The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-08-21
Deadlock I'm Housen

AS this article is in no sense predic.
tiVe' out a statement of conditions and
their possibilities of a failure OF the
people 10 elect. that grave Responsible
!! passed. on the house of representa-
tives. the reader may take the fore
gong and from time to time during
the campaign, as conditions clarity,
calculate shrewdly the chances Of
itoosevelts capturing a sufficient num-
DER OF electors to prevent either Taft
or wilson from gaining the number
OF electoral votes necessary to elect.
1t Is easy arithmetic to group together
IN many combinations the vote of
states "hlch nave the required total of
20 put VIII they group themselves at
lhe election I'm any OF those ways?
II the election be thrown into the
mouse an entirely new condition will be
presented. individual preferences OF
members VIII for nothing, as the
representation from each state will
nave out one vote; and a quorum for
thlS purpose shall consist of a MEM
Der or members from two-thirds of
'he states. and a majority of all the
STATES shall De necessary to a choice
III the solution of the problem wer,
left to individual votes of members of
the house it would he very simple as
the current house consists of ooy
democrats, 1913 republicans, one elect
ed as a progressive republican and one
socialist.
But how will it be when the vote is
cast oy states, each state having but
one vote? ~
No exact constitutional statement is
made in regard to this point, but it
ma! ne assumed that each state will
holu a caucus of all its representa-
yves n that a majority or plurality
VIII decide the vote of that state. 1t
VIII be realized that this may give
IL m M, N,~-.-
tons"
Here is presented the spectacle of
republican majorities in twenty-five
states and the democrats in twenty
tWo states. In five states the delega-
tlons are ties within themselves.
SIX states. Arizona. New Mexico,
Montana. Nevada, Dela ware and Utah,
nave put one representative each and
therefore n vote each. and if the
election be thrown I'M" The house they
VIII Weld the sam" W each as
my one OF the great states, More
danger!
Last of all of the "cuyious" POSSIBLE
tleS Is tnat the senate may have the
nohor OF naming the lcXt president.
40 olheI construction can be placed
on me closing provision of the article
luoted than that in case there is a
oead-lock. in the house. with a con-
Sequent failure OF that body to elect
before March 4, the senate is to take
the names of the two persons having
the hlghesl number of votes and elect
a vice president, the senator's, voting
as individuals of course, and the ma
Jorlty OF senator's, not a majority of
the states. being required to elect.
f'osslblllty. again, of complications!
Here the progressives have the bal
ahce OF power and a deadlock would
be certain unless they and the demo-
Gratis could get upon common ground.
nat or they and the Taft republicans
tallng, the country would have to fall
PACK on the law which provides that
in case of vacancy or disability in the
offices of both president and vice presi-
lent of h United States. cabinet Of
fcers who hold until their successors
are appointed, shall act as president.
the first in rank being the secretary of
state: and in such contingency Phil
ander Chase Knox WOULD be president
of the United States.
Some of these speculations as to
possibilities may seem to be strained,
nut they are possibilities. nevertheless.
and ii may be that conditions this year
will d force TO the arguments for a
direct popular vote for candidates for
president and vice president, as we'll as
for senators of the United States.