New-York tribune., 1896-12-28

there Was no idea OF constituting a concrete poly
OF electors who should act AZ such. save IL tn1iG @
trainers OF tho Constitution that these electors
should Independently for the purpose OF pre-
pubic sentiment, and the device OF intcrposinS an
electoral college between the direct votes OF inc
people and the Presidency was thought 10 ne u
prccaution aganSi rcVoluilonary a,uonS w." ~ ,,
people In their exercise of the right of sunraSc.
hut with the organization of great poilti'a parties
and the Development OF rracticalIy ~
by parties the custom grey INTO an uh"rl''"n , 'hm
OF placing in nomination before the people certain
candidates on National tickets. and Of nominating
I'm the states electors pledged by their party tics
and by the obligations OF honor to cast their votes
in the electoral college. chosen Tor me nominees
OF the party electng them. In other words, me
safeguard against the unwsc expression oi choice
that might result from the direct Not" OF IN"
Thus to-day tho electors little else than
fgurchcads. and for al practical purpose. se
the President and tho Vice President There Is. OF
course no legal restriction To prevent an cl"ctor
fan from voting IN the college for Candidate Bryan,
vic versa. Vet the possibility OF such a con-
tinScncy * so remote AZ to be barely worth con
sdcring. for the men nominated ~ electors are
usually leaders % their parties in the states and
connection that it WAS charged in iS7G-'77 that an
attempt made TO bribc one Of tho electors
In the college for the candidate Of the party that
opposed him at the polls. The ccctor ueineslion-
ably had the constitutional right to vote for whom
he pleased. hut OF course. the suggestion ot bribery
caused great sensation
SPLIT ELECTORAL VOTES
It is to be noted that The Constitution provides
that each state shall appoint. in such manner
Of electors. etc. Thus the States are given eN-
elusive authority 20 determine how the electors
shall be- chosen. and notable instance Of de-
par;ur" from the ordinary rule occurred In 1892.
when tfe Democri itic Legislature OF tho State Of
Michigan passed law providing for tho election
Of tho mcmbcr~ Of the Electoral College by Con
gross districts The ordinary rule Is for the peope
In all parts OF the State to vote for tho electoral
,eke, ,i",n, a. rn "n| hgs It Is alms.t without
ayGcG r 0 mcsSe w vol" S @ to
effect. and. although the republicans carried the
operation Of the new law gave the Democrats i've
Thcre were other instances OF split electoral votes
in lH,s. resulting. how"v"r. from different cause
The Republicans IN Ohio had a plurality over the
Democrats OF "'2. hui one or the electors on the
Democratic tickef received more votcs than the
lowest "l"ctor on the Republican ticket and was
Consequently declared elected As n result. ono OF
ono iw'niE -thi'' "!c. tpral votes was cast FOR
Cleveland. The sam" thing happened in oregon
10 Weaver. and IN North Dakota whore ia" three
yoie- were divided between Harrison. cleveland
and Weaver In II" letter state The Popusis had
has happened tNic". once In lNSn. when Hancock
carried The State by seveniy-eifht votes and one
uf the six electoral votes given to Garfield
ana again IN is!r,. when the Democrats obtained a
plurality o. ~ and ono ~ tn" nine electoral votes
caused by scratching IN localities where
candidate or another among TN" nominees for elec-
tors Is personally popular or unpopular. a. the ease
The original paragrnnh OF tho Constitution relat-
having the creates; number OF should be tho
the person having IN" next greatest number should
be the Nicc-rrcsiden'. Thus II was possible Tor
come Vice President and for these two officials
rcprcscn, the opposing political parties This con-
ment which distinctly states that IN" Nlcc-P Presi-
dent shall be IN" ON" who has received ma iOrity
the electors shall hay" before them nominees for
both positions