The Portland daily press., 1891-05-02

in each district elected three electors. This
was a makeshift arrangement however, and
at the next election the electors were elected
by the people by districts. In the presi-
Dental election Of 1905 curious state Of
things developed in Pennsylvania The
state senators were elected by classes for
terms OF four years, and In 1900 it happened
that majority of them had been elected in
previous years when Adams had been popu-
lar. But the House, elected more recently
was strongly for Jefferson. The sentiment
Oh the state was Enthusiastically for Jefferson
also. But the Federal senate forced the
house to allow the electors to be divided.
eight for Jefferson and seven for Adams, In
New Jersey in 1912 there was strange pro-
ceeding. In 1907 law had been passed
Vesting the choice Of the electors in the
people. But when the fall elections were
held the Republcans-the Democrats of those
days-were found to have carried the state.
The legislature. however, on account of the
arrangement of the districts, was Federalist
In both branches. This legislature met and
less than week before the people were in
tending to vote for the electors, repealed the
law OF 1907 and chose eight Federalist electors.
In the election of 1924 the electors of Maine
were chosen In congressional districts, the
electors thus chosen selecting the two at
large Massachusetts,, Maryland. Illinois
and Kentucky also chose In this way at that
time. Maine at that time had nine votes, all
of which went for Adams. Jackson was the
candidate against Adams, but he did not
get any support from Maine in 1924. But in
xpl,a 10,
candidates, Jackson carried one district,
the electoral vote of the state being Adams
eight, Jackson one. On the popular vote
Adams carried Maine by 20.733 to 1927 for
jackson. But in the country Jackson had
17S electoral votes to SO for Adams. In 1882,
when jackson and Clay were candidates. the
sentiment of Maine had changed greatly, and
General Jackson received 1921 votes. to
27,204 for Clay. Jackson received all the
electoral votes of Maine, because the state
had abandoned the district system and
elected all the electors on a general state
ticket, as is done at the present time. By
1882, also, those states that had elected by
the legislature turned to the general state
ticket, with the exception of South Carolina;
and all the states that had been electing by
districts, with the exception of Maryland,
turned to the same method. Four years
later Maryland had fallen into line. so that
all the states but South Carolina, elected
their electors by popular vote on a general
ticket. South Carolina was still electing by
the legislature when the war broke out; but
In 1868, under Republican rule, popular vote
and general ticket were established. Florida
in 1868 reverted for once to the election by
legislature, but since then one uniform plan
has prevailed in all the states,
Michigan for purposes of partisan advant-
age, has broken this uniformity and opened
the door for changes in other states and
revival of the old troubles that.ceasedin 1910.
If ever a change is made 1t should be uniform
throughout the country. and should be done
by amendment to the constitution or by act
of Congress. The Michigan example is per-
nicious and Ruthless.