Semi-weekly herald., 1916-11-27
SENATOR CHAMBERLAIN IN
TRODUCES A NEW ISSUE.


IN important member of the United
States senate announces he is 60
lng to start a movement for con-
stituuonal amendment abolishing the
electoral college, and requiring the
president Of the United States to be
chosen by a direct vote of the peo-
pie.
The restless politicians are always
thinking up something for the pur-
pose of placing their names in his
tory. As a rule they are not con-
cerned about the government. They
are concerned about themselves. We
do not apply this to Senator Cham
berlain because he is gentleman Of
character and standing, but nearly
a1l men lose their heads when they
get into politics. Chamberlain may
have lost his.
What would be gained by abolish
ing the electoral college and voting
directly for the presidential candi-
date?
Probably Senator Chamberlain in
tends to arrange it so that four
hundred thousand majority in Penn
sylvania should wipe out a two thou
sand majority in Oregon. He wants
the majorities carried over from
state to state AT the present time
majorities stop at the state lines.
The present plan offers no prem
iums for big state majorities. A ma
jority of ten thousand would give the
electoral vote of a state like New
York to a candidate for president
Just as well as a majority of four
hundred thousand.
Senator Chamberlain's plan would
offer a great premium for corrupt
voting. Bribery would increase. Po-
itical parties would pick out certain
states where their party was in ma
jority and would arrange the election
machinery to increase that majority.
The reader can see readily how the
ingenuity of corrupt politicians could
arrange things.
Senator Chamberlain and other
men will again start the cry to let
the people rule. The cry will be IN.
Just but it will be catchy. President
" rson could make great deal out
Of such a cry.
Formerly President Wilson advo-
Gated nation wide primary for each
political party. This is another
scheme pretendedly to let the people
rule. 1t is fraught with dangers. Not
because it would permit every man
to vote directly for his favorite, but
because it would offer increasing
prizes for fraudulent voting.
A nation wide primary would mean
that New York, Pennsylvania, Hi
nois and Ohio would nominate the
presidential candidates for both par
ties. 1t would mean that the same
states would have it in their power
to elect the president by old-fashion-
ed, corrupt, war politics.
We had supposed the reign of the
demagogue was approaching the end.
But we fear the demagogue will
never approach the end.
This country does not need more
voters; it needs better ones; it needs
men and women who will read and
think. and vote their common sense
instead of their preiudices and hat
reds.
Senator Chamberlain's proposed
constitutional amendment would
strike a snag in the south. The ID
states where more than half the
votes are suppressed will not want
to vote directly for any presidential
candidate.
The south might meet the issue
by corrupt counting. Other states
might attempt the same thing. 1t
would seem that Senator Chamber
lain is anxious to find some method
Of producing civil war in the United
States of America,-Des Moines Cap
ital.