The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-11-17

Because of the close vote in several
of the States there has been some talk
of contesting the presidential electors
In these States, but Mr.. Wilcox, Chair
man of the National Republican Com
mittee, after a conference with other
Republican leaders on the 10th, said
that they would "abide by the deci-
sion of the official count unless spe-
cial circumstances arose which made
action necessary" The official count
of the several States is the determin-
ing factor. In this connection the
following article is Of interest:
Washington, Nov. determination
of the decisions Of the Supreme Court
and of the revised statutes disclosed
that presidential electors are plainly
regarded as State officers. The high
est court has held in two leading cases
that questions of their proper or i'm
proper choice are for state election
officers or State courts to determine
and that the Federal Government is
not lawfully concerned even if fraud
is shown.
The revised statutes provide that
the electors shall meet in each State
and "give their votes" on the second
Monday in January following cleo
ton, at places to be designated by the
State Legislatures. In the ordinary
course of proceedings, where the right
of electors to sit is uncontested, their
votes will be counted in the House of
Representative here on the second
Wednesday in February, and this
IL 10 W
The statutes further provide that
where a State shall have laws made
prior to the election determining
methods by which controversies or
contests over electors shall be settled,
whether by judicial proceedings or
otherwise, these laws "shall be bind
ing and shall govern in counting the
electoral vote" Officials here were
under the impression that it would be
found that all the States that may
be involved in contests have laws of
this character.
States Have Wide Latitude.
Aside from the direction that the
electoral votes of all the States be
counted in the House on the second
Monday in January there seems to be
nothing to indicate just how much lat
itude a State might have in determin-
ing contests so as to have its vote
counted at the fixed time The sta
tutes provide that the votes of the
States be forwarded to Washington
forthwith" After the electors meet
on the second Monday in January and
also say that whenever the certificate
of any State as to its electors has not
been received in Washington on the
fourth day in January a special mes
senger shall be sent to the District
Judge in that State, in whose hands
one certificate must be lodged and he
is required forthwith" to forward his
certificate to the capital.
When Congress meets to receive the
votes it is still possible for a major
ity to reverse the certified results
from any State in certain cases. AS
the votes are read to the joint ses-
sion, the statutes give the right to
any member of either house to object
the objection to be considered in sep
arate session. Where only one re-
turn has been made from a State,
Congress cannot overturn the certified
result, except the two houses concur
rently may reject any vote where it
appears not to have been given by the
properly chosen electors.
When more than one certificate for
a State has been sent the vote of those
electors who the two houses shall con-
currently decide have been supported
in contest by the proper State au-
thorities, shall be received and accred-
tied, Where there has been no deter
mination of a contest BY State au-