The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-12-19

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. fs.-
Within less than a month from
now somebody will be selected to
succeed Roosevelt as president.
The probabilities all point to the
choice Of William Howard Taft for
this office, with James s. Sherman
as vice president. But so far
nothing has been determined.
The presidential electors chosen
last November will meet to cast
their ballots on Jan. II, 1909. Ac-
cording to constitutional rule they
will meet In their states and ballot
separately for president and vice
president. A record of this ballot
will be committed to one of the
electors to be carried by him to
Washington, where it will be
placed in the hands of the sergeant
at arms of the senate.
It is understood that many of the
electors chosen last November In
tend to vote for Taft and Sherman.
The popular vote taken on Nov.
indicated a desire on the part of a
clear majority of voters that the
electors favor these men. There is
nothing, however, to prevent any
presidential elector using his own
Judgment in the selection of a pres
ident and vice president.
The next step in the selection of
president, after the electors have
met and sent the result of their
balloting to Washington, will be
the canvassing of these returns by
congress: The senate and house
will meet on the second Wednes-
day In February in joint session In
the hall of representatives. The
president of the senate will preside
and the sealed envelopes contain
ing the returns from the different
states will be laid before him by
the sergeant at arms. Thereupon
they will be opened and the vote
will be counted in the presence OF
the senators and representatives.
Should it appear that any candi-
date has majority of the votes he
will be announced as the choice of
the electoral college for president.
In like manner a candidate for vice
president will be chosen.
In case none of the candidates
prominently discussed Taft,
Bryan, Sherman or Kern-shall
have sufficient votes to elect them
to these offices, the work of choos-
ing president will be taken up by
congress and the ballot will be
taken by states.
Assuming that the popular expec.
tation will be realized, and that ii
shall appear that there is a ma
pority of votes for Taft and Sher.
man, it only remains for these gen
tlemen to stay alive and in their
proper senses until March 4, when
they will appear before the chief
justice of the United States SUI
preme court on big platform built
in front of the east entrSHce to the
capitol building and will be sworn
in as president and vice president
Who would become president in
case Taft should die between the
Wednesday when the votes have
been canvassed and Inauguration
day?
This interval never has been pro
vided for by the constitution build
ers. Some people have held that
the candidate for president receiv
ing the next largest number OF
vOtes-in the present. instance
William J. Bryan-would be en-
titled to the office. Other authori
ties hold that the vice presidential
candidate of party to which the de
ceased candidate belonged would
naturally succeed to the office just
as he would succeed if the deatf
of the presidential candidate hat
occurred after instead of before the
formal Inauguration,
1t is to do away with this uncer
tainty that Senator Bacon of Geor
gia has introduced a bill to amend
the constitution. His amendment
would provide that in circum