The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-07-31
WASHINGTON LETTER

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(By VIM. L. Daley-Special to
Sank Centre Herald.)
Washington, July 30-There is a
clause in the Constitution of the
United States which may ultimately
upset the best laid plans of men
thoroughly versed in political man
agement. 1t is possible, but not al
together probable, that one of the
three candidates for the Vice-Presi-
dency may yet be President of the
United States, despite the popular
vote for the avowed candidates for
the office. At first glance this state
ment presents an amazing state of
affairs, yet it is strikingly confirmed
by the greatest of all American docu-
ments, the Constitution. Privately,
political leaders make no secret of
their deep concern. But, in their
public utterances they pay little at
tention to the situation because they
know that the ordinary voter does not
compherend the intricate machinery
of presidential elections and is con-
cerned primarily with his individual
vote.
1t is easy for the Iayman to scott
at the qualified prediction that
Charles Bryan, Charles Dawes, or
Burton Wheeler have chance to be-
come President in place of Messrs.
Coolidge, Davis or LaFollette. The
leaders, however, confronted by stern
realities, cannot afford to affect in
difference on these matters. There
is pronounced tendency on their
part to cultivate the electors and to
interest themselves in congressional
campaigns. In fact, the LaFollette
organization has openly announced
its intention to pledge the present
members of the House in order that
LaFollette may have their support in
the event the Presidential election
reaches the House of Representative.
If LaFolltte is in a position to hold
the balance of power in such a con-
tingency, the House may not be able
to reach a decision. AS conse-
quense, the choice of the President
will fall upon the Senate.
Talks with those in charge of the
various campaigns indicate that the
influence of the Senate is not en-
tirely theoretical. An intimate study
of the Constitution has developed
facts of great significance to political
leaders. Whenever the electors have
failed of a choice the duties of the
House of Representatives shall choose
Immediately by ballot, a President"
The ballots are taken by state, each
state, represented, having one vote.
A majority of all the states elects
and a two-thirds of all the states
must be represented to constitute a
quorum. If no person has majority
of votes for Vice-President, the Con-
stitution says, "The person having
the greatest number of votes as Vice
President shall be Vice-President, if
such number be a majority of the
whole number of electors appointed,
and if no person have majority, then
from the two highest on the list of
the Senate shall choose the Vice
President" quorum being two
thirds of all the Senators and a ma
jority of all Senators electing. The
succession of the Vice-President to
the office of President is clearly fixed
by the Constitution. The Twelfth
Amendment also says that eff the
House of Representative shall not
choose President, whenever the
right of choice shall devolve on them,
before the fourth of March next fol-
lowing, then the Vice-President shall
act as President, as in the case of the
death or other constitutional disabili-
ty of the President"
This would mean, of course, that
he would serve as Chief Executive
for the consuing four years. The
amendment has been widely criticized
since its adoption in 1904, but has
never been changed. 1t has been ar
gued that the Twelfth Amendment is
defective in that it requires majority
of the electoral woes for choice by
the electoral colleges. 1t is said if a
plurality were sufficient there would
be very little danger of the electors
failing at any time to make a choice.
Another complaint concerning the
electoral system is aimed at the gen.
'eral ticket plan, which, it is claimed,
is unjust to the minority voters in the
state. The statement has been made
by responsible authorities that it is
theoretically possible for thirteen of
the largest states to elect a candidate
to whom the other thirty-five should
be opposed. There are twelve states
that altogether have an electoral vote
lacking but three for a majority, but
combination of these states for any
one candidate is regarded as extreme
ly doubtful because of sectional diff
ferences.
1t is likewise argued that the gen
eral ticket system gives position of
stragetic Importance to some of the
so-called doubtful states. Just how
important, may be illustrated in the
case of California in 1916, when the
election was decided by a plurality
for Wilson of less than four thous-
and, or 0.4 per cent of the popular
vote Of the state. just at present
New York has become the pivotal
state as the three leading contestants
for the Presidency are concentrating
in their bid for the electoral vote. Po-