The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-12-17
ELEcTING THE PRESIDENT.
Pensacola, Fla.
Dec. 16, 1922.
Editor Journal:

Editor Journal:
Again the substitution of the direct
vote for the Electoral College in the
election of President is being agitated.
This mania manifests itself periodical
ly as regularly as does the fanatic
crusade against Catholicism.
AS this is a question of vast i'm
portance, l shall ask Tor space in your
columns for few observations. l
divide this paper into three parts.
First, brief history of the adoption
of the Electoral College, but shall not
attempt in the necessary limits of
this article to detail it's parliamentary
progress through the convention and
shall Confine myself exclusively to a
consideration of the method of cleo
ton. Second, the philosophy of the
adoption of the Electoral College, and
third, the disastrous results which
will surely be produced by the sug-
geSted change.
The method Of election or. appoint
! ment of the Chief Executive received
more careful consideration and oc-
! cupied more of the time and thought
! full attention of the convention than
did any other part of the constitution.
! The series of resolutions introduced by
I
the National Executive" by the ma
the National Executive" by the "Na-
tional Legislature" produced long and
continued debate. There was great
diversity of opinion and every con-
cetvable method of election, including
the election by direct vote, was sug-
gested and considered, and finally the
election of the President by the ma
tional Legislature" as set forth in
Governor Randolph'S resolution was
favored. This was then submitted or
referred to the committee of five,
called in the Journal, The Commit
tee of Detail" which had been pre-
Viously appointed and to which had
] been referred. 1.-The proceedings of the
convention for the establishment of a
National Government, except what
concerns the Supreme Executive, for
the purpose of reporting a Constitu-
ton conformabIe TO the proceedings
aforesaid" This committee reported
draft Of Constitution which pro-
vided for the election of a Chief
Executive" by the National Legisla-
ture." This report precipitated an
other prolonged debate in the con-
vention and repeated efforts were
made 20 have substituted for election
by the National Legislature" the
election by direct vote. and was as
often defeated. 1t is worthy of note
that these efforts were generally
made by the large states. which de-
sired to obtain an undue influence and
power in the Government to be estab-
llshed. The iusistence of the large
states upon measures which would
give them an undue influence, came
very near. at one time. dissolving the
convention. However. that was upon
the question OF unequal representa-
ton in the Senate and was finally re-
ferred to a committee constituted OF
one delegate from each state. which
composed. by compromise, the differ
ence, by giving the states equal repre-
sentation in the Senate.
But to recur to the question under
consideration. After prolonged debate
on the report of the Committee OF
Detail" the Convention substituted
election by electors, chosen by the
Legislatures of the several states. for
election by the National Legisla-
ture." This was then referred to a
committee consisting of one member
from each state. which reported an
other draft of this clause, providing
for the electors 10 he chosen in each
state. Us designated y the Legislature