine years ago
entitled What Shall We Do with Our
ex-Presidents He did not quite
answer his own question, but stirred up
considerable interest, also emotion. for a
short spell, and then the American peo-
pie forgot all about II. The argument, OF
course. was that some high place OF
honor should be created for the President
going out OF office, something to do and
with some degree of prestige.
The lament has been that an ex-
President hardly knows what to do. Hav-
ing held the highest place, he hesitates
about going back to work like any other
citizen.
II was suggested that some post-gradu-
ate sort of a job be invented. with honor
and emoiuments attached. While nothing
has ever come of the suggestion, 1t recurs
now and then, especially when we have
an ex-President or two on our hands
Possibly the most thought was given the
proposition when poor Gen. Grant failed
in business, but his friends were quick
to aid, and Congress put him back on the
army pay roll Roosevelt and Taft have
kept busy enough since leaving the White
House and BENJAMIN Harrison was not
above going back to the practice of law
with some spirit, taking only big cases
Hayes actually retired and was rich
man. apart from the 10000 he saved
during his term. Long before he left the
White House he expressed but one ambi-
ton, and that was to be a trustee of the
State University at Columbus. This ap-
pointment was made soon after the Hayes
retirement, and he took great interest IN
college work up to the time of his death.
in 1898.
President Arthur kept from active busi-
ness, living in dignified retirement after
he went out, in 1885.
Cleveland was content with the life OF
a country gentleman in New Jersey after
his second term. seldom appearing at any
public function and never at political
gathering.
Some day Congress may pass law Civ
ing a retiring President some sort OF place
on an advisory board with salary for
life. like that given a retired Justice of
the Supreme Court. The wonder is that
the retired-pay proposition was not pro-
vided for long ago.
A group OF Southern statesmen we're
pointing with pride along with eloquence
the other night to the fact that two
States of tine South had given the nation
more Presidents and Presidential service
than any dozen States of the North.
Some one ventured the question, How
many elected Presidents have we had?''
and the wise men, all members of Con-
gress, stopped to think and count up.
When they agreed on twenty-three as the
number elected, the original topic was
resumed with pride and Virginia credited
with forty years, lacking one month.
in the White House, Tyler having sue
ceeded as Vice President a month after
Harrison became President in lS41. Ten
nessee gave Jackson for two terms. and
Polk for a single term, with Andrew
johnson coming in for a month less than |
a full term in 1866 Hence in 124 years Of
the Republic Virginia and Tennessee have |