Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-08-25
TIE PRESIDENT.
THE Manner IN WHICH HE IA
ELhCTED.
How Voted For-Meeting OF The
Eiectors-When Election is
by the House.


Eiectors-When Election is
by the House.
fFor the RECORD UNION
I find not a few intelligent people un-
familiar with some or all of the processes
connected with the national quadrenniai
election In a brief way propose to out
line the details of the system as it has
finally developed, relying for authorities
entirely on the articles of the Constitution,
with its amendments, and sections of the
Revised Statutes scattered here and there.
With the increased number of members
Of the House of Representatives u2ler
the census of 1880, the total number of
Electors is 401 The Legislature Of each
State may direct in what manner the
Electors shall be chosen In 1924. in six
States, they we're chosen By the State
Legislatures. In South Carolina they have
generally been elected in that way In
1858 Florida pursued that course, and in
1876 Colorado also. Whether elected by
the people or otherwise, they are in
variably appointed in each State ON the
Tuesday next after the first Monday in
November
The number OF Electors equal the num-
Der Of Senators and Representatives to
which the several States are by law enti-
tied. They meet at such place in each
State, on the first Wednesday in Deem
Der, as the Legislature directs-usually
the capital, though not necessarily. In
case of vacancy, each State may provide
for the filling. If the Electors fail to
make choice I" on the first day prescribed
by law" the Electors may he appointed on
subsequent day in such manner as the
Legislature of such State shall direct.
September 25 1904, an amendment to the
Constitution was ratified requiring the
Electors to ballot separately for President
and Vice-President Previous to that
each Elector voted for two, the highest to
be President, the next highest Vice-Pres-
ident 1t was in this way that in the cleo
ton OF 1909 Jefferson and Burr each re-
celved 10 votes, throwing it in the House,
although no Republican Elector, in voting
as they unwisely did, had any thought of
giving Burr the first place.
The Electors are required to make three
certificates of all the votes given by them,
one of which is conveyed by messenger TO
the seat of Government, and delivered
before the first Wednesday in January to
the President Of the United States Senate;
the second Is forwarded bv mail to the
same officer, and the third is delivered to
the Judge of that district in which the
Electors assemble. On the second Wednes-
dax- l,al, fba e
gress in Joint Convention assemble and
the President of the Senate opens all GER
tificates received and declares the result.
If no person receives majority of the
whole number Of Electors appointed then
from the persons having the highest num-
Der, n2t exceeding three on the list of
those voted for as President, the House of
r representatives. chooses Immediately by
ballot the President
Twice only in the history of the country
has the choice fallen on this body-in
1900, owing to tie vote, as previously
referred to, and in 1924, 10 candidate hav-
ing majority of all the Electors ap-
pointed. In the House Representatives
do not vote individually, the representa-
tion from each State having one vote, and
a majority of all the States being neoes-
sary to a choice.
Thus, in the election first referred to, on
the first ballot eight States voted for Jeffer-
son, six for Burr and the votes of two were
divided. On the thirty sixth ballot ten
States voted for Jefferson, four for Burr
and two in blank.
In 1924 four candidates were before the
people, and none of them receiving a ma
iority of the 26l electoral votes, the House
made choice on the first ballot, thirteen
States supporting Adams, sever Jackson
and four for William Henry Craw-
ford, of Georgia. If the balloting con-
tinues without result until the 4th day of
March, the Vice-President acts as Presi-
| dent, as in the case Of the death or other
constitutional disability of the President
The person having the greatest number Of
votes as Nice-President becomes the Vice
| President, if such number be majority
of the whole number of electors appointed:
and if no person has majority, then from
| the two highest numbers on the list the
Senate chooses the Vice-President, ma
jority of the whole number constituting
that body being necessary to choice.
In the present House of Representatives
a majority of the States are Republican,
/ ahu thC scOudtc vi LudL
party, if there is no election in November
by the people, Mr.. Harrison would be
chosen to the Office of President and Mr..
Morton Vice-President. In the con-
tingency of the election going to the
House, California would have no vote in
| case the seat now occupied by Mr.. FELTON,
| is given to Mr.. Sullivan, three Representa-
| tiyes under such circumstance being Re-
publican and three Democratic.
The "Statistician," usually SO correct, on
page 33 prints in full the Act of 1892 re-
latiye to the election of President and
Vice-President, and the officer who shall
act as President in case of vacancies, leav-
ing the impression that said Act is still
operative, and making no reference to the
action of the Forty-ninth Congress which
abrogates that law and assigns the duties
Of that Office to the several members of the
i Cabinet in their order, until other pro-
vision is made. This Act is most wise, for it
keeps in power during the entire four
years the party preferred by the people at
the general election.
We have covered all the salient points
of the electoral system, and examining it
in all its minutie and detail, with the i'm
proyements made from time to time, we
feel satisfied it has become almost per
fected process Yet, with the progress of
time there is little doubt but it win be
deemed cumbersome, and direct vote by
the people, without the intervention of