Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-15

I federalist, Ga; John Jay, federalist, l. Not
only was there no candidate with ma
jority, hut Jefferson and Burr were tied.
The House having been called upon to
exercise It's function to decide the choice,
the balloting commenced February II, 1Dl,
| and continued until the nth. There being
then 10 States, the votes Of nine were nee
| essary for a choice.
| On the Seth ballot and the sixth day Of
| the contest jefferson finally received the
votes of 10 States and was declared elect
| ed And Aaron Burr, having received the
next highest, was under a now obsolete
clause Of the constitution declared elected
as vice-president
FOLLOWED OLD PROCEDURE.
When the House thus chose jefferson
in 1901 the procedure was according to
the original constitutional provision, since
superseded lin 1909 by the 18th amend
ment. The House at that time was per-
mitted to choose the president from tho
''five highest candidates on the electors
lists. And the person having the next
highest number of electoral votes
whether n majority or not, was CHOSEN
vice-president.
The Senate had no hand In the election
of the vice-president. except in case Of
a tie. when 1t chose "by ballot" between
the tied candidates.
But the second election to be thrown
into the House was decided by the same
rules that would govern its selection Of
n president next winter. This was the
election of 1924. In the campaign OF that
year, as threatens now, political parties
were badly disorganized. Although AN
drew Jackson won over John Quincy Ad-
ans by $4,000 to 10000 In the popular
vote and by 20 to 81 in the electoral vote,
neither of the two had a majority. This
was owing to the fact that Clay and
Crawford were also candidates, receiving,
respectively. 81 and Al electoral votes.
So, as had been anticipated before the
election, there was no choice of a presi-
dent. although Calhoun had been elected
vice-president by more than two-thirds
of all the electoral votes.
ADAMS WON ON FIRST BALLOT.
. after the meeting OF the electors. and
although it was known that there hat
been no choice of president, no notice
was taken of the fact until January 10
1925. when the House adopted q resolution
rules to be observed in the House III
the choice of president Of the United
States" This plan. closely folowin,
:. the procedure in Jefferson's election
by the House in 1901, would probabl,
be as closely followed by the Hous
should it find itself faced by the neces
slty OF electing president next Feb
ruary
! | In
We're necessary to choice between
Quincy Adams and jackson. Adam
was sure OF the unanimous votes of tn
g six New England States and of ma
8 jority in New York. Maryland and Ohio
|, On the first ballot Adams was electe
y by the House, receiving 10 votes to seve
l. for jackson and four for Crawford. Cha
: having been squeezed out of the run
y ming because the constitution no,
limited the balloting to the candidate
It receiving the three highest eectora
i Votes. Jackson's followers swallowe
J. their pill with difficulty and many urge
d a further amendment Of the constitu
It ton to prevent repetition Of what the
h termed national calamity.
d The next excitement OF this kind was
e 1887, when the election of the vice-pres
l. dent had to be thrown into the Senate. l
IA the previous campaign r. NJ. ("Dick
n johnson, Van Burens democratic runnin
J. mate, ran behind his ticket, receiving onl
e. l4' electoral votes, whereas Van Bure
J. mad 40 and majority A majority we
rs lacking. however. in the case OF johnson
d whose rivals for the vice-presidenc,
lie with their electoral votes. were Franc
Granger, whig. II: John Tyler, whig.
De and William Smith. democrat q. II
TO Senate elected Johnson.
20 NOVEMBER MAY NOT DECIDE
Whether the next election IL to I
thrown into the House may not be know
in November next. Whether some Of II
. electors listed on the old party tickets wi
!, vote for the promised new party's cand
~ dates may not be known until the da
when the electors meet to cast their ba
lots.
The voters will, on the first Monda
IS. in November, choose the electors VIII
ne on the second Monday in January, vi
ne meet In their respective States and ball
81 for president and vice-president. All pa
ST. ties concerned must then be given
81 chance to formally contest the election
n vote, and, through their own teller
ne have hand In counting 1t. Mcssenge
G. having been sent to Washington with Il
Ia electoral votes OF each State. the cask
no containing them will, on the second We
by nesday OF February. be unlocked by Il
vice-president In the presence Of bo
tie bodies OF Congress brought together
b. the great hall of the House of Represe
IL tatives.
'y'j II there has been any contest over 4