Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-10-13

drug store. Aov.
adopt one plan. A little later some one
would suggest a new objection to that
plan and move reconsideration. This
motion would prevail, and then another
pan would be adopted. Again objec-
tions would be forthcoming and again
the question reopened. On June 2. by q
vote Of eight to two states, 1t was de-
sided that congress should exercise the
power Of choice That action was re-
affirmed on July II. but two days later
the convention seemed to lose faith in
this method Of election. because 1t re-
scinded the former action. and decided
that the choice should be made by the
legislatures. Five days later 1t
switched back to an election by con-
gress again. About q month later an
other switch was made. and this time
the election was to be made by body
Of electors to be chosen by the people
of the several states, but this was lost
on the next motion. by a majority Of
| one Finally the whole matter was re-
| ferred to committee of II, and in a
few days that committee reported plan
which. with a few notifications, was
finally accepted.
1t provided that each state should ap-
point in any manner the legislature
thereof should direct number of cleo
tors equal to the whole number of SEN
ators and representatives the state
might have in congress. These cleo
tors however appointed, were to meet
in their respective states and vote by
ballot for two persons for president. one
of whom at least should not be an in
| habitant of the same state as them
selves.
Sent to the Senate.
| The lists of all these ballots were 10
be sent to the president of the senate,
to he opened and by him in the presence
of both houses of congress. The per-
son having the greatest number of
votes. being a majority, should be vice
president. In the event Of no one hav-
ing a majority, the house Of representa-
tives was Immediately to choose one
of the persons voted for for president.
and. If no one then had a majority. the
house should make the choice from the
! five highest on the list, the vote being
taken by states. In every case. after
the choice of the president, the person
having the greatest number Of votes Of
! the electors was to be vice president,
but in case Of a tie the senate was to
choose by ballot between the two men
tied' ms pan remained IN iorce uhti
the unpleasant incidents of the Jeffer-
soh- burr contest III looo Drought ABOUT
the ratification of the twelfth amend
ment.
| When the question came up as to
how the president should be chosen in
the event that the electors could make
no choice, 1t was first proposed that the
electors should choose two members
from each state to constitute IA single
electoral college, which should assem-
BILE in Washington. and being presided
over by the chief justice of the supreme
court. choose. by plurality vote. from
the three candidates receiving the high
est vote in the electoral colleges, the
next chief magistrate.
| The country did not have to wait long
until the fatal weakness of the cleo
toral clause of the constitution, as
finally adopted. was demonstrated.
When in 500 Jefferson and Burr were
the Republican candidates for president.
and vice president. respectively. and
they tied, under the letter of the con-
stitution Burr was entitled to claim as
much right to go into the White House
as jefferson had. But no one had ever
thought Of Burr as candidate for
the presidency. And yet his ambition
caused him to insist upon his pound Of
flesh. That forced the twelfth amend
ment which made it possible for presi-
dental and vice presidential candidates
to be voted for separately. When it
was framed. John Quincy Adams had
just come to congress, and he was one
of those who thought that if the cleo
toral colleges should fail to make a
choice. the house of representatives
| should make it's choice from the five
leading candidates instead of from the
three leading candidates, Had his view
prevailed he would have failed to be
elected president in 1925. for that would
house. and as he was speaker at the