Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-12-08
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
Let People Elect .sldGnt by Direct
Vote,
FARM BLOC WANTS MODERN METHOD
Would Establish Majority Government
On Effective Basis, and Put People
of the Country In Closer Touch With

Members of the new progressive bloc
in congress got into action Tuesday
but at the very outset ran into White
House opposition.
Led by Senator Norris, Republican
Nebraska, bloc members sitting on th'
senate agriculture committee obtained
a favorable report from that commit
tee for a constitutional amendment
providing for abolitlon of the electora
college and for direct election of pres
ident and vice president and for aboli.
ton of the long period Of time
usually elapsing between a congress
sional election and the regular meeting
Of the new congress. Such an amend
ment forms one of the pianks in the
platform adopted by the bloc at its or.
ganization meeting last week.
Opposed BY Harding.
| Opposition on the part of President
Harding to any such change in the con-
stitution was expressed by a White
House spokesman soon after the senate
agriculture committee resolution was
laid before the senate and assigned to
a place on the calendar of business,
Some administration leaders in the SEN
ate likewise voiced their disapproval OF
the amendment and Tuesday night 1t
appeared that any efforts by the bloc
to press the proposal might bring on
fight which would test the powers OF
the progressive faction.
The proposed amendment would pro-
vide specifically that "the choice OF
each state for president and vice pres
ident shall be determined at a general
election of the qualified electors of
such state" thus permitting voters to
cast their ballots directly for president
and vice president. The vote would be
Canvassed by the senate and mouse
meeting in joint session, each state be
ing given as many votes for this pur-
pose as it has senator's and representa-
tives.
If such a canvass by states should
disclose lack of a majority, then the
president would be chosen by major
ity vote Of the house from the persons
having the highest number, not exceed
ing three on the list of those voted for
as president" The vote for vice presi-
dent would be canvassed in a similar
manner, except that in event Of no
choice by majority of the voters the
senate would select that official as be-
tween 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 TAX
ing should we desire it,"
The amendment would further pro-
vide that the terms of senators and
representatives should begin the first
Monday in January following the bien-
NAL 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.
Changes Date.
Another provision of the amendment
would be to change the date of inau-
guration of the president from March
1 to the third Monday in January.
White House officials in presenting
President Harding's views on the pro-
posal represented the executive as feel
ing that constant changes in the con-
stitution were unnecessary and in some
cases unwise. Mr.. Harding, it was
said, regarded the present procedure
under the constitution whereby new
congress does not mcer for more than
year after its election as one of the
wisest steps taken by the nations
founGing fathers as it allows passions
! TO cool.
The agriculture committee in its re-
port, however, took an opposite view
declaring the present condition Of af-
fairs is not only unfair to the citizen
/ ship at large who have expressed their
will as to what legislation they desire
but it is likewise unfair to their SER
wants whom they have elected to carry
out this will"
With respect to abolition Of the cleo
| tOral college the committee declared its
amen dmcnt would make it possible fol
an Independent candidate to run fol
president without establishing an Ella
borate political machine in every state
which means the expenditure of 6
vast sum of money"
When the amendment and report
were laid before the senate some
members informally expressed surprise
at such n resolution being reported out
by the agriculture committee, but com.
mittcc members said they regarded the
course as proper, inasmuch as the rcso-
luton was \ substitute for one recent.
~ offered in the senate by Senator
Caraway. Democrat, Arkansas.
The Caraway resolution would have
declared it the sense of congress tha
defeated members should not vote OF