The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-26
THE EVOLUTION OF ELECTORAL METHODS

THE EVOLUTION OF ELECTORAL METHODS.
The present method of nominating
and electing President and Vice-presi-
dent differs very materially from that
followed in the early history of the gov
eminent, and furnishes an interesting
illustration of the evolution of popular
methods.
The Constitution provides that "nO
Senator or Representative, or person
holding an Office of trust or profit under
the United States, shall be appointed an
elector." The object of this provision
was to keep the electoral system free
from congressional influence, but. sim
gularly enough, it very soon fell COM
pletely under that influence. For many
years after the organization of the gov
eminent candidates for President and
Vice-president were nominated by con-
qressional caucus. and her for a few
years by State legislatures. The sys-
tenn of congressional caucus nomination
prevailed till 1924. In 1923 the nomina-
tions were made by State legislatures,
and in 1882 for the first time the modern
convention came in.
1t was originally intended that the
Electoral College should-be an independ-
ent body, clothed with discretionary
powers to elect whom it chose Presi-
dent and Vice-president, without par
ticular reference to the wishes of any
party or the people ut large. The first
and second elections of Washington. in
1889 and 1902, were conducted in this
way. In these elections Zach member
of the Electoral College voted for two
persons, of whom the highest became
President and the next highest Vice.
president. In 1850 twelve persons were
voted for, Washington and John Adams
being the two highest, and in 1892 five
persons were voted for, Washington and
Adams again being the two highest. In
1896 thirteen persons were voted for by
the Electoral College, John Adams and
Thomas Jefferson receiving the highest
number. This was the end of the Elec-
toral College as an independent body.
In 1900 the selection of candidates fell
under the control of congressional in
f~iuence, exercised by. caucus nomina-
ton. Thus. the very thing that the
Constitution aimed at preventing hap
pened in a little more than ten years aft
er it was adopted. The Federalist
members of Congress came together and
nominated John Adams and Thomas
Pinckney for President and Vice-presi-
dent, respectively, and the Democrats,
or, rs they were then called, Republican
members, nominated Thomas Jefferson
and Aaron Burr. Jefferson and Burr
each received seventy-three votes. and
Adams and P~inckney sixty-fve. This
shows that the Electoral College
recognized the binding force of
the congressional caucus nomination.
1t is worthy of note, by the
way, that Thomas Jefferson, in
his first election. received only
three more han q majority of the cleo
toral votes, the total number in the col
lege in 1900 being 1873. The congressional
caucus system thus established con-
timed for twenty eight years. The fact
that the people should for this length of
time have left the power of nominating
candidates for President and Vice-presi-
dent to a party caucus of members of
Congress shows that political ~CrEapiza-
ton was still in m embryo tic state, anu
that the people were not troubling them
selves much about candidates.
p . H. 49,. cro
tenn came to an end. 1t did not work
satisfactorily, and it was evident that it
gave Congress. and especially ambitious
members of Congress. too nue. control
over the presidency and vice-presiden-
cy. In 1923 the nominations were made
by State Legislatures, which was a step
towards popular control. In 1882 the
first national nominating convention
was held and the present system was in
augurated. The independence of the
Electoral College has never ~beenrevived,
though it is evidently theidea of the Con-
stitution. The modern nominating con-
~ventiOn and the complete subOrdination
of the Electoral College to the instruc-
tons of the convention, ratified by the
people. marks the different stages by
which the nomination and election of
President and Vice-president have
passed under the control of the people.
Thenextstep will probably be the aboli-
ton of the Electoral College and voting
direct for President and Vice-president.
still further step, thougha very radical
one, would he abolishing nominating
conventions and letting every man vote
for whom he pleases.