Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-10

Washington. Jan. 10.-With the adj
vent OF the new year has come the
open season for presidential aspirants.
Along with that there has opened the
period OF greatest activity for the po-
litical prognosticators who are always
prepared 10 tell us what may happen
in the great quadrennial sweepstakes.
but who rarely hit upon what does
happen. They are already busy figur-
ing out "possibllities'. and IL they
are as much as so per cent correct In
their speculations the country Is about
TO witness one OF the most interesting
contests for the Presidency in It's his
tory.
The possibilities, of course. begin
| with candidates-men who may or
may not. will or Will not. should or
should not. seek the job now held
down by Warren G.. Harding. Next
the country Is asked 20 consider what
may happen in event OF the appear
ance OF a new political party of SUN
Gent strength TO be a formidable fac
tor in the election.
After that. Logically, comes con-
slderation OF possible eventualities In
case no candidate should have ma
iorlty in the next electoral college
ana the choice of the next President
should be thrown into the House OF
Representatives.
That IS a thing that has happened
ana therefore II may happen again.
but tts occurrence In 1924 is contingent
upon the development OF a third party
that could poll a sufficient number OF
votes TO give & such strength IN the
electoral college that none OF the
presidential candidates could receive
4, majority OF the ballots. Granted
that possibility the prognosticators
can run wild, FOR almost anything
might happen.
e When the choice OF n President is
thrown into the lower branch or Con-
gross as the result OF a stalemote ir
the electoral college, each State has
one vote which shan be determined
bv a majority OF the representatives
Of that state present and voting.
ouorum for the election OF Pres
dent IN this manner consists OF
,,s,nl,er or members from two-thirds
~ the S,atee. and a majority or al
,ha States shall lie necessary 10
! choice. =,
Thus 80 OF the As States must be
,.spresented IN the House when euch
an .yentful day comes, and IN or1ei
that there may be an election ono Va
the candidates must receive me NVN'
: ~ % STATES. Only three candlN' ,'s
may be considered by the House-lh'
rhyee receiving the highest nunoe'
n. votes IN the electoral conege.
I N,vl, Elected Members May Decide
Now ~ all these complications de
y-aloo II Will devolve upon the repre-
: sen.stlyes elected last November Il
undertake the great responsibility %
I,rs.,aont-nnabang. They viii not O'
1 ,-s,,>,e-, into office until March :. next
and they WILL comprise the Hous'
eat Will be sitting in February, 1925
when tina, body must proceed N IN
manner outlined.
This brlns. us 20 the situation TIM
makes the pro<nosccator~ wih-eye'
ana feverssh. FOR = happens thst ul''
new House Will be composed OF S,at'
de,~~ations 80 div.ded politically ina
nel-her the Repuoiican rs nor the Demo
-rsts can be sure OF commanding
ua,oritv OF the VOTES for a prcss.deB .,
la candiaat~. on the As States III
a.las,at,ons OF % are Repuolicsir
those q 20 are Democratic, ana 1908
OF ara tied The political complex
, ION OF the delegations - as follows
Republcan-Cahfor 20 ,; Coo
ado. 4: Connectscut, 20 !; Idaho.
Illinois. 20 to :; Indiana 20 .; lows
II. Kansas. 20 !; Maine, 4; Mass's
. chusetts. 3 20 3; Michigan, y 20 !
Q Minnesota. TO 2; North Dakota, )
. Ohio. l6 20 s; Oregon. 20 !; Penn
< s,,van!a. 80 20 6: Rhode Island sto
n South Dakota. 8: Utah. ? Vernon
10 2; we-h.ngton, 5; Wisconsin 10 70
Wyoming, !.
Demo- 10; Ar.zonl
X Arkansas. :: Delaware. !; F1oradi
= 4. Georsla, i; kentucky, 20 3
= Louisiana. S: Mississippi, S; Ms
eour!. i 20 5; Nevada ! New Mex.cf
. New York % 70 20; North CaroEnf
y 10: Oklahoma, : 70 !: South CaroEni
:. Tannessee, s 20 .: Texas. J. 20
a Virginia. 10; West Virginia, 20 .
Equally d:vided-Aiarytand. 10
: Montana. ! 10 :; Nebraska. 20 8
o New EIampsh;re. % /; and Ne
Jersey. 10 G.
; Rpochal Contest Possible.
From these figures Z IS appareT
n that a contest might be staged ~ IN
81 south end q the Capitol that woul
p prove epochal in character. In orde
20 elect a President OF their politics
l. faith the Republicans would lhay
; 10 hold their g States and gain n
\. votes % TWO additional States. VIII!
, the Democrats would have 20 hol
!. their 90 States and gain Eve. II
= prize a. stake would 10 me creates
IN the world and imagination can "a
" riot IN attempting 20 depict The sirius
:. gle that would ensue.
A change OF one vote IN any o. II
r. States whose delegations are equal
divided would determine that State
ballot for the Presidency TWO DEM
Gratis one each in any TWO OF tho
statess-who would prove recreant
j. their VARY could throw the eiect.'
- f.r f...ts 49,