The St. Johns herald., 1922-12-21
HARDING FIGHTS
 BLOC ATTACK
PRESIDENT OPPOSES AMEND. MENT PROVIDING FOR AHoLI.
 TON ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
CHANGE UNNECESSARY
ANOTHER PROVISION CALLS FOR CHANGE IN INAUeURA-
 TON DATES.

Washington-Members of the new
 Progressive bloc in Congress got into
 action few days ago, but at the very
 outset ran into White House opposi-
 ton.
 Led by Senator Norris, Republican,
 Nebraska, bloc members sitting on
 the Senate agriculture committee Ob-
 tained a favorable report from that
 committee for a constitutional amend
 ment providing for abolition of the
 electoral college and for direct cleo
 ton of the President and Vice Presi-
 dent and for abolition of the long pe- riod of time usually elapsing between congressional election and the regu- lar meeting of the new Congress. Such an amendment forms one of the blanks In the platform adopted by the bloc at its organization meeting.
 Opposition on the part of President Harding to any such change in the constitution was expressed by a White House spokesman soon after the Sen ate agriculture committee resolution was laid before the Senate and as- signed to a place on the calendar of business. Some administration lead CTS in the Senate likewise voiced their disapproval of the amendment and it appeared that any efforts by the bloc to press the proposal might bring on a fight which would test the power of the Progressive faction.
 The proposed amendment would provide specifically that "the choice of each state for President and Vice President shall be determined in a general election of the qualified cleo tors of such states" thus permitting voters to cast their ballots directly for President and Vice President. The vote would be canvassed by the Sen ate and House meeting in joint ses- sion, each state being given as many votes for this purpose as it has sen- ators and representatives.
 If such a canvass by states should disclose lack of a majority, then the President would be chosen by a ma jority vote of the House "from the persons having the highest numbers, not exceeding three, on the list of those voted for as President" The vote for vice president would be can vassed in a similar manner, except that in event of no choice by a major ity of the voters, the Senate would se- Iect that official as between the two persons receiving the largest number of votes.
 The committee in reporting the amendment resolution through its chairman, Senator Norris, pointed out that the proposed system might result in the election of President and vice president from different parties-"a matter of fundamental justice we ought to be protected by law in talk ing should we desire to do it."
 The amendment would further pro- | vide that the terms of senators and | should begin the first | Monday in January following the bien- nial congressional election and that | Congress should meet each year on | that date. This would wipe out the session of the old Congress after the biennial elections.
 Another provision of the amend ment would be to change the date of of the President from March 4 to the third Monday in Janu- ary.
 White House officials in presenting President Harding's views on the pro- posal represented the executive as feeling that constant changes in the were unnecessary, and in some cases unwise, Mir. Harding, 1t was said, regarded the procedure un- der the constitution whereby a new Congress does not meet for more than 3 year after it's election as one of the wisest steps taken by the nations founding fathers, as it allows passions 10 cool.