El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-04

cation, the vote of a state would 20 TO
the Republican candidate. If there were
more Democrats in the delegation than
Republican, its vote would go to the
Democratic candidate. states In Wnich
the delegation was evenly divided be
tween the two parties, WOuI0 nave no
vote at all At present there are four
states which would thus be prevented
from voting in presidential contest IN
the house next year-Maine, Nebraska.
New Mexico and Rhode Island This is
one OF the few times In the history
OF congress, If not indeed the only
time. where there has been such tie
between the two parties
There are many other situations
which might arise which would render
necessary other methods Of selection
than those now laid down by the con-
stitutiOn. In the first place, suppose
the successful candidate for the presi-
dency should die before the assem- bling
of the electoral colleges on the sec
Ond Monday Of January, how should
they vote? The defeated candidate of
one election did die-HOrace Greeley.
The state of Georgia voted for him in
spite OF his death, but its vote was not
counted. In the second place, If the
successful candidate should die after
voting Of the electoral colleges and
before the counting Of that vote by
the two houses, who would become
PRESIDENT In the third case, II the
president elect should die between the
counting Of the vote and the date Of
the inauguration, how would q presi-
dent be chosen2
Practically all the constitutional law
yers agree that If both the president
elect and the vice president elect
should die, the constitution leaves no
method by which president could be
selected TO fill the vacancy. Under this
condition there would be no president
20 convene congress in extra session
ana no laws could be made because
there would be no president to affiX
MS signature TO them Only the courts
would continue and condition OF po-
= aH-mHa-
sue, Many believe that the vice presi-
dent elect would not be eligible to sue
ceed the president elect in any instance,
ana LnlS serves only to intensity the
Danger OF an fnterregnum caused by
the death Of the president elect be-
tween the meeting Of the. electoral
co4legeS and the date OF Inauguration.
1t IS proposed to remedy this dam
ger or an interregnum in the Henry
resoIuLlon by providing that in all cases
not already provided for in the con-
st1tutiOn, where no person Is entitled to
olscharge the duties Of the president
the same shall devOlve upon the vice
vide for the case where there Is No
person entitled to hold either office
declaring what officer shall then act
as president, he shall act accordingly
until the disability shall be removed a.
a president elected
In addition to the important political
eo lIsI,l.srial involved in the Henry
resolution, there is the matter OF
better weather for the inaugural
day Thousands Of people have been
stricken, some OF them fatally, as
result OF bad inauguration Weather
The death OF at least one president is
attributed to such weather. and many
prominent men have succumbed to at
Iachs OF p9e lrnonla caused by it. The
Henry resolution Is by no means a mar
tsan matter The ideas Incorporated
IN II have been advocated by the Lead
ers Of both parties The provision for
presidential succession is Identical with
that passed by a Republican senate M
on two occasions. The provision for
the change OF the inaugural date has
been widely endorsed by men OF am
political faiths. The provision for
changing the meeting day OF congress
seems to be in accord with the inten-
tons OF the trainers OF the constitu-