The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-03

tion, which confers upon Congress the power of declaring what officer shall then act as President until the dis ability be removed or a President shall be elected. The plain intent of both con- stitution and statute is that such officer shall only act as President until a Presi- dent can be elected, and the mandatory provision requiring him to convene Con gress forthwith Is obviously for the pur- pose of enabling Congress to call spe- cial election under authority conferred by article 2, section 1.
 Tn the event, then, of the House of Representatives failing to elect a Pres ident and the Senate failing to elect a vice president the procedure would be as follows: President Tafts fixed term of office would expire at midnight of March 3. and the Secretary of State, MT. Knox whose official life Is indeterminate, would become acting President As such, he would be obliged to convene Congress in extraordinary session on March 12, and Congress would determine the tune of choosing the electors'-certainly not later than November of the forthcoming year In this manner Mr. Roosevelt and his new party would have a second opportunity to win the presidency within twelve- month. greatly, no doubt, to the satisfac- tion of both.
 But one contingency, in fact, can be conceived that might reverse this mode Of procedure It is possible, of course that Roosevelt and Johnson may receive a larger vote in the electoral college. than Taft and sherman. In that case the Senate's choice of vice president would be restricted to Marshall and Johnson, the two highest on the list. What Roosevelt's attitude would be in that inn probable circumstance can only be in- agined, but it need not be considered for the reason that the power of installing Johnson or Knox as President would then be vested in any four regular republican senators, who might conjointly refrain from voting"
 against the field, and there remains the vital question: Is it within the range or possibility that any combination, tacit or fixed, can withhold from Wilson and Marshall, whose plurality is virtually as- sured, an actual majority of votes in the electoral colege?"
 From the Wilson column represent ing the actual democratic standing in the present House of Representatives the editor deducts doubtful New York (45), Ohio f24), Colorado co. and West Virginia (S), leaving n net se- cure total of 215 out of the 266 required and adds: Apparently it is a fact that the two pivotal states-both, possibly. and one or the other in any case-are
 
 fact of the first magnitude" because In these two states voting by groups is more important factor than in other commonwealths." These groups are classified roughly as follows: Organiza- tion men, railroad men. business men. nti-prohibitionfsts. Roman Catholics. factory workers, farmers. foreign born voters, and negroes. After analyzing the proclivities of each aggregation. the editor concludes that the merest glance at the tabulation suffices to show that the strong appeal of Govern or Wilson to the whole people, without heed to segregated interests and preiu- dices, while constituting his chief strength as a candidate, nevertheless contains elements of no little weak ness" Assuming, for example, that Roosevelt should draw two-ffths of the republican vote from Taft and one fifth of the democratic vote. from Wilson Taft would still carry Illinois by 1O,- 900 and Wilson would have a seant 12- 900 in New York. Contrary to the gem eral view. Roosevelt's candidacy is re- garded as harmful rather than helpful to Wilson, chiefly because he will get the far western states, which other wise would have gone to Wilson The editor continues:
 There remain the great bodies of working men in both New York and H. linois who comprise large percentage of the democratic party. To whom will they turn? MT. Taft offers them the constitution. MT. Wilson points to his record of official achievement as evil dence of his effective friendship. Neith- CT, it must be told in truth, said in his speech of acceptance one convincing word of sympathy with the toiling masses. Roosevelt not only professes but promises everything He will work to raise their wages; he will reduce their hours of toll; he will pension them in old age; he will insure their lives; he will life the burdens and tighten