The sun., 1916-11-12

slxty-n1ne votes JOHN ADAMS had
thirty-four. john JAY had nine and
the rest were scattered. WASHINGTON
was accordingly declared President
and JoHN ADAMS Vice President.
-Four years later. WAsHINGToN's re-
election being almost unanimously de-
sired. there were no opposing electoral
tickets named in any Of the states.
The late a. X. MCCIrRE's book save
The Presidential electors Of that day
were appointed In accordance with the
obvious spirit of the Constitution. that
meant to provide an entirely dispas-
sionats and Independent tribunal To En-
ercise the soundest discretion in the
choice Of q President and vics-President.
No pledges we're asked or given by any
one named as an elector. and each one
was free to vote according to the die
tates Of his " Judgment. Had there
been opposition electoral tickets. they
would have logically run on opposing
lines with distinct obligations on the
part Of each side "a to how their votes
would he cast. but no such question
arose until the first battle between
ADAMS and JEFFERSON in l7sS"
OF the election in 1702 Y should be
noted that there were fifteen States
and 1872 electors. In nine States these
were chosen by the Legislatures; in
New Hampshire. Massachusetts Penn
sylvania. Maryland. North Carolina
and Virginia by the vote Of the people.
The 264 votes cast by the electors gave
WASHINGTON 1872 and ADAMS 81.
CLINTON was third, with 90 votes.
In 1893 there were. for the fret
time. two distinctly declared and OPP
posing candidates for the Presidency
ADAMS and JEFFERSON. ADAMS re-
ceived II votes and JEFFERSON GS.
Thus JEFFERSON became vice-Presi-
dent. Pennsylvania. Maryland, Viz
ginia and North Carolina cast divided
electoral votes Even in %JErrrRsoN's
home State there was nm electoral vote
for ADAMS, although Virginia was
strongly Jeffersoninn. The fine theory
of the fathers that the electors could
and should act independently OF p
lar preference did moi survive this
political strain.
In 1sOO-1S0l a fresh difficulty arose.
JEFFERSON and PuRR each received ~
votes Of the electors and were tied for
the Presidency. Now B,-RR had not
been seriously Thought of for the
Presidency. The votes cast for him
had been intended 10 insure him .ec-
ond place. The contest Ind been
regarded solely as between JEr-
fERs0N and ADAMS. Rut Burr had
permitted the use ~ his name as q
candidate against JEFFERSON.
This mudile. ultimately resolved in
favor Of JEFFERSON ny the House Of
Representatives. ended the business Of
having the electors vote only for Presi-
dent. with the Vice Presidency falling
to the man whose vote stood second.
Thereafter votes ere cast distinctly
for President and for V.ce-President.
rs is don" to-day.
The electors Of The present will he
seen To be entirely different persons
from those the founders Of this coun.
try had in mind. The electors are
now a. completely RESPONSIVE to the
popular will rs Is possible without the
entire removal ~ state bounda ries In
Presidential elections. Were these
boundaries To be disregaried there
would he no further use for Prcsidei-
tial electors, and the popular vote
would decide the issue.
And that il what the nation will
have when by the process OF con>tl-
tuiiolnl amendment the element NJ
Statehood Is eliminated and the Ieo.
pie vote directly for President. Then
the President will represent a major
ity NJ the electorate.