Evening journal., 1915-02-02
New News Of Yesterday
How Some of Our PreSi-
dents Were Made
By Holland.

A few days after Vice President
Roosevelt succeeded to the Presidency
| spent an hour or two with the late
Charles G. Clarke, then vice-presidenr
OF the Vanderbilt system of railroads.
having authority over the financial
department. Mrs. Clarke. I knew.
had vivid reeollections of the circum-
stances which brought Millard Fill
more to the Presidency. He had
been in intimate association with Fill
more at the time the latter was comp
troller of the State of New York for
at that time Mr.. Clarke was deputy
treasurer of New York State. Their
relations were as cordial and inti-
mate as any Fillmore ever permitted
himself to share.
In response to a question Of mine
Mr.. Clarke said: Il only think Of the
curious destiny which has brought
five who were elected as Vice Presi-
dents to the Presidential Office.
don't mean by that the tragedies-in
two cases of mortal illness and in
three OF assassination-whi placed
in the Presidential office those who
had been elected as Vice Presidents
! do mean, however, the curious and
apparently accidental circumstances
which led to the nomination Of all Of
those men to the Vice Presidency.
For instance, | was a very young
man when John Tyler succeeded 10
the Presidency, but | was old enough
to hear understandingly many men
say that it was by the purest acci-
dent that Tyler had been nominated
Tor Vice President. he having ac-
nT ,fr., fs,t,
when the convention met.
Good friends of mine have told
nc that but for one thing Cornelius
n. Bliss would inevitably have been
nominated for Vice President in 1900
Mckinley was anxious for the nomi-
nation of Bliss and if Mr.. Bliss had
not peromptorily declined. having hal
his surfeit of public office. he would
have been nominated because the
convention would have known that
i was McKinley's wish. Therefore.
Roosevelt would have had a second
term as governor of New York IN
stead Of the Vice Presidency and
Presidency.
Nov take the case of Mjllard
Fillmore. had more complete
personal knowledge Of the circum
stances which led TO Fillmore's nomi-
nation for Vice President in 1S4S
than | had with respect to the Vice
Presidents whom have just named.
The circumstances associated with
their nominations | knew only Dy
hcarsay Fillmore however, was
comptroller of New York State and
was deputy treasurer l used to
hear much political talk at Albany.
and ono Of the things which was com
monty said was that the Wings ex-
pected to nominate Zachary Taylor,
of Louisiana, for President and TO
Icminate Abbott Lawrence. Of Mas
sachusetts, or Albert II. Tracy OF
luffalo, for Vice President Taylor
Was cotton planter Abbott Law
renee was a manufacturer Of cotton
goods. Somebody at the Philadelphia
convention ventured to say that j.
would not do to have cotton at both
ends Of the ticket That remark de-
prived Lawrence of the few votes
which were necessary in order to
bring to him the nomination. Then
III the confusion and excitement Occa-
stoned by the failure to nominate
Lawrence. somebody suggested Mil
lard Fillmore. and without any spe-
Nfdt tOuHtutIdllOH lie was nominated.
] have the best reason for knowing
tlat the common impression at that
time that Fillmore's nomination was
due to skillful work done by Thurlow
Weed is untrue. Weed was satisfied
when Zachary Taylor was nominated
for President | think he would have
been glad if the convention had nomi-
mated Albert H. Tracy for Vice Pre-
sident. Tracy was man of very
great ability, but he was unable TO
take part in the convention on ac-
count of illness. Had lie been there |
he instead Of Fillmore would have
fcon nominated for Vice President.
and at the death of President Taylor
would have succeeded to the Presi-
Gency."
Copyright, 1915. by Il. ]. Edwards
All rights reserved).
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will ten
Of The President Who Never Lost
His Dignity"