The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-01
DID NOT KNOW LAW
THREE ELECTORAL MESSENGERS
 FAIL TO SHOW UP.
Had the Vote Been Close, Trouble Might Have Been Caused by DereIietion of the Ballot.
 Bearer1.

Washington, Jan. 31.-(Special. )--- There have been times when there have been serious disputes over returns in volving the choice of a President of the United States. So grave have been some of these emergencies that it Is conceded that they put the country on the verge of civil war, that having been the case in 1sT6-77 when the elec- ton of Rutherford B. Hayes was in dis pute. From time to time, as some un- foreseen contingency arose, efforts have been made to correct any deficiency in the law.
 The failure of three messengers, due last Monday, January 23, to come to Washington bearing the electoral votes of their several States, has set good many to thinking what might have happened had there been any doubt about intent of the people of the coun- try, as disclosed by last November's vote. As already stated, the three dere- lects. Graham Vreeland, for Kentucky; Paul w. Teanor. for Tennessee and Tilman B. Parks, for Arkansas, as 1t Is understood here failed to reach Wash ington because they understood that i they were not due at the last date until February 8. They had not looked up the statute bearing upon their duties i nor had they evidently been properly
 
 of the Senate to whom was to have been delivered the electoral votes of all
 the States by January 23. when repre- sentatives from Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas failed to show up, iTnme- ] diately asked Senators from those 1 States what had become of the several messengers. They did not know, but at once communicated with their res- pective State capitals to see what had | become of the appointed emissaries
 employed to fetch the suffrage verdict of their fellow citizens to the national capital.
 Senator Frye, president pro tempore,
 took into consideration that there was
 no possibility of dispute affecting the result because of the absence of the bearers of the electoral votes of the | three States, and advised the Senators. from Kntucky. Tennessee and Arkansas | that if the electoral messengers could be got here within a reasonable time,
 ali would yet be well, otherwise special l messengers would have to be sent to | the federal judge of the district in | which votes of the respective States
 were cast by the electors and bring
 from the court the certificate of cleo ! ton, as required by law, three being, ] necessary. one for the court one for
 the Secretary of State and the other for the President of the Senate. Only a little inquiry is necessary to discover that not few members of l Congress are ignorant--or have been-- | of the requirements of the law with regard to the manner of finally dispos- mig of the result of the Presidential election in each State. It Is only in
 times of disputed elections when atten-
 ton Is drawn to this subject. or whom | some unusual irregularity occurs, as in | the present case, that it is regarded worth while to look up the matter. What if the electoral votes of the three 1 States of Kentucky, Tennesse and Ar kansas had effected the result? That | is a question which has occurred to l those who have considered the incident. l Arkansas has g; Kentucky, 13, and Ten
 nessees, 13 electoral votes-a total of 1 thifty-four electoral votes, which, on account of the misunderstandtng of the l requirements of the law might have been legitimately ignored by a parti- san presiding officer of the Senate. Roosevelt is to be counted as having
 received 33e electoral votes and Parker 14O. according to undisputed returns. If at the last election for President the Democrats had carried as for
 time they expected, the States of New York, New Jersey. Connecticut, Dela- WeACs hASSVaAl aAO NoAOAd0oS
 they would have had enough, with the
 votes of Kentucky, Tennessee and Ar
 kansas, to elect a President. There
 are other combinations which might
 be made in which the Democrats made aggressive lights. which they have heretofore carried. which Illustrates the
 danger to the correct expression of the
 popular verdict.
 As 1t is President Pro Tempore Frye has indulged the derelicts, permit ting them to come along here with the votes of their respective States within
 a reasonable time. Hence the messen- gers will be enabled to save their mileage and get' their pay for their distinguished, but dilatory work.