Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1921-02-03

THURSDAY, FEB. 3, 1921.
Counting the Electoral Vote
Electoral College Myth Jeop-
ardizes Messengers of Estates,
But Not Harding's Election.
Anyone who has any doubts about
the election of Warren G. Harding as
President of the United States will be
officially notified on February 9 that
Mr.. Harding was in due form elected,
and also that Calvin Coolidge unques-
tionably was elected Vice President.
The mix-up during the past week
in connection with the filing OF the
electoral votes of the various States
with the President OF the Senate, as
required by law, reminds one that
the counting of the electoral vote in
the Presidential election must be un-
dertaken on the second Wednesday
in February. Few persons outside OF
Washington have ever seen this
cut-and- dried and yet solemn per-
Torrance, yet there are persons who
contend the election isn't really over
until Congress counts the votes.
Others are just as particular about
referring to Mr.. Harding as the
President elect" They assert he
is not the President-elect until Feb.
ruary 8 Gas the date happens this
Year, and until Congress has soberly
counted the electoral ballots, Mr.
Harding is merely President desig
nate. However, the newspapers and
others go right along referring to Mr.
Harding as elected, which is more OF
less justified if one will consider a
popular majority OF some six or seven
millions and a unanimous vote in The
Electoral College, excepting certain,
but not all, of the States of the Sol
id South. 2" Ii there ever was a feel
low elected, it appears to be Mr..
Harding.
Counting of the electoral votes oc-
ours before q Joint session of the Sen
ate and House of Representatives, in
the chamber of the latter. Two Sen,
ators and two Representatives are
named as "tellers" and they pains
takingly examine the envelopes con.
tanning the certifica ties of the electors
Ct the several States and announce
that The State of Blank appears to
have voted 80 and so.
No applause is supposed to greet
the reading of the vote of any State.
This would be rubbing it in on the
the losers, and though members of
the Senate and House are partisans,
the no-applause precedent is gener-
ally followed. For instance, should
Republicans applaud the announce
ment that Tennessee and Oklahoma
had gone to the G. o. p, it would
be quite unclubby."
The counting of the electoral vote
before the joint session of the Senate
and House is the only ceremonial
staged in Washington prior to the in
augural. The so-called Electoral Col
lege does not meet as a body and is
rather an invisible organization. The
nearest approach to meeting of the
Electoral College is when the electors
in 4S States assemble at their State
capitals and tabulate their State s
vote.
The State electors are required to
assemble on the second Monday in
January following the November cleo
tons. They are required further to
transmit the electoral vote of the res
pective States to the President of the
Senate not later than the fourth Mon
day in January-this length of time
being allowed first because of the
slow transportation facilities of the
old days.
Despite this two weeks leeway for
delivery of the votes to the President
Of the Senate, six States fell down"
last Monday and special legislation
hal to be put through Congress- to
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