The sun., 1916-11-24
! Great Question Now Before the
Country.

4 Great Question Now Before the
Country.
Our neighbor the World adds to Its
previous services to the cause Of cleo
toral reform by collecting and exhibit
Ing a considerable number Of opinions
bf weight on the question Of Il nation.
Allied Presidential vote. These Opin-
Ions are contributed by Senators and
Representatives In Congress. by Gov
errors of States and by men Of polit-
lcal or philosophical eminence no
longer in public life. In the mass, us
well as in detail, they help much to
clarity the problem that is now Ell
Eaging the attention OF the country
and to reduce its manifest difficulties
TO the simplest terms.
The first thing notable In the
Worlds symposium OF views Is the
evidence 1t affords that partisanshIp
In political organizations and the ira
ditiOnal attitude OF parties In the mat
ter of States rights and the extension
Of Federal power are not the factors
which will determine the result one
way or the other. Opinion divides on
lines quite different from these which
might naturally be expected to pre-
rail. About half OF the Democrats
represented in the exhibit favor the
change to the popular vote, and about
half OF these Democrats oppose 1t. The
Republicans who express themselves
rs heartily In support Of the proposed
change r just equal in number to
those who believe that the present sys-
tenn ought TO be retained. This Is a
significant circumstance. II the pres
ent showing is at all indicative of the
general division Of opinlon it Is highly
encouraging for the settlement Of the
question by practical rather than pO-
liticnl considerations. TIE Sun cnn-
not Insist too strongly on the fact that
this Is not a matter Of strategic nd
vantage for II party or nnothe. in
future Presidential elections. but OF
good for the republic by the elimina-
ton, as fan as possible, Of the I'M
measurable )evils and dangers of n
close electoral vote involving another
partisan contest like that Of 1876. In
that spirit let 1t be deliberuted.
The second thing to be noted is that
the question is Imminent: not by any
means OF remote or merely academic
Interest TO our citizens. Senator
CHAMBERLAIN OF Oregon. Il Democrat,
Informs the World that he intends ia
press during the neXt session OF Con.
Gress a resolution submitting an
amendment ~ that voters may cas-,
their ballots directly for President and
Vice-Presldent. a similar intention
IL reported by Senator JOHNSON OF
South Dakota. Senator THOMPSON OF
Kansas. also Il Democrat. has already
once introduced such n resolution and
announces his intention to try again
Senator CLAPP Of Minnesota. Il Re
publican. while doubtful whether az
amendment resolution can get through
Congress. Is In favor OF electlng thu
President by popular vote based upon
the total vote of the country. Senator
OGORMAN OF New York Is for the di
rect vote. Representative WILLIAM.
OF Illinois, OF the House judiciary
Committee, promises to support IN
enat committee a resolution for dlrec
popular vote. And that veteran AM
influential Republican. Representative,
j. ]. HILL Of Connecticut, SAYS tina
he has been working Oh a constitu
tiOnal amendment for popular vote
which will compel equal suffrage ant
uniform qualifications for voting.
1t Is evident from these example
that the main question. nOtwlthstand
ing the complications involved and tn
various phases OF possible change an,
the divergence of opinion rs to In
extent to which State lines should b
preserved In the popular vote. Is goin
to be discussed in the brOadest wa,
with a view to the reform OF the cor
spicuous evils Of the present system.
The two main difficulties recognize
by many Of the gentlemen Intervene
by the World should he plainly state
and constantly kept In mind. The
are incidental, however, and not fur
damental for 1t must be remembers
that the same constitutional pOwp
of amendment that Is competent I
do away with the clumsy, archai
now dangerous system originally @
tablished IL likewise competent [
deal with and dispose Of anythin
that stands in the way of n compr
hensive reform.
There Is no doubt. In the first plnc
that the institution Of a direct an
national popular vote for PresideI
will be complicated by the questIC
Of woman suffrage. At present Il
Constitution provides that the Gle
tors OF The President slmll lR "a
pointesr' by eacli State "in such mn
net as the Legislature thereof mi
direct" by the laws Of q conside