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

senate - not only SCdnI, out 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 TO
elect vice president Now, it is
quite conceivable that Roosevelt
might consider it advisable to pre-
vent the election Of Sherman.
If so. IT would not be surprising
n four out OF the so-called insur-
gent senators - Dixon, Clapp,
Bourne. Works, Borah. Poindexter
and the two new senators from
Colorado and Ilinois-should re-
fuse TO act In conformity with his
wishes. especially in view Of the
position which Sherman holds. in
their estimation as pronounced
reactiona ~. 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 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-
gPess1. 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
ed. The acting president
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 g. 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 president can be
elected, and the mandatory provis-
ion requiring him to convene con-
sress 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 a
president and the senate falling to
elect vice president, the proceed
ure would be as follows; President
Taft's fixed term of office would
expire at midnight Of March 2. and
the secretary Of state, Mr.. Knox.
whose official life Is indeterminate.
would become acting president. As
such he would be obliged to con-
Nenc congress I'm extraordinary ses-
sion on March ~, 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 marty would
have a second opportunity to win
the presidency within a twelve
month. greatly no doubt to the
satisfaction OF both
The contest then resolves to WI
son against the field. and there
remains the vital question: Is it
within the range Of possibility that
any combination. tacit or fixed. can
withhold from Wilson and Mar
shall whose plurality is virtually
assured. an actual majority ofVotes
in the electoral college,"
New York and Illinois Pivotal State.
From the Wilson column represent
ng the actual Democratic standing il
he present house of representative
he editor deducts as doubtful New
Fork (45). Illinois (2N. Ohio (24. Col
'rado 60 and West Virginia (S). Ieay
ne a net secure total Of 215 out of In
So required, and adds: "Apparentiy /
fact that the two pivotal states
10Th possibly. and one or the other II
my case-are New York and Illinois
I SO II is fact Of the fret magnitude
'ecause in these two states voting b,
'roups is more important factor THAI
n other commemorative. These group
IRE classified roughly as follows. or
'anization men. railroad mon. bushes
men. anti prohibitionists Roman Cath
''ics, factory workers, farmers. foreign
'orn voters and negroes
After analyzing the procliviues O
ach aggregation. the editor conclude