Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-09
"Tinkcring With tho Constitution"

DRESl1DENT HARDING has picked up
i the gage Of hattie thrown to him by
the progressive element within his party.
The challenge Is accepted The issue, i'll
volving sweeping change in the present
election system OF the nation. is Joined. and
the fight between the Old Guard. as typifed
by the Harding leadership. and the La
Toilette forward lockers is on.
On the same day and at almost the same
hour. that committee OF the Senate.
headed by the radical Senator Norris, of
Nebraska. brought forth report urging
the abolition OF the electoral college aud
urging further that tho President and Vice
President he inauguratcd in January in
stead of in March, also that Congress con
vcnc Immediately after each election. Pres
ident Harding authorized the announce
ment that he opposes such institutional
changes. The executive believes that we'll
enough should be left alone.
Any contest for control. within a party
in power is necessarily matter OF national
interest. but in the present instance tho is
sue raised transccnds I'm Importance the
future OF Mr. Harding's leadership or the
success Of that OF the progressive bloc. 1t
is now proposed TO amend the Constitui ion
in radical respects and TO change the me-
chanics of the existing electoral system OF
the country. Such proposals, when serious
~ presented and strongly advocated. be-
come matter of deep concern entirely
apart from party politics.
There is, OF course substance to the
argument that Congress and The govern
men, generally are not as responsive TO pop
ular sentiment as might be the case A
President. elected in November. under tho
present system does not take Office until
the succeeding March. 4 Congress elected
nj the same time goes into Office along
With ~. Drn.
function until the following December
thirteen months after the ecctiun-unless
called together by special proclamation of
the President %
BY this constitutional arrangement n
Congress which may have been repudiated
at the polls still holds on for four months
and may lcgisate during the whole OF that
time. Likewise President who may have
been defeated in November continues in
office four months welding all the power
vested In his high office. AZ a matter OF
pure democracy, this is all wrong. A re-
gme which is voted out OF power by the
people should surrender It's commission i'm
mcdiateiy. To that extent, the program of
the proErcssvcs must appeal strongly to
those who believe firmly in majority rule
first, last and all the time
At that. the position taken by the Prcsi-
dent upon the pending proposals has more
70 support II IMAM the faCt tnat the found
ing fathers" were guided by great wisdom
IN 'ncir labors or that they were great and
good patriots. Succeeding generations
should revere these strong men and an
praise carefully their work. but it is not
TO be assumed that they were infalliblc
or that they could look $50 years into the
future and legiSlate with certainty for 100
coo. 600 men and women then unborn
When Mr.. Harding insists that a Con
gross should not rush from the heat of an
election TO Washington and begin making
laws for the country. he is on solid ground
The blunders that might be made. under
such circumstances, would be almost ir-
rcparablc IT is far safer for a new Con
gress 10 cool OF and take a year to con
slider the needs OF the nation. If there il
any emergency to be met. the President al
ways has the power to summon an extra
. session. a power that has been exercised so
often in recent years as to make n special
session. following an election. almost no
lit!cal certainty.