The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-02-15
Jack and Ruth Learn About the
Electoral College.

| hiNN'V'hi tVhtSts
well, he wasn't really President
eelct until January 10th cause |
know" 1t was Jack managing to hold
his own as usual in neighborhood
argument.
What are you kiddies fussing about
now?" asked Uncle Ted, as he came
into the play room where Jack, Ruth.
and all the children of the neighbor-
| hood were amusing themselves while
heavy snow storm ragged outside.
Johnny says that Mr.. Harding was
elected President last November, but
| say he wasn't really the Presinet-
elect until January 10th when the
electoral college votes were cast"
was Jacks answer.
There are lots of people," said
Uncle Ted, "who say the election isn't
over unit 1.-The electors cast their votes,
so perhaps you are right 1t is,
guess, matter of the way you look
at it, According to law. when voters
go to the polls to vote for a President,
they don't really vote for him direct.
but for the electors who will even
tually vote for that man. There was
such mix-up this time that there is
some talk of trying to do away with
the electoral college, and voting for
the President direct
"Tell us about it," pleaded Ruth,
"I'll tell you something of the way
1t works" replied Uncle TIED, but
won't do into the details because it is
too complicated. You see, all Of the
electors fro mall fthe As states of the
Union never meet in one body, so that
the Electoral College, as we know
it, is myth in that respect. Each
state has as many electors as they
have representatives in the House of
Representatives at Washington plus
the two Senators. OF course, if the
elections in the different states in No
vember result in the selection of more
Republican electors than Democratic
electors, the outcome of the contest is
already certain and the casting of the
ballots of the electors is mere tech
nical Formally. For all practical pur-
poses, Mr. Harding was elected in No
vember. Leagally, he was not elcted
unity January.
after the state electors meet in
their various states on the second
Monday in January following the No
vember elections the next step Is the
sending fthe votes to Washington to
be counted They are supposed to
send these votes to the President of
the United States Senate not later
than the fourth Monday in January
time. because in the old days there
were no trains, automobiles or air
planes. The votes for the 1920 cleo
ton were received from the various
messengers by Vice President Mar
shall, who had to sign for them and be
responsible for them until the joint
session of Congress which was held in
the House of Representatives on the
second Wednesday in February, which
this year was the ninth day. The way
this session is handled, is by first hav-
ing two Senators and two Representa-
tives named 'tellers to examine the
envelopes containing the votes. Then
as they look at each one they an
nounce the vote for that state. There
is usually no applause when the votes
are announced and the Members of
Congress are las rule, reminded that
It is poor taste. In 1917, when the
electrical vote was announced Vice
President Marshall said because the
Vice President always presides):
"'It has been the immemorial GUS
tom upon such occasions as this to
refrain entirely from any manifesto
ton fapproval or disapproval. THIS
custom has arisen from the fact that
the result may not be entirely sat's-
factory to everybody. so the Chair ie-
quests that all nthe gallery and the
members of both Houses rferain fro m
any manifestation of approval
Then, Riddles. the returns from
Alabama, the state coming first in the
Alphabet, are read and then on DOM
the list until all As have ben announc ID
The tellers then announce the total
vote and the Vice-President then n