The Washington herald., 1914-07-21
WHO should BE
Vice PRESIDENT?
Gotham S C. o. P. Chiefs Re.
call. After Some Thinking,
N. M. Butler S Name.
HE WAS CHOICE IN 1912
Coterie of Wise Decides that Presi-
dent of Columbia u" Is
Proper Mate.
By FRANCIS b. GEssNER.

BY FRANCIS b. GESSNEH.
New York, July 0-"How ephomerdl
Is fame" was the exclamation OF a po-
Iitical expert who kindly condescended
to shed the effulgence of his wisdom
upon the circle OF wise men assembled
on the roof garden for the usual diversion
of telling how TO run campaigns, also
the government The exclamation point
came into the conversation following the
simple Interrogation:
who was given the Republican cleo
toral vote for Vice President in lsl2?''
No one could tell, though all recalled
that the beloved John Sherman, the Re-
publican nominee, had died before the
November election, and OF course some
one must have been given the few cleo
toral votes accorded the Taft ticket. Even
the condescending citizen who made the
query could not for the moment remem-
Der, and then John Dwight. ex-Congress-
man. and first citizen OF Dryden, came
along and explained that the electors
from Vermont and Utah cast these votes
for Nicholas Murray Butler. president OF
Columbia University, thus according the
honor TO New York with due record for
the fitness of things
Few Recalled Incident.
The observation following the Dwight
announcement was that few Of the most
active political managers would recall the
Incident OF the honor bestowed upon
Butler and no one OF the roof garden
group could explain just why. ButlLr
should be practically made the RepubI-
can candidate for Vice President Posi-
bly, the fact that he had remained loyal
20 the party when things political had
& high brow spirit OF doing something
erratic also devilish with consequent dis
aster and repentance later. Themention
Of the lamented Jim Sherman brought up
agsin the tendency OF the G. o. p. 20
accord New York with her forty-fiye e
ticket and there was discussion as to The
TUlitical wisdom of II. however satisfac-
tory the results IN the past. Beginning
with Wheeler with Hayes in 1876 seven
Vice Presidential nominations have been
given New York, with five elections.
Nhitelaw Red the one actually defeated
in 1872 and the Taft defeat OF 1912. inciud-
irg the practical defeat OF a New YorA's
nominee.
Supported by Record.
The record rather supports the PROPOSE
ton to accord New York the nominal ton
even if there has been sorrow over the
almost careless handing Of IL to Roose-
welt in 1900.
The sole thought was to favor New
York and also put Roosevelt into the
shadow. Alas. that the fate OF Lincoln
and Garfield was forgotten and 1915 will
witness a more thoughtful selection for
second place.
! Already the Republican inclination Is
for the Western or Middle Western can
didate, with a Vice Presidential nominee
as carefully tested and approved as II he
were TO head the ticket and the hope
| TO find him in New York.
No one has measured up to the stand
ard since Sherman's death, but one may
develop once the Progressive craze has
reached the state Of innocuous desuetude
already predicted for il by the faithful.
Really n Pity.
Really It is a pity that the great State
OF New York fails to develop and then
appreciate a few great Republican lead
ers. There was grief almost TO the
shedding of tears on the roof garden
circle as the lament was voiced along
with the question, Why thus and how
long to last?' You can count up a
| dozen distinguished Republicans in law
Offices or trust companies downtown
who have been in Presidential Cabinets
| and yet failed to develop any qualities
for political leadership. Care has been
taken by the machine managers not TO
4 name TOT governor or senator any one
| likely 10 become a national figure.
Familiar with History.
The only governor of Presidential size
in recent years was Hughes who, familiar
With the fate of New York Presidential
candidates in the past. discreetly decided
for a life place on the bench. The man
ayers even inclined to the mediocre re-
Joiced 10 see him out OF the way. but
there issno law against the nomination Of
Supreme Court justice for President
anu the call might come for the dis
ting Gished voter Of Glens Fail to heal
his party and save It from the Roosever. {.
designs. The discreet edging away from
the Progressive nomination for governor
by the Oyster Bay statesman supports
the suspicion Of Eeeks back that the real
Roosevelt design~is to be the regular he
publican candidate in 1916. After the
general march Of things Progressive in
primaries yet to come and in November
the once first citizen of the republic
will find way to repudiate those wno
have stiffened his spinal column in the
thilG party folly and to declare himself
really real Republican repentant. per
haps, but blessed with a converts zeal.
To Avert Calamity.
To avert such a calamity there might
be call for Justice Hughes and it would
come not only from New York but froh
every Republican State Of the North
With his fine sense Of the fitness of
things he might not make response, but
ever nominated he could take another
view Of things and do both party and