The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-11-18
W0uldElect
President by
Direct M2..,;. y. 2;.:.,;s., :,
If !sHsl.o.sH ''S's
Senator Norris I :. aDoIi.
ton Of Electoral College
by Constitutional Amend.
ment in Next Congress.
Each State to Be Unit
by GEORGE y. AuTHIEH.
WashlBltOp IoIgs-pDnds NJ The Opaha Bee

WnshfHkfDH 'hffs-poHhW Nv pus OUhnh befs
Washington, Nov. i7.---tspeclal Tel.
egram abolition Of the electoral
college Will be strongly urged by Sen.
ator Norris whe nthe sixty.eVhth
congress comes into existence. This
would permit the direct selection Of
president and vice president by pop.
uIar vote. In eliminating the elec.
toral college, each state would be con.
sidered AZ unit, thus avoiding the
danger Of heavy majorities In one
section of the country offsettlng those
IN another portion.
A. constitutional amendment 10 ac.
cOmplish this result was proposed by
Senator Norris, January 4 Of this
year. lie says II would be futile 10
press II Tor adoption during the com.
ing extraordinary or short session.
With new congress. he will seek TO
obtain favorable action for this sug.
gestioD.
The electoral college must be abol-
lsbed, said Senator Norris this after.
noon, before third party can he or
ganized and made effective or an
independent candidate will have any
chance Of being elected president.
Would Cost Millions.
1T would cost millions of dollars
and require nm organization In every
congressional district before third
party could be placed on working
basis" said Senator Norris. Film.
ination OF the electoral college would
enable any man 10 run for president
without cent Of money"
The belief was expressed by Mr..
Norris that Borah, johnson or La
Folktte would receive heavy votes in
n popular election. He predicted that
Borah would be elected. With the
same candidates named by the lead.
ing parties two years ago, Norris
said, johnson would have won, run.
ming az an independent candidate.
TT is impossible now" said Nor.
ris, FOR the people to vote for tho
Of one party for president
and that Of another for vice presi.
dent. In fact, the people vote for
men and not for party"
Counted Before Congress.
The Norris constitutional amend.
Inent merely eliminates the electoral
college and provides for direct vote
~ the people, leaving each state the
representation now accredited TO 1t.
results would be certified to
the president Of the senate and the
returns counted before a Joint seq
sion OF the two houses. Electors. ss
at present, would not go on the bal
lot. A simple plurality would be suf.
ftcient to carry a state.
Il think Donpartisan party would
be best" said Senator Norris, when
asked about the alleged incipient
third party movement. "1he people
then could vote for policies and le2is.
lation and not the men. II is diff.
cult to establish new party under
existing conditions. The expense OF
organization makes the undertaking a
formidable one. The abolition Of the
electoral college is the most impor-
tant step in lettering political con.
ditions."
1t is believed Senator Norris will
have quite following in his crusade
for elimination Of the electoral
college and the creation OF a.
situation where an Independent candi.
date may run for president. or the
people may choose the vice president
from different organization.
Believe Third Party Coming.
Senator Ladd. elected az repub.
lican nopartisan fro North Dakota,
believes that a third party viii arise
unless the liberal element in the new
congress battles for the welfare OF the
peope.
The liberalization Of the republican
party. or the formation of new or.
TO combat Il, will be given
a new impetus tomorrow when Sen.
ator Ia Toilette, republican. Wiscon.
sin, will arrive here. lie proposes
TO take the offensive on the firing line
and has invited all those who seek
20 ascertain his views TO meet him
in the morning.
This Is an unusual attitude for la
Toilette TO assume. OF late he has
not been active In the fighting Ills
announcement for tomorroy il con,
strued TO Indicate either that he ia
playing the initial card Tor the repubs
lcan presidential nomination ur, the
creation 81 new political party ~
which he would he the head,
The defeat Or defrrment IL the ship
subsidy I'm was predicted by senator
Norris Tits afternoon, iia said II
would nos be permitted 70 reach a
final vote.
No hnpss ARE entertained hY sena
toF Norris " legislation beneficial IL
the farmers duflng the remainder n
this ronFrsss