Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-08
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS
WILL MEET HERE TO-DAY
Virginia to Cast Twelve Electoral
Votes for Wilson and
Marshall.
Uniform Date of Meeting Is Provided
by Act of CongresS-ReSuIt Will
BE Certified to President of SEN
ate at Washington.

Nirginia'S twelve presidential ci,c-
tors will meet 1T noon to-day in tn.
office OF the Secretary Of the coms4ou-
wealth to east their votes for the naNr
President ana Vice President Of the
United States. Similar meetings o, In.
electors viii be held in every state IN
the Union to-day in the respective
capitals. originally the meeting OF the
electors WAS set for the first Wcdn,s-
day in December. following The time Of
the popular election by thirty-iour
days. In 1857 the second Monday in
January was fixed Ia AN act Of Con-
grcSs.
Contrary 10 The belief still enter
tanned III some quarters. the prcsi-
dental electors II the Emitted states
never nj any time meet in an electoral
college The term has no Significance
- indicating definite institution in
which certain idiNiduals pathc. TO di.-
'har&e certain duties The meeting
of tn electors to-day in all the State
capitals Will constitute tie converting
Of the electoral college
me term electoral college i not
used in the Federal Constitution nor in
the hrSi acts OF Congress creating it,
II informally carac into use about 1921,
aud its first appearance in law occurred
IN lNi5, when Congress passed a statute
empowering edcn state 10 provide for
th' Milling OF vacancies Of its col
reg" OF electors. res, nblancc TO
IN. plan Is in the election Of the !.ope
by the Coilcgs Or Cardinals.
FIRST PROPOSED ELECTION
or PRESIDENT RN CONGRESS
~ :" importan, t. rcmcmbcr that AT
the time Of the adoption ~ IN. i-ui,od
Stai" Constitution. the trainers had =
! considerable distrust OF aopular el,c
ton They believed that 4 Wide n.rtic
ipation OF all the peopl" tn govern
mehtai work was not desirable The
idea prevailed that the r.onIc varo
that th"y were easily s,yuycd hy
passion and prejudice. Direct ro,uI ,.
vote OF the whole country uaS there
fore hardly conceivable
IN" members OF the Constitutional
convention first sought 10 establish =
SihSic. strong executive bv i,royiSirc.
inat The legislative body ghould soiact
nm Bnt this method would h.ya
'haac him a creature OF Concrcse ~.
attempt wnS. therefore. made ,,ro.
wac separate method for tho cl,.r,ion
OF mus Official, and in this WAY what
III ~ re known as the ""l, .toral
SoiicSc was established,
one copy 50 sealed viii ho o,,,,.,,
!" a messenger chosen by th, ,i.., ~
IA writing. who is required =. ,i.i;,..
!. :" me president of the United Si,t..
senate before next Wednesdays Ia "a
! cent elections. James NJ. ilaycv .,
th'ci clerk IN the Secretary Of mo
'oi''ihoh "ca nus Office. has acted as
messenger II is Understood rbe, ,in
honor will 20 this year 10 S.,,n,.,r,.
.. y. bFehaman. of the Stat. Dome
cratic committee. The second .,,
| copy viii be forwarded by III. 800,
office Ia the President Of tho S..,.,.
while the third copy viii bc d,nosi,o5
W'th judge Edmund Waddill. ~ the
United States District Court
The President of the S.n.,,o ,,.;,, =.
due time open the certificates fr.n, ~
the states. in the prescnc. -, L.,h
houses of Congress. at which tip, tIa
vote Will be counted Tho r,pd,.l,,a
receiving majority OF the vote. r.,.,
/ VIII be declared elected. Th. roi,n,ino
/ may be :.on- amy time bcfor. u,L
/ =. l?l.. In 1913. the joint s.Syf.p "a
/ Congress WAS hcld on February - ma
cnir! on the Journal Of the ioInl eas.
! sion declaring the result Of ;Ln ,,,
rass is the official announcement -,
/ election.
BOUND ny PRECEDENT
TO CANDIDATE on FART,
| While in theory the electors mo-, 80.
/ free agents with the right To Won g.,
\ any candidate. they are bound bv ,or,
| precedent To east their ballots ,,n.,,i
! mouSlN for the candidates Of their 49,.
/ ~ Accordingly, to-day's meetinn ),
! the capitol will record twelve .,nr,n.
raj votes from Virginia for Prcsfaan,
Woodrow Wilson and Vice. rcsid.n,
| Thomas Il. Marshall.
| The twelve Democratic c,cctnr. f,,
| Nirg mia who will meet to-day Ia a.
/ charge the duties of their Office ,rI.
Electors at large--Samucl l.. K.tj.v
/ Of Richmond. and George G. rccry =,
! Tazcwcll. -
Electors: