Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-06-28
THE WEAK LINK
OF ELECTINC
No Law to Compel Electors to
Choose Candidate Who Is
Successful at Polls.

3 4-f f.4H al
III -. -. -. ~ 49,
- -. -, -, -,
-,
""use'9"s -
nave Ei.0H w a.. :,
!" e'.,'' -. 49,. 49,.
say '"ii'es - ~ go ~.
sa"Vt :"
a..es 'N'''' 'e''. ..',...,,,,.'' .,.,-,
u ever 'uS 49, - ~, w. ' NJ
lio.i - ~ u' u.s. 49,. =,
ei'uuli4V'e ~ =
WIN nc u'o" ''''s c,,.- -
euoiee u p,S' '''',' -,
hent ~ i''s US IS. ''- 'N'''N
OF oieetlns tue p't ~, ,-.,,,,,o- ,,,,
ne n'"Ne's - ~ ..'' $50 ",,e
run apptee'n''un ','s a''''7o, ~, -,
the caprlces Of the multitude. after
long aud serious consideration reached
the conclusion that II would not be
safe or prudent TO refer the election OF
president directly aud Immediately to
the people and conhded this power 70
n small body OF electors appointed IN
each state. under the direction OF ITS
legislature. and as further safeguard
against negotiation, intrigue and cor
ruption intrusted congress with the
power to determine the time OF choos-
ing the electors, the Day on wh'ch
they should be chosen and that the
day of their election should be the
same in all the states Each stnte Is
entitled to the same number of presi'
Dental electors as 1t has senators and
representatives In the federal con.
gress. No senator or representative or
other person holding an Office OF trust
or profit under the United states can
be chosen or appointed n presidential
elector. The legislature OF each s'at'
has absolute power to determine how
the electors shall be appointed.
Douobertv,s Comment
,,,r.. MI,
ne wofu appolA,Iu' .Srha
erty IN ms nuiiiirap,e T To,N ou
Eiectora, SYSTEM ~ ."o :, 49, a"st,.n
Is hlsi1y Sis'i'iie'i,i'' ~ ,,',,
euiy einploFeu' ~ = ~. " 'et's-',' ~,
TERM there - no .t''i'1rai0" - :" pep
uiar eleetioh III IT. ne o'''.e ll''o.
could not nave eiip'oS GU a ss.D"s
expression W iinp",s ''''
thorhy Oh tie staue
Inc theory Oh tue e'ee.oi"' No''ese,
shlu tne se"ate eV,aiii,,S a..
reyes ana eiee'ioiis - i9''' o.,
ooay Oh tleli siioui' oe D'-Y'n $50 ~
the express pu'pose =, ~ -" p,.il
neht ana wee piosipeu' W. ~,
De stiiisuisieu ~ eiieii v,',,ei, =. q,
ltV ana Wisoo'u' "ho "ou'i NV' =,
nuenced oy tutnuit, c"pai OF lntiisue,
ana that IN the cholce VI .he presiuen'
they wouia De leit perfectly Tree " "a.
ereise thelr judgment III the se'ectiou
or tue proper person"
tifle OBJECT OF the IFalilers " the oon
stltutioh was 10 save tne county lion,
he Dilshtlhg' enerps ~ P9rV sipii'
against .WnIcii NaSnlilS'ou, p'Ot,''o"
SO vigorously III iiS 'ldre"eH u'tuieaS
hoidlnR that the EiEne Y 'he P9op.e y
estapish government lresupfVses' Vie
duty OF every iiluiFiluai ~ ooey .ng
mplsheu government anu lhql ~
opstrnctlons 10 inc e@eGut'on VI 'tit
Jaws an conipiha 1loPS anu NJ, "s'Io'l
Mons undert Whatever plauSip'e et"f
control. counteract or awe the regular
deliberation and action OF the consti'
tuted authorities, are destructive OF.
this fundamental principle ana OF ~
tai tendency Fhey serve to organize
faction. to give 1t an ARTIFICIAL and
extraordinary force, to put In the place
OF the delegated viii OF the nation the
will Of party, often small but artful
and enterprising minority OF the com
munity, and, according to the alternate
triumphs Of different parties, to MAXI
the public administration the mirror
OF the Ill concerted and incongruous
projects Of faction rather than the or
gan of consistent and Wholesome plans
digested by common counsels ant
modified by mutual interests"
This Is a representative government