The Washington times., 1922-12-06
FIGHT FOR new
AMENDMENT
G0ESON
White House Opposition to d.
rect Election Will Be
Ignored.
BY VIM. X. HUTCHINSON.
International News Service.

international News Service.
Against the announced opposition
Of the White House to ''tinkering
with the Constitution" the insurgent
Republicans Of the Senate announced
today they are going ahead with
their fight to amend the Constitu,
ton SO that a newly elected Con-
gress or President will not have to
wait four months before assuming
office.
| The so-called Progressives propose
to move up the inaugural date from
| March to early in January and.
according to their plans, they are
going to fight for passage of q reso-
luton to this effect at this short
session Of Congress.
Secs Suffrage Denial"
Senator George w. Norris Rep)
OF Nebraska, author of the resolu.
ton. declared today that ratification
OF the amendment before 1924
might result in the election of a
Progressive as our next President"
Norris characterized the present
suffrage" and an impossible bar.
Norris pointed out that abolition
Of the electoral college would result
In the placing of the names Of Presi.
Dental candidates on all election
ballots. He added 1t would be a
very easy matter to print on the
official ballot of each State the name
OF an independent candidate for
President" ~
With President Harding opposed
to any change In the present elec.
ton system 1t was predicted a ma.
Jority OF the conservative element
In Congress would oppose the Nor.
rfs resolution. Some of the con-
servatives, however. including Sen.
ator Curtis of Kansas. the Repub-
lican whip. and Senator Cummins of
Iowa. are on record as favoring the
inauguration of new Presidents In
January, which IL also proposed In
the Norris resolution.
Calls System Archaic.
This proposed change in the elec-
toral laws Is only a step In placing
the people more directly in control
OF their Government" said Norris.
The President. under the Constitu-
ton, is part Of the Legislative ma.
y,
has more influence over legislation
than either branch Of Congress. 1t
Is therefore just as important that
the people have an opportunity to
vote direct for him as 1t is to vote
direct for Senators and Representa-
tives.
"The present system II not only
archaic, but an impossible barrier
across the road OF progress. Under
II 1t is physical impossibility to
vote for the candidate for President
In one party and the candidate for
Vice President In another party. The
| ordinary citizen does not realize his
electoral right and privilege is thus
| curtailed.
Cites Secret Influences.
Presidential candidates now are
chosen by political conventions. and
| everybody knows these conventions
are frequently controlled by power
ful secret influences that have self
ish ends. II few men. under exist
I, ing conditions. are able to control
ominations-and a nomination is
| necessary for election-it follows that
the voter only has the right to choose
between two samples set before him.
AhiS - Al iCahty u61iAl OI SUI
frage.
THE people are. not consulted and
really have no voice in the selection
Of their President. II the electoral
college were abolished and people
allowed to vote directly for President,
II would naturally follow that those
In control Of conventions would be
more careful in selecting nominees
Conventions would pay more atten.
ton to the wishes Of the people, and
candidates would pay closer atten.
ton to their promises.
1T would then be easy to defeat
nominees controlled by selfish in.
terests by rallying behind an inde-
pendent candidate for President. II
would be a very easy matter to print
on the official ballot in each State
the name Of an independent candi.
date for President. This could be
done without organization of q new
party and at little expense"