Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-08-18
oos A PRESIDE

49, .Llf|f Fr4atFgatE "A
Mr.. Time ssuggests a series Of three
elections, to be held In March. June
and November. the spring and SUM
mer5 elections to be elimination and
nomination affairs. and the November
to decide finally on the selec-
The suggestion is made that the pres
ident be ~inaugurated at a date much
nearer than at present, and that the
electoral college be abolished. It Is
generally. agreed that too long a time
elapses between the election and the
inauguration of a president. although
the undesirable effect Of this is not
nearly as marked as is the delay which
occurs between2the election of con-
gressmen and the date at which they |
usually begin their work. The elec-
toral college Is at present constituted
is an archAism. It was created for .
specific purpose. and 1t has never
IN the way intended Usu-
ally it has been harmless, but onSsev-
eral occasions ths country has1been
rather forcibly reminded that inherent
in it r powers for injury which
may be used at any time. The electo-
raj COLLEGE should be abolished or very
decidedly changed.
Whenever there is discussion OF the
method OF, electing our presidents we
III across two decided contrasts in
thought. There is the old and ever
recurring conflict between represent
alive government and direct action by
the people. The trainers Of the con-
stitution did not believe that a country
as large as the United States then was,
and as they expected it to be, the peo-
PIE could kerve their " interests as,
effectively by choosing their president
directly rs by deaegating that function
to others chosen for that specific pur-
pose. and who would necessarily be
more familiar with public needs and
public men than the voters at large
could possibly be. They created the
electoral college. expectin gand intend
ing 1t to be . deiiberaHve body-al-
though the provisions for delberation
Ire NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. members would
actually weigh the qualifications OF
men available Tor, the highest position
IN the Iand. sandssmake tho selection in
accordance with their best judgment.
As We r aware. the college has
never operated in that manner. In
stead, It has always been a rather
cumbersome piece OF machinery which
has merely registered decisions made
for It. In advance.
But, b the direct method OF election
the best method? If It is, It should be
made a. direct as possible. But the
selection of a president Of the United
States It the selection 10 to be made
wisely. involves an understanding Of
the needs ofsa nation occupying half
L. eonttnents and whore popuhatj6n
numbers 100000 900. ana Of the char
acter and capacity Of scores, and pos
ably Of hundreds OF men who may
fairly be considered N the presidential
class. It = a@pretty big Job. what
opportunities has the average voter
or fitting himself TO psrfom the work
succeafullyf
Notwithstanding the recent teuden-
cy In the direction OF the expansion
Of the direct legislation plan through
this medium OF the initiative and III:
erendum, 10 End that even In tie
conduct OF tho more restricted work
of . 5stats, It = nsesaary TO delegate
most Of tho work % men who are
specially selected Tor that purpose,
and who are O~yeQunedstn have some