The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-22
PRESIDENT NOT YET ELECTED.


We are al accustomed to speak OF the
presidential election as having occurred
on November Sd. and the phrase ''presi-
dent-eiect" Is daily applied TO MAJ. Nc
Kinlsy In eli OF the papers in the country.
Yet. strictly speaking. this il ell ancor-
rect The election OF president has not
taken place, and there Is nothing except
the unwritten law Of custom and the
weight OF public opinion TO prevent. even
now, the election from going TO some one
else. The actual presidential election
does not take place until the second Mon
day in January next
The presidential electoral system Is still
somewhat Of puZzle 10 thousands OF
otherwise intelligent citizens. This, in
brief, is the manner by which the presi-
dent and vice president of the United
States are elected: In each of the sew
erai state the voters. on November 3,
elected a number u state officers. known
as presidential electors. The number
elected In each state corresponds with the
number OF senators and Representatives
In congress TO which the state Is entitled
under It's superintendent These electors
90 not assemble together in one body,
but the electors OF each state meet at
their own state capital on the second
Monday In January following the election
and vote by ballot for president and vice
president Three certificates as 10 the
result are made. one directed TO the gov
erncr OF the state, one forwarded by mail
TO the vice president OF the United States.
as presiding officer OF the senate. and
the third is sent by messenger chosen
fron among the electors 10 the vice presi-
dent.
On the second Wednesday in February
following the United States senate and
the house Of representatives meet in joint
session, the vice president IN the chair.
Tha, Official then proceeds 10 open the
ballots, and read them. and tellers ap-
pointed from the members present record
the votes. The result Of the vote is an
nounced, and the candidates having
majority OF the electoral votes for presi-
dent and vice president become entitled
TO those ofaces On the 4th Of March fol-
lowing
In the theory OF the constitution, the
presidential electors are not merely ma
chimes for recording the express viii OF
the people. as to their choice for presi-
dent, but are intended TO exercise tha;
high function according 10 their own
views In the earlier presidential cleo
lions this was in fact done The prerogs-
tives 90 the electors were hrst shorn
by party custom which grew Up having
the nomlna lions for president made
by congressional caacnses. held by the
different parties. National conventions
were further outgrowth OF the same
movement to enars.y take away from
the electors the right os independent
action.
Nevertheless. In Law. that right OF an
dependent acton stia exists. and. In fact.
:. mas been exercised within q compare
tive.y brief period. but not IL q manner to
AFFECT The result Fer example. in the
presidential election held IN 1877, Horace
Greeley was The nominee 0. TIE Democrats
ana independent Republicans. The
Greeley electors were n hopeless minor
irT. as resal. OF the November election.
Between the Lection and the assembling
OF tie electoral colleges. Mr. Greeley died.
When the electors met IN January. the
Greeley electors divided thar votes among
humber o: different persons. none O.
wAoz were recognized candidates before
tbs people for ne Office Of president
Ez1 me Greeley electors been "a r.a-
to-t1y very serious con PLEA ton might
have arisen. No patty machinery exists
for meeting such Ell emergency. wane
TIE electors are always willing. n defer
sncs 10 existing custom to vote for the
regular nominee o. tie party. they might
feel 3usEifed In exercising Independent
Reticn in case o. the dean or DISABILITY
Q. TIRE regular nominee. after the electors
ware chosen
as 8 matter o. fact. eAe whole rs-
ca-ne-y CT ne electoral College Is ooso-
lsFa TIE original Gss5Eu has been 50 far
departed from that tAers Is 10 reason
why tas system shcula De maintained.
yss 81 I. t,ls 1astnod prcvluea by .hs con-
s-sution Gar tAs eisetlon az & president
ard vie president. ard czn~o. % at,~o-
gated except ~ az z-usnarnsn. 70 tie
constitution ~ eaca recurring p-ess-
csnz.A esscg1on for many years the sane
question as 20 the NECESSITY O. cosrg
away vtsa Tire electoral college has come
- za4 get nc. The Era. step IL sns Fsr.