Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-16
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

The opening of the campaign causes in
quiry to be made into the status of the
electoral vote. Some historical sketching
concerning it therefore becomes of interest
In preface it may be said that the Elec-
toral College of 1888 will show the same
aggregate of votes as that of 1884 Though
it is probable that this will be the last
time it will present that total; that is to
say, Alabama will have 10 votes in the
College; Arkansas, I, California, 8; Colo
rado, 3; Connecticut, 6; Delaware, 8 !;
Florida, 4; Georgia, u; Illinois, %; In
diana, IS; Iowa, Is; Kansas, 8; Ken
lucky, 10; Louisiana, s; Maine, 6 Mary
land, 8; Massachusetts,, IA Michigan, IS;
Minnesota, Z; Mississippi, 8; Missouri,
16; Nebraska, 5; Nevada, 5; New Hamp-
shire, 4; New Jersey, 8; New York, Sc
North Carolina, IL Ohio, %; Oregon, 8;
Pennsylvania, 80; Rhode Island, 4; South
Carolina, 8; Tennessee, u; Texas, 10;
Vermont. 4; Virginia, u; West Virginia,
8; Wisconsin, IL. Total, 40l.
The thirteen States that set up the bust
ness of the republic had but 81 votes in
the College on its establishment in 1889,
to wit: Connecticut, I; Delaware, s;
Georgia, 5; Maryland, s; Massachusetts,,
10; New Hampshire, 5; New Jersey, 6;
New York, s; North Carolina, I; Penn
sylvania, 10; Rhode Island, 8; South Car
DINA, Z; Virginia, y. Apparently there
elapsed but three years between the first
Electoral College, 1889, and the second,
1892; but this is accounted for by the fact
that January, 1889, was the first date APP
pointed for the choosing of Presidential
Electors, while the College, under the Con-
stitution, must meet one month thereafter.
In all subsequent selections of President
the Electors have been chosen for the Col
lege in the year preceding the meeting of
that body.
There was change in the constitution
of the College when it was a second time
called upon to choose President (1792),
Vermont and Kentucky having been
placed upon the roster of States with four
votes each, and Georgia losing l, the total
increasing from 81 to 1856. When the
third and fourth sessions were held there
were Is States represented, Tennessee,
with votes, being added. The fifth and
sixth Colleges made showing of II States,
Ohio, with 5, being the addition. But
the representation changed in 1904 from a
total Of 1873 to l76, thus distributed: Con-
necticut, 8; Delaware, 3; Georgia, 6 !;
Kentucky, s; Maryland, IL; Massachu-
sets, 80; New Hampshire, 7; New Jer-
sey, 8; New York, 10; North Carolina,
IA Ohio, 3; Pennsylvania, 20; Rhode
Island, 4; South Carolina, 10; Tennessee,
5; Vermont, s; Virginia, a. In 1912
the seventh College had IS States and a
total vote Of 2l8, Louisiana being the new
State. Indiana came in ia 1916 with 3
votes, increa-ing the total TO 22l Alabama,
with ); iiliuois with ;; Maine, with 9;
Mississippi and Missouri, with 3 each,
were added in 1920, raising the total
vote to 235, Up to 1882 no more
States were added, but by increase in Pop
ulation and consequent change of the ratio
of representation the College aggrega, ID
2SS votes. From 1889 to 1892 the ratio of
representation in the House of Repre-
sentatives. aecordiog to the Constitu-
ton, was 3o0gJ Tie basis from 1872 to
1909 wa. upoo She first census, 1880, and
raised the figure to $1,000 The second
eensrs 1900, made no change; the thirJ,
1910, raised from 1913 to 1928 t. $4,000.
Thereafter the ratio grew according to
census Developments each decade as FOL
lows: