Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-03
COL. GEORGE HARVEY
ANALYZES CONTEST
FOR THE PRESIDENCY


nominal rather than actual Prom
Using that both Illinois and Colo
tado return Republicans. the total
Republican vote would be 81.
If for any reason four of these
senators should abstain from vot-
ing the senate would be unable to
elect vice president. Now, it is
quite conceivable that Roosevelt
might consider it sdvisab BILE to pre-
vent the election Of Sherman.
II so. it would not be surprising
II four out of the so-called insur-
gent senators 1890 Dixon, Clapp,
Bourne. Works, Borah. Poindexter
and the two new senators from
Colorado and nlinois-should re-
fuse to act in conformity with his
wishes, especially in view OF the
position which Sherman holds in
their estimation as a pronounced
reactionary Precedent for their
retaining from voting is found in
the abstention of the Vermont and
Maryland Federalist members Of
the house. whose refusal to vote
gave the presidency to Jefferson in
1900
But the question arises imme-
distey; What, aside from their
d1sapproval Of Sherman, could be
the motive OF Roosevelt and HIS
adherents in preventing the cleo
ton of vice president under cir
cumstances which would constitute
him president for four years.? A
possible answer is to be found In
the law Of succession (chapter "
of the Acts of the Forty ninth Con-
gressl, which provides that:
Knox Would Be President.
I'm case Of the removal, death,
resignation or inability OF both the
president and vice president, then
the secretary OF state shall act as
president until the disability OF the
president or vice president is re-
moved, or until president is elect
ed. The acting president
must. upon taking once. convene
congress, II not at the time in ses-
sion, in extraordinary session, Civ
ing twenty days notice"
This statute was enacted by au-
thority of article II. section 6, of
the constitution, which confers
upon congress the power of de
claring what officer shall then act
as president until the dis
ability be removed or a president
shall be elected" The plain intent
OF both constitution and statute is
that such officer, shall only act as
president until a president can be
elected, and the mandatory provis-
ION requiring him to convene con
gress forthwith is obviously for the
purpose of enabling congress to call
special election under authority
conferred by article II, section 4.
In the event then, OF the house
of representative falling to elect a
president and the senate failing to
elect a vice president. the proceed
ure would be as follows: President
Tafts fixed term Of office would
expire at midnight Of March .. and
the secretary of state, Mr.. Knox.
whose official life is indeterminate.
would become acting president As
such he would be obliged to con-
Vene congress in extraordinary SEES
sion on March "a, and congress
would determine the time of
choosing electors" certainly not
later than November Of the forth
coming year In this manner Mr..
Roosevelt and his new party would
nave second opportunity to win
''e PRESIDENCY within a twelve
"lonth' greatly no doubt to the
Satisfaction or both.
me contest then resolves to Will
son against the field, and there
remains the vital question: Is It
"''"lh 'he range OF possibility that