The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-11-20
ghe adhita Daily Eao Sunday 7orino gounber 20 1892

ment which has been so grossly affected,
not only through the vicious system OF
gerrymandering practiced by the
party in power when they
have the opportunity in the states
where the changes are to be made
in the congressional and legislative and
even judicial districts. But this and
also the infamous fillibustering methods
in vogue in those bodies are claimed to
be constitutional.
For the last sixteen years l have
claimed that they were not constitutional
and have, for that length of time, been
very anxious To get a case before con-
gress thai would bring the question to
trial. Only the presidential question can
reach that point, and that only by throw
ing it before congress for decision.
Had neither of the candidates received
majority of ali the electors, cit would
have affected the presidency" in the late
election if not in preceding ones.
In 1876 Hon. Peter Cooper did not get
any electoral votes, yet as neither OF the
other candidates got a majority it should
then (under the constitution) have gone
TO congress for settlement. But it was
taken to the supreme court and settled
by an to party vote. contrary to AND
independent of the constitution.
In 1890, General Weaver only got a
few electoral votes and General Garfield
got the majority over both the other
candidates.
In 1884 General Ben Butler, the great
est constitutional lawyer in America,
and previously referred to in your article
was then the national candidate, and
Hon. James G.. Blaine, also referred to,
was the Republican candidate. Cleve-
land, then as now. got a larger electoral
vote than both the opposition candidates
hence was elected.
Now, l will explain how Cleveland
would have Leen defeated, in congress,
had Harrison carried tie states l
thought he would carry. New York and
Illinois, Wisconsin and Cali
fornia for instance These with Weaver's
seven and half states would have
thrown il into the house.
The house has nothing to do with the
election OF the vice president, but all to
do with the ''apportionment question. !"
The senate elects the vice president,
but the apportionment law does not
affect that body in the least, hence had
the election went to congress the senate
would have met on the day appointed,
and would have Immediately elected
Mr.. Whitelaw Reid vice president.
And as soon as the house attempted
to organize those questions, affect
ing that body, would have
been sprung, to-wit: Twenty
four members entitled to seat, but
not elected, say James G. Blaine and
Benjamin F. Butler. That question
must he settled before a vote can DO
taken. say the silver men. And if that
is overruled we have another constitu-
tional question ready, towit: The consti-
president shall not be chosen from the
same state" Mr.. Reid will already have
been the constitutional ally chosen vice
president of the United States. Mr..
being from the same state,
cannot then be chosen president under
the constitution, neither can he be voted
for by the electors, but the other two
Mr.. Weaver and Mr.. Harri-
son can be. Of these two which would
the present house probably select.
And if the house through their I'M
gerrymandering of APP
fail to become consti-
tutional body. or, if through any other
filibustering schemes, they are prevent
ed from electing president before the
fourth of March following, what does
the constitution say? 1t explicitly says:
''The vice president shall become presi-
dent" Then. under the constitution,
Reid would be president.
Respectfully,
j. S. JENNINGS,
Wichita, Kan. Nov, u, 1892.