Evening journal., 1915-09-13
New News Of Yesterday
Eleventh hour Candidates
for the Vice-PreSidency
q, Holland

The late Commodore Alfred Van SAINT
voord, who died in the spring of 1901,
said to me a day or two after Theodore
Roosevelt was nominated for Vice-Presi-
dent on the ticket at the head of which
stood the name Of William Mckinley, in
1900, that he had seen all of the Vice D.
lresidents who had succeeded TO the
Presidency, and with two of them he
had had some personal intercourse. The
commodore saw john Tyler once before
Tyler became Vice President and again
at the time Tyler. when President vis-
tied New York to meet his ianoee, Miss
Gardner. With Nlillard Fillmore the
commodore was on terms of more than
mere personal acquaintance. He had voted
for Fillmore when the latter was candi-
date for governor of New York and also
the next year Fillmore. having lost the
governorship, the commodore voted for
him for comptroller Of New York. an
election to which Fillmore was success
full Fillmore was much interested in
the canal systems of New York State
and il was in that way the commodore
became associated with him. for both he
and his father before him were promi-
nently associated with the navigation of
the Erie Canal He was also an inti-
mate personal friend Of Chester A. Ar
thur. he said TO me If YOU win make
investigation of the proceedings of con-
ventions which nominated the candidates
for the Presidency and Vice Presidency
you will discover the extraordinary fact
Il hnA 81 h.. A. l..
ceeded 10 the Presidency were almost
chance nominees to tho Vice Presidency
They were all eleventh hour choices"
Had Commodore Van Santvoord lived
long enough he could have added another
to the list-Theodore Roosevelt. The
late Benjamin Silliman told me that
he was a delgate to the convention at
Harrisburg which nominated William
Henry Harrison, the Wing candidate fol
President, and John Tyler, OF Virginia
for Nioe-President remember Mr.. Sill
liman's statement that Tyler was nomi
mated for Vice President after three
others had declined the offers of nomi.
nation. He was nominated because il
was said of him that he was warm
friend OF Henry Clay. few weeks aftel
he was inaugurated Wee President n,
lecame, by the death of President Harri
son, President Of the United States.
Andrew johnson was nominated fol
Vice President with Lincoln as candi
date for President-in 1861 He was d
last choice for Vice President. Lincoln
aving declined 20 indicate ius choice ol
| anyone as candidate for the aii6r Han
nihal Hamlin told me in 1890 that h,
had good reason for knowing that Lin,
coin would have preferred the renomina.
tion Of the ticket of Lincoln and Hamln
Had that been done, Hannibal Hamln
and not Andrew Johnson, would hav,
been President. After the nomination
of Gen. Garfield at Chicago in 1850. tho
choice of Gen. Arthur as candidate fol
( Vice President was made. I met Gen
Arthur VIXEN he was on his way to Chi
cago to attend the convention and h,
then intimated 70 me that If Gen. Grant
was nominated for President the prob
abilities were that some distinguished
| Republican west Of the Mississippi rive
would be nominated for Vice President
The offer Of the nomination for Vice
President came to Gen. Arthur as per
feet surprise.
If Theodore Roosevelt had had his wa'
he would not have been nominated TO
Vice President in Philadelphia in 1900
Had Garrett a. Hobart, who was electe'
Vice President in 1906 lived he m
doubtedly would have been renominate'
with Mckinley in 1000. Therefore tn
remark which Commodore Van SAINT
voord made to me is sustained by tn
history of the conventions. Every on
Of the Presidents who succeeded t.
the Presidency was placed in nomina
tion for Vice President at the last mo
ment. not one of them expecting tha
nomination when it was made.
Copyright. 1915, by c. J Edwards al
rights reserved.)