The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-22
A VERY UNIQUE POSITION.
SOMEBODY FINDS > TROUBLESOME
Old LAW.

Georgia Electors Must Have n Ma
jOrity Vote or the Election VIII
Have 90 GO over to the LegisIa-
ture-Wiu the Democrats Get a
Majority Out Of -Four Tickets-The
POpuIists Are Delighted ard Look
Fer Fusion Now.
Atlanta, Ca. Aug 21.-Georgia Is des-
tined 10 occupy an unique and important
position in the selection Of the next Presl-
dent and Vice President OF the United
States Not only has she a candidate OF
her own for the latter ONCE. whose can
didacy Is Of Itself a. distinct novelty In
the political history OF the country. but
the resurrection OF the state law on the
subject Of selecting the presidential and
vice presidential electors to-day adds a
new feature TO the situation.
This new interest will cause the eyes OF
the whole country TO be directed 70 the
state Of Georgia. The campaign mana
gers on both sides will have another ele-
ment Of doubt to make them uneasy, and,
In fact, II Is possible that the whole COM
plexon OF the electoral college may ba
changed on account OF the peculiar law
which governs the selection OF the cleo
tors in this state.
Unlike the laws governing the selection
Of electors In all the other states. In
Georgit the electors who are qualified -
cast the vote Of the state IN the electoral
college, for President and Vice President,
must receive a majority OF all the votes
cast in the election at which they are
voted for. In the event OF the failure oe
any set Of electors to receive a majority.
the legislature will name the electors. The
law on the subject. which was brought
out to-day by some OF the inqulring poli-
ticians. is as follows:
Article ~. Section 1879. Governor TO
consolidate returns and notify persons on
the twentieth day after said election shall
have taken place. II Is the duty OF the
governor TO consolidate the several returns
and Immediately notify those persons OF
their election, who have received a vote
amounting to majority, and to require
their attendance at the capitol on the last
Monday before the first Wednesday In De-
ccmber thereafter TO cast the vote OF the
state ON the Wednesday following at u
o'clock m.
Article " Section 1913. Vacancies:
How Filled.-In the event that all or a
majority Of the said electors may not
have received a majority, the governor
shall communicate the fact to the general
assembly II In session, and ifnot, he shall
issue his proclamation convening them in
time to secure the vote OF the state IN the
electoral college. The general assembly
shall by Joint ballot elect as many elec-
tors as have not received said majority.
"rhe constitution OF the United States
allows the various states to select their
presidential electors In any manner they
I H. - an..F..
and In Georgia the law is as here given.
The only regulation under the constitu-
ton is as to the time OF selection, which
must be uniform throughout the country.
Heretofore there has never been any oc-
casion to bring this law forward because
1t has always been a practically foregone
conclusion that one Of the two great po-
jority Of the votes cast. This
year, however, there is more than
n passing doubt as to the result There
are already three electoral tickets in the
field with a fourth one almost assured.
With the democrats voting for Bryan and
SewaH. the populists for Bryan and Wat
son, the republicans for Mckinley and
| Hobart and the sound money democrats
| for the fourth ticket IL Is easily seen
that neither may get a majority. A mere
plurality would do no good. In that event
the election would go into the hands OF
The democrats are not at all uneasy on
this score, believing confidently that IL
will be largely democratic, but the possi-
| bility Of the selection Of the electors being
| left 20 that body nevertheless gives the
situation decidedly novel turn.
-Four years ago the democratic ticket re-
| ceived in round numbers 10000 out Of a
| total vote of about 230, 900. the republican
ticket getting nearly $1,000. the populist a
! little less, and the balance going to the
| prohlbitionlst candidate. The democratic
managers believe that this year the Bryan
/ and Sewall electors will receive at least
/ the same vote that was cast for the DEM
| ocratic ticket four years ago. despite the
/ peculiar features of the present situation.
| The populists, however claim that they
| will largely increase their vote by reason
| of the fact that Watson Is on their ticket,
! while Chairman Buck of the republican
state committee declares that his party
| will poll 30 per cent. more votes this year
| than last, by reason Of dissatfaction
! among the democrats on the money ques-
| tion, that is about 5000 votes.
| Added to these claims is that Of the
sound money democrats who say that if
| they put out a ticket II will go some 5000
| votes that have heretofore been going to
| the regular ticket. The populists are Ella
| ted over the fact that this law exists.
/ They think il will cause the democratic
managers to look with more favor upon
| their proposition to fuse on the electoral
| ticket as by such action there would be
no doubt about a majority Of the votes OF
! the state being cast for the fusion ticket.
SHE HAS PICKLED THE BODY.