Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-02
COL. GEORGE HARVEY
ANALYZES CONTEST
FOR THE PRESIDENCY

The Republican majority in the
senate is not only scant, but also
nominal rather than actual Prom
Using that both Illinois and Colo
RADIO return Republicans, the total
Republican vote would be 50.
II for any reason four Of these
senators should abstain from vot-
ing the senate would be unable 10
elect vice president Now, it is
quite conceivable that Roosevelt
might consider IT advisable 10 pre-
vent the election Of Sherman.
If so, it would not be surprising
II four out Of the so-calied insur-
gent senators - Dixon, Clapp,
Bourne. Works. Borsh. 'Poindexter
and the two new senators from
Colorado and Illinois-should re-
fuse to act in conformity with his
wishes, especially in view Of the
position which Sherman holds in
their estimation as q 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-
diately. What, aside from their
disapproval OF Sherman. could be
the motive OF Roosevelt and his
adherents in preventing the cleo
ton Of a 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-
gress), which provides that:
Knox Would Be President
In 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 a president is elect
VIZ Az NNAAiab - Nv
must. upon taking office. convene
congress II not at the time in SEES
sion, in extraordinary session Civ
ing twenty days notice"
This statute was enacted by au-
thority OF article II, section s. Of
the constitution which confers
upon congress the power Of de
claring what officer shall then act
as ureBident 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 a
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
a special election under authority
conferred by article II. section 4.
In the event. then, OF the house
Of representatives failing to elect
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 3 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 not
later than November Of the forth
coming year In this manner Mr..
Roosevelt and his new party would
have a second opportunity to win
the presidency within twelve
month, greatly, no doubt, to the
satisfaction Of both.
The contest then resolves To VII
son against the field and there
remains the vital question: Is II
within the range OF possibility that
any combination, tacit or fixed. cal
withhold from Wilson and Mar
shall whose plurality is virtually
assured, an actual majority ofyotes
in the electoral college,"
Now York and Illinois Pivotal State.
From the Wilson column represent
ng the actual Democratic standing /
he present house Of representative
he editor deducts as doubtful Ne,
York (46). Illinois C24. Ohio (24. Col
'rado 60 and West Virginia (S). Ieay
ng net secure total Of 215 out Of tn
.66 required, and adds; apparently
s a fact that the two pivotal states
10th, possibly, and one or the other +
my case-are New York and IHnoi.
T so 1t is fact of the first magnitude.
because in these two states voting b
groups is a more important factor tina
n other commemorative" These grour
ire classified roughly as follows: or
men, railroad men. bushes
men, anti prohibiuonists. Roman Cath
'lics, factory workers. farmers. foreign
porn voters and negroes.
After analyzing the procuvities .
zach aggregation the editor copcluae
hat the merest glance at the tabula
ION Suttices 10 show that the stron
appeal Of Governor Wilson TO the Who'll
people. without heed to segregated IN
.erests and prejudices. while constity,
ns his chief strength as a candidot.
nevertheless contains elements Of n