The Holbrook news., 1922-12-15
HARDING FIGHTS
 BLOC ATTACK
PRESIDENT OPPOSES AMEND, MENT PROVIDING FOR AeoLI-
 TON ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
CHANGE UNNECESSARY
ANOTHER PROVISION CALLS FOR CHANGE IN INAUGURAL
 TON DATES,

hingtOn.-MemberS of the new Progressive bloc in Congress got into action a 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 favorable report from that committee for a constitutional amend ment providing for abolition of the electoral college and for direct cleo tiOn of the President and Vice Presi- dent and for abolition of the long pe- riod of time usually elapsing between a 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 c5- 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 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 ma jority vote of the House from the persons having the highest numbers, not exceeding three, on the list If 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- lect that official as between the two persons receiving the largest number of votes.
 The committee in reporting the 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 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 to the third Monday in Janu- | ary.
 White House officials in presenting | President Hardings views on the pro- posal represented the executive as feeling that constant changes in the were unnecessary, and in some cases unwise, MT. Harding, it | was said, regarded the procedure un- fer the constitution whereby new Congress does not meet for more than l year after its election as one of the visest steps taken by the nations founding fathers, as it allows passions o cool.