The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-31

strength and naturalization Of their
vote. while the electors chosen by any
one of the other methods voted in a
body. on one side or the other. thus
making the voice OF their State de-
cisively felt. This consideration in
duced the leading States Of Massachu-
setts and Virginia. which originally
adopted the district system to aban-
, don il in 1900" On his own account
, Andrews adds the informatory note
that in 1925 more than one-third of
the States chose their electors by dis
tricts: that in South Carolina the
choice was made by the Legislature
until 1865; that by 1872 the mode by
general ticket had been adopted in
every State, and that choice by dis
tric;s was adopted in Michigan in 1891.
but the system was repealed by an act
of 1898.
the Forum on 1.-THE Electoral College
and Its Possibilities" John Walker
Holcombe argues for going back to
first Enthusiastically the princi-
pie the fathers had in mind of constl-
tuting the Electoral College "the nom
mating convention and plenary cleo
tive agency of the nation" To such
end he would have Congress pass some
such bill as this:
ITO assist the presidential electors
in the performance of their duties
Whereas. the Constitution confers
on the electors the full power to elect
the President and Vice-President of
the United States. and
Whereas, it was the original plan
of the authors of the Constitution that
the electors should assemble in one
place and perform their function as
united body or college, but this plan
was changed by reason of the Difficult
ties of travel. a reason which no longer
exists; therefore.
BE it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress
assembled.
That the electors appointed in all
the States shall assemble as the Elec-
toral College within thirty days from
their appointment, to confer respect
ing and to nominate suitable persons
for the Office of President and of Vice
President. They shall be allowed suit
able compensation and provision for
expenses. and such secretaries, clerks
and other assistants as they may find
necessary. and appropriations shall be
made therefor as for other expenses
of the government Nominations for
the Office of President or Vice-Presi-
dent in any manner other than as
herein prescribed shall be unlawful,
and every person who shall attempt
to effect such unlawful nominations
than 5000 or Imprisonment for not less
than two months. or BOTH
The writer recognizes that the Con-
stitution requires the electors to meet
and vote in their several States. but
as he says. nowhere does it prohibit
them from assembling for consulta-
ton. Such was. indeed. he adds, the
perfect plan in its original form: they
were to meet in convention and both
choose and elect. Why not, he asks.
the travelling expense difficulty being
no longer existent or being made
avoidabIe, let the electors be called
together to nominate candidates. and
then return to their respective States
to cast and certify their votes?-a pro-
ceeding for which no amendment to;
the Constitution Is necessary. nor
the enactment of any
law.
Mr.. Holcombe presents. from his
many reasons for thinking
his plan advisable and anticipates
many possible complications he main
,ains it would avoid, but his chief and
perhaps most pertinent contention is
that under 1t 1.-The election need never
be thrown into the House." an expe-
dent which in the past proved both
and perilous. Witness,
he says. our narrow escape from the
election Of Aaron Burr. averted by the
change Of single vote after many
ballots; witness the deep chagrin OF
the growing majority at the defeat OF
General Jackson, engendering a bit
terness which survived many years
Witness also the extreme peril Of the
controversy. The pres
ent situation is very grave. The
declarations of nominees in several
State. that, il chosen electors. they
will vote for candidates other than
those OF their party: the efforts to
enjoin such action in the courts; the
resignation Of nominees from the cleo
toral ticket: the projection of rival
tickets in the field, denote a confusion
" hicn may develop into a contest as
undesirable as any in the past
without committing ourselves il
any way to Mr.. Holcombe's theory and
plan. we have no hesitation in ex-
pressing the opinion that his article is
an exceedingly interesting contribu-
ton TO the debate on the question of
Electoral College reform" now going
on. Moreover. in view of the recog-