The Lamar register., 1898-05-21
INAUGURATION DAY IN April.
a Constitutional Change Ba.ea on wash
tngton weather.


ton So. otherwise the Chandler
amendment proposes an alteration in
the federal constitution. which in or
Der to become effective Eiust secure Gas
1t Is generally believed that It VIVID
the assent OF the legislatures Of two
thirds of the states. There are now
forty-ive states. and the assent OF two
thirds means the approval Of thirty. a
larger number than there we're In the
whole country hf,y years ago, when.
In May. iSfS, the proposition TO admit
Wisconsin ms a state was passed upon
Iavorably. the number previously 20
that time being twsuty-nine. The pro-
posed constitutional amendment makes
beginning 1901. following the next
presidential electlon--April 30, Inst al
OF March 4. the inauguration day II
Is a peculiar circumstance. which stu
dents OF American history have not
failed to observe. thsi while the pro-
visions OF the constitution regarding
the method OF choice Of the president
are somewhat vague and Indefinite, the
provision. which is article XII OF the
amendments. for the InaHsuratloa q
the president ON .'the 4th day Of March
next following the election Is explicit.
As 20 the choice OF president, u Is pro-
vidcd only that each state shall ap-
point, ''in such manner as the lcEls-
iaturo thereof may direct" number
OF electors equal to the total number
1t eongrsSsTnen allotted u. senator's
and representatives There may be
popular vote for these electors. AZ In
most states there Il. but this Is no; OBJ
HEatoTy. The legislature Itself may
choose the electors, without the inter-
vsntlon Of the voters. EXCEPT In so FAR
as this action Is prohibited by state
constitutions In some states a. pres
ert colorado eonspicuously1 women
vote for presideniial e'co.ors on the
same terms a. men. and n Eons stats
even aliens. not yet citizens cf tbs
United statss. participate IA sueh
choice Of electors. While this branch
OF the matter nf presidential elections
Is icft without any general ruie. the
time for inauguratins tho president Is
a part OF the organic law Of the eoun-
try. and can not BE- altered except ty
formal change In the constitution, as
= row proposed. 1, II n somewhat
curious fact. too. in connection with
this agitation for n change. that Arrl
30 was originally the inauguration day.
George wasaIrg gten. the frst president,
N-as ipzururated In New York city on
Apru 30 iTSa. Thr second Inaugural
in washing on. however. was on
March 1880. and the twelfth artleie
az tie amendments. which preserihes
march 4as the dsie. was proposed In
The frst session of the English con
errss. and wss adopted on Sept 25,
1904. The reasons now advanced Tor
its change TO the original date are
chiefly meteorological and based upon
the weather conditions. which are most
unsatisfactory and even dangerous IN
the city Of Washington in early March
Incidental TO the Inauguration OF
president there are. OF course. many
changes In the federal administration
trough these are fewer than heretofore.
=, which he is the chief. Thousands
OF sIghtseers are drawn TO the rational
eaniial AT th!A period. along With those
whose presence Is required. or, II not
always required. is certainly fesired'
and 1t Is believed generally. and the
weather conditions in Washington IA
yor this view. that April 80 wonld be
more appropriate time for such ohssr-
vHtions and festivities as the iuaugur-
alton of president. Asa'nst the
choice of this date. however. is one OBJ
feetiou. which. though not urged in the
senate, is likely to be brought up
for consideration in the various states
II Is this: The president 'is voted for
on the Tuesday following the hrst
Monday in November. From thai me
until his inauguration four months
eiapse-four months of uncertainty IN
definiteness. negotiation and active po-
litical rivalry. During these fonr
months the outgoing administra ion ~
practically helpless to enuneiate any
policy or to carry out any plans. These
deyoiye upon is successor. The pro
posed constitutional amendment WOULD
add to this period of uncertainty near
lv two months, and 1t is question
whether the more desirable condition
Of the Washington uncertain climate
AZ the end Of April compared with wh.s
Il Il at the beginning of March would
iustify a change. adding nearly two
months of uncertainty and dissatisfac-
tIon for the great body OF American
electors. who. while participants in the
election. take, and seem to desire to
take. no overt part in the forma.ity
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