New-York tribune., 1922-11-18
Norris to Press
For. Direct
For President
Senator Says Formation of
Third Party Is Diff
cul, and People Need
ndepend ent Method
Ladd Warns Both Parties
Dakotan Sees No Satisfac-
tion in Election for DEM
ocrats or Republicans

Prom The Trsbuncs Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17--senator
Norris, Of Nebraska, one of the Senate
Republican insurgents, who will follow
course largely Independent Of party
In the new Congress, announced to-day
that he would press an amendment to
the Constitution for the election of the
President and Vice President by direct
vote.
Senator Norris takes the view that
the organization of a formidable third
party Is difficult and of doubtful prac-
ticability, but that what is needed is
an opportunity for the people to elect
man President Independent of party
or OF party conventions. He declares
that by the simple expcdent Of direct
election of President and Vice Presi-
dent and abolition of the electoral col
lege 1t can be made easy, simple and
practicable for an independent to be
elected to Office, without either any
great expense or any elaborate oreani-
zation
~ see little likelihood that a strong
third party can be organized and carry
the country" said Senator Norris. "If
Roosevelt could not do it it is open 20
doubt whether any other man can.
What we need, instead of third party,
is a powerful nonpartisan element or
pnrty, composed Of men and women
who stand for principle before they do
for party"
Electoral College in Way
Senator Norris said that the present
electoral college stood in the way of
any real opportunity for the people to
vote for an independent candidate for
hnn
arrangement it required great time,
trouble and expense for an organiza-
tion in each state in order to get the
nominations for electors on the ballot.
we should do away with the Elec-
toral College and amend the Constitu-
tion SO as to provide for direct vote
of the people in the election OF Presi-
dent and Vice President" said Senator
Norris.
Senator Norris called attention to
the fact that last January he had in
troduced such an amendment. Little
attention was paid to it at the time.
In the new Congress he will reintro-
duce it and will press vigorously for
its submission to the states.
The proposed amendment changes the
present provisions Of the Constitution
as little as possible. 1t does away with
electors and provides that the candi-
date for President who gets the plu-
rality Of votes In state shall be en-
titled to as many votes as the whole
number Of Senators and Represent
atives to which the state Is entitled
in Congress. Senator Norris said it
was useless to urge the amendment in
the present Congress.
Senator Norris declared that in the
last election had Johnson run indepen-
darf Nd ha al h,r ~
vote Johnson would have been elected
rather than either. Harding or Cox
And he added that to-day either Borah,
Johnson or La Toilette, running inde
pendent, would roll up q great vote.
The voters are tending more and
more to independence of political
parties, according to Senator Norris,
and are giving more and more scrutiny
to the records of candidates.
Ladd Reviews Election
Senator Ladd. Of North Dakota, in a
statement given out to-day for the peo-
pie Of North Dakota, said neither the
Republican nor Democratic leaders
could get much satisfaction out of the
election.
"Viewing the election results from a
national standpoint and the specific
registering Of public opinion" said
Senator LaQ0, 'tnere lS llLLle out OF
the whole situation for the leaders of
either the Democratic or Republican
parties to obtain much satisfaction. 1t
was simply rising up and protest of
the masses against the continuation Of
the present economic order and condi-
tion of things. Wherever the voters
had fair opportunity to clearly regis
ter their opinion there was clear-cut
disapproval of the Harding Admins
tration and an emphatic stand against
wisconsin.
THE election results should be a
sound warning to both parties that tho
people are determined that there shall
he housecleaning. and If the two ex-
listing parties cannot, through their or
ganized leadership, give 1t to them,
they will take matters into their own
hands"
Senator La Toilette, of Wisconsin,
who returned to Washington tonight,
is preparing to resume the gasoline
price investigation which was begun
last session by subcommittee of the
Manufactures Committee, of which he
is chairman.