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Show VICE PRESIDENTS, Mow that Tdft Is reasonably sure of the two thirds vote necessary to secure se-cure his nomination in the convention and Bryan thinks he Is outdistancing all competitors the question of candidates can-didates for the vice presidency Is absorbing ab-sorbing the attention of delegates. The offlec has always been'more ornamental orna-mental than useful. So much so that In the ear)y history of the nation it was proposed to call the vice-president, "his superfluous excellency." lie has but two functions; one, to preside in the senate with nn vote (except casting) cast-ing) and with no power to appoint committees; the other, to succeed to the president In case of death. It Is a practically useless position but one with great possibilities, 'for, 'as Bryce remarks, "this second class man may step Into a great place for which he was never intended. Sometimes, as in the case of Arthur,he tills the place respectably. Sometimes as In lhat-of Andrew Johnson, he throws the coun-tiy coun-tiy Into confusion." As tho terms of no less than five presidents have been cut short by death It is well for the delegates of both parties to exercise as much care and forethought In the selection of a candidate for the vice presidency as for the presidency. The safety of the nation demands that it should never run the danger of being directed by a weakling. |