Evening star., 1896-03-23
ELECTION BY THE HOUSE
That Nay Be the Result Of tho Voting
Next November.
Neither Candidate May Receive q
Majority Of the Electoral College
How It May Happea.

The possibility that the next Presidena
| may be elected by the House of Representa-.
tives is frequently discussed by the poll
| ticians at the Capitol, and there are many
who do not regard 1t as an uncertainty.
| The speculation on this interesting point
arises because of the muddled political
condition. While everything points to the
election. by an overwhelming majority Of
the republican nominee, that outcome may
not be certain
Sitting in the cloak room OF theHouse a few
days ago were a number of Representatives
discussing the political situation from varl-
| GUS points of view. The question Of an
election by the House was talked of, and
then the alleged candidacy of Secretary
Carlisle was injected into the discussion.
Representative Livingston remarked that
Carlisle could not carry a southern Gtate.
A Kentucky democrat added the remark
Cleveland could not be elected. 1.-The situa-
ton Is such,' he said, that every predic-
ton is the merest guesSwork. There Is as
much likelihood that the next House will be
| called upon to elect President as anything
else. l know that the outlook is not hope
ful for the democrats, but the history of
our party is full of election surprises In
many an election in which it was thought
the democrats had no chance they have
won handsomely. This is too big a country,
and there are too many voters in 1t for any
party 10 tnink 1t has a cinch."
How 1t Might Happen.
The election of President by the House
could come about in several ways Should
there be a bolt of the silver republicans at
st. Louis, a bolt Of the silver democrats at
Chicago, and union of all the silverites
and populists, a strong new party would
be the consequence. Then, should the re-
publicans, which is likely to be the case,
platform nf he
two metals. and the gold element of the
democratic party put out a platform favor
ing the single gold standard, and giving
silver the grand bounce, 1t can be easily
seen how uncertain the situation would tie.
The nomination of Mr.. Cleveland or Nr
Olney on single standard platform, the
nomination of Gov. Mckinley or some other
republican on platform for the use Of the
two metals. and the nomination Of a free
coinage candidate would complicate mat
ters onsderably.
The dissatisfaction over the Mckinley
platform, up to date, Genes mainly from
the New York bankers and their followers,
who want to see silver relegated to the
rear. Mr.. Cleveland has always held tile.
not they put up money heavily to secure
his reelection on the platform named?
Would they not also contribute to the re-
publican campaign fund?
Speculation an to States.
Following the line indicated, supposng
the go:d-standard democrats could carry
New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey,
Maryland, or a few other states; the re-
publicans carry the usual republican states
with the exception of the south and west;
the silver men the south and west? Neither
party would have a majority in the elector-
al college. 1t is reasonable to suppose that
party adhering to single gold standard
would stand a chance of carrying a few
states. 1t would be almost sure to carry
New York, it is argued. The platform
might not suit Tammany. but that organi-
zation would support it in preference to the
republican or silver party. The gold-stand-
ard people might also pick up several
northwestern states.
Southern democrats say that Cleveland
could poll thousands more votes than Car
ls'e Or Olney. His position is known and
there can lie no doubt how he stands Car
Isle has changed positions, and there is not
the confidence in him that there is in the
President: Mr.. Olney is not well enough
known.
The foregoing is the way the politicians
talk about the situation in the cloak room
and wherever else they meet.