Evening star., 1920-11-21
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Wv ago that President Wilson
should resign and permit
Senator Warren G. Harding imme-
diately to become chief executive-in
n roundabout way. to be sure-ne
merely put into novel form pro-
posal that has suggested itself 70
many other men in this country IN
the past.
Col. Bryan's desire was that there
should be quick response to the voice
of the people: that the newly elected
President should take office now
without waiting for four months and
two days to go into the White House
The need for bringing about settle
ment Of peace between this country
and Germany and Austria, now de-
layed for more than two years after
hostilities ceased, and for determin-
ing finally what Americas attituoe
shall be toward the league OF nations
impelled Col. Bryan to make the sug-
gestion particularly at this time.
He might well have gone further
in his criticism of the long. delays IN
response to the peoples mandate ioi-
lowing elections. For the new Con-
: eress, chosen at the same time as the
President and Vice President, cannot
come into existence until after Marcn
4. and unless 1t is called into spe-
cial session by the new President, 1t
will not meet, under the law, until
December. 192l-more than twelve
months after its choice:
Quick Response In Europe.
In England and France there is
quick response to the elections. the
new party and new executives COM
ing quickly into power. and the con-
trast between their systems and tnat
in vogue in the United States Is
sharp. The electoral college system
of choosing Presidents and the pro-
visions of the Constitution OF the
United States, however. prevent any
such quick response to the will of the
peop1e as expressed in the elections
The Constitution of the United
states does not specify the day Tor
newiy-elected President to take once,
nor for newly-elected members OF
Congress-. But it does say that the
President shall hold Office for term
of four years, and that members OF
the House shall be composed OF mem
bers chosen every second year. Marcn
4. 17sS. was thA day selected for com
mencing the operation Of the govern
ment under the Constitution. although
President Washington was mot Tor
mally inaugurated until April 81. IN
consequence. the terms OF president
ana members OF Congress have ex-
pired on March sat noon March
in practice-every four and two years,
respectively, since 1888.
= ITO do away therefore with the eiec-
toral college system. and to curtaii
the term of sitting President and
Congress. would require an amend
ment Of the Consultation. Such an
an amendment will be proposed by
Senator Norris Of Nebraska as soon as
Congress- meets in December. He in
troduced a resolution proposing that
the Constitution be amended so as to
eliminate the electoral college and to
permit the people in the states to vote
directly for President and Vice Presi-
dent during the last Congress. He did
not press 1t, however, for the woman
suffragists opposed it.
Didn't Have Vote Then.
The women Of the country at that
time had not been enfranchised by
constitutional amendment. In a num-
Der Of the states, however. they were
permitted to vote by the provisions OF
the state constitutions and the state
laws. These provisions permitted the
women to vote for presidential cleo
tors" II the proposed amendment do
ing away with the electoral college
had been ratified then the women
might have had the vote taken from
them. But now that the suffrage
question has been settled finally
Senator Norris does not expect op-
position longer from the women in
the reform he proposes.
The electoral college system is en-
tirely unnecessary under the practice
which has developed In this country.
The electors are chosen because 1t is
known that they will vote for this or
that party candidate for President and
tIC0 1ICSA0Chls anu hol " Adhe any
independent choice themselves. Why
should not the people vote directly
for the party candidates? Senator
Norris is Of the opinion there isevery
reason why they should vote directly
In the first place, the elimination
of the electoral college system would
do away with the necessity of cleo
tive states and solemnly casting their
ballots for President and Vice Presi-
dent. The results Of the direct elec-
tion could be certified by the proper
state officers to the President of the
Senate, just as they are now certi-
fed by the electoral college. This
would shorten the procedure for elect.
ing President.
Ballots Would BE simplihed.
The elimination of the electors a1se
would shorten and simplify the ballot.
in the states to a great extent. II
many electors are chosen. the ballot.
are many feet long. for place must bt
given the names of the electors pu
forward by all the political parties
and also any electors the voter may
desire to write in Independently
Senator Norris is convinced that under
the electoral college system, 1t Is i'm
possible for a man to run for Presi
dsnt on an Independent ticket will
believe that is right. A nominee fol