The Washington herald., 1922-01-15
SENATE BATTLE
ON ELECTORAL
COLLEGE BEGUN
Norris Asks Amendment
For Direct Choice of
President.

n AhoNchicut - anocE way IN Con-
gress to abolish the electoral col
ieges and provide for the election
of the President and Vice Presiden,
directly by the people,
Senator Norris, of Nebraska, has
introduced a resolution, proposins
an amendment to the Constitution
to effect the change. The measure
Is supported not only by those who
believe the electoral machinery
should be .modernized by the eiimi-
nation Of an ancient device which has
not served it's purpose for more
than a. century. but by the adso-
Gates of the direct primary, method
Of nominating caneidates tor Presi-
dent and Vice President. sI..s..s
One Of the prinefpaI Obstacles %
provision for the nomination OF
Presidential candidates by nAfionai
primaries is the existing electoral
system requiring the choice OF
Presidential electors by States 1t
Is held by many AUTHORITIES that
under the existing provision Of the
constitution Congress lacks power
to establish q national primary.
reared to Trust People.
when ourN forefathers adopted
the constitution said Senator Nor
ris yesterday they were afraid to
put too much power directly in the
hands OF the people. and so they
provided for the election of the
chief Magistrate by an electoral
college. The members OF this cleo
toral college. the conso tuition proc
vides. shall be chosen In such man
ner as the legislatures of the sew
eral States shall provide. Thus the
election of the Chief Executive of
the Nation was placed two steps
beyond the reach Of the voter. 1t
was intended that these Presiden-
tial electors should exercise a dis
erection In the selection OF President
and Vice President. but as time
went on and the people became
anxious for a greater voice In their
own government. they provided for a
method of instructing these Presi-
Dental electors through the instru-
mentality . Of party conventions.
This has taken away from the
Presidential eiector thee discretion
which the law in fact gives him,
but It has not by any means. placed
the selection of President and Vice
President In the hands of the peo-
pie themselves a
Parties Hold Power.
TO be elected President OF the
United States IL Is necessary to be
nominated by some political party.
There is no other practical way OF
electing President so long as our
antiquated electoral college remains
a part of the Constitution. The prac-
teal result Is that any man or set
of men who are able. through any
means whatever. to control Presf-
Dental conventions. do, In fact.
through such means. select the
President and Vice President Of our
country. The only voice that the
voter has in the entire transaction
is to register choice between the
nominees of the different politicas
conventions.
-"It Is common knowledge that the
people have very little, II anything.
to say in regard to the nomination
of Presidential candidates by po-
iitical parties. Nominations for
President are in fact made, rs ev-
erybody knows. by few so-called
leaders. who. through various 'anc
devious ways, known only to the
politician, control and handle the
misledi and worn-out party CONVEX.
ton delegate In accordance with the
wishes and the DEGREES OF political
bosses. On election day the people
find that the voter has nothing left
to decide except TO choose between
two evils, and there Is no way by
which he can properly protest
against such arbitrary control of
nominations. He is as helpless on
election day as though he were en-
tirely disfranehised.'
Would Curb Politicians.
In every state, some provision Is
made. by which an Independent can
didate for ONCE can have his name
placed on the ofiicial ballot. Sucn
provisions Of law are not accidental
they are fundamental, Senator
Continued on Page Four.