The Washington herald., 1912-11-03

whom they live and move and have theiz
being. They know and feel the populss
sentiments In which they fully share.
and in the performance Of their datiel
they Will prove sensitive reflector Of
public opinion. Why, then. should there
b two or three or more enormous as-
sembltes to pervert or color the popular
will when the Constitution has created
body duly elected. authorised. and
competent to receive and express that
WIFI It 10 only necessary to call II to-
ssther.
In those words 10 the key to the ques.
tion; While the Constitution requires the
electors to meet and vote in their sew
eral States, II nowhere prohibits them
from assembling In a body for consulta-
tion.~ Indeed. AZ has been shown above.
such was the perfect plan in its original
form. They were to meet in convention
and both choose and elect The change
which rendered them powerless to choose
was made on account of the expense and
dimculty Of travel, a reason which no
longer exists. The reason having passed
for that feature which defeated their
excellent plan. II seems a duty to our
Revolutionary fathers to eliminate the
obstruction and make their plan work
able. Let the electors be called together
to nominate candidates and then return
votes. For this no amendment to the
~ necessary. nor theo-
reticaliy. the enactment OF any law They
have q perfect right to do this Of their
own motion. and no court nor magis-
trate could say them nay. II the cleo
tors appointed November S should imme-
diately assemble In tile city OF ST. Louis
and agree to elect Senator La Toilette
President and Representative Underwood
Vice PYeRidenf and ahnnIJ o(t -
cast q majority Of votes for those gentle
men In the manner prescribed by law.
such election would be valid In every re-
spect. But practically the electors can
not hold a convention without help from
Congress. Dispersed over the whole
and without organization or
power Of initiative. they cannot well
agree upon a place Of meeting and make
preliminary arrangements: nor can they
be expected TO render such service with
out compensation and at their own ex-
pense. Congress should, therefore, pro-
vide for the meeting OF the electoral col
ege In convention at some city centrally
located and make suitable appropriation
therefor.
For other reasons legislation Is neces-
Iary. Electors cannot and will not dis
'egard the dictation Of party conven-
ions. SO long established in the thought
md customs Of the land. As has been
argued above. the law ought not to reg
llate the voluntary political activities Of
,itizens. but It ought to prohibit all
activities which impair the freedom OF
my lawful agency Of the government.
There are laws to protect the Congress
Ind its members in their absolute free
lam: laws to protect the Executive and
he courts. Now. the electoral college,
ct II be repeated again and again, is a
agency Of the highest i'm
,ortance. imbedded in the Constitution
tself and clothed with the most solemn
responsibility. Accordingly. the nomina-
ion Of candidates for President or Vice
President by unauthorized agencies or
ssem blies should be prohibited.
system in Practice.
1t may be interesting to consider how |
he system here advocated would work |