New Britain herald., 1924-08-09
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
 ANDITS GEOGRAPHY
lt Is haIyland's Contribution to
 Constitution

Washington, D, c, Agu, s-ehees-
 ing president, the neat event on
 United states political calendar,
 brings into the limelight the history
 of the electoral college, a practice of
 the medieval Holy Roman Empire
 and Maryiand's contribution to the
 Constitution,
 "Red wine, roast pork, chicken,
 pigeon, goose, rabbit, cakes and
 swseimeais were partsof the business
 of the electoral college in it's earliest,
 lusty, German youth," says a bulletin
 ot the National Geographic Society
 from its headquarters at Washington,
 D, C., "Nathing as pFesaie as eur-
 tained closet would do for a Rhenlsh
 craftsman engaged in choosing an ea-
 eeutiye.s The electoral college firse sp-
 pears growing out of well-dined sess-
 ions of medieval Rotary clubs in
 such trade eenters as Cologne. and
 Mains along the Rhine.
 Dinner Time, Polling Time.
 "The appearance of organized towns In Central Europe following the lesyening influence of the erusades. set the stage for battle. That new figure. the merchant. began to refuse obedience 10 the extrayagant, fighting princelings. With the aid of leaders of medieval union or guilds. the mer- chants won freedom for their towns.
 To select the town administrators peaeeabiy. gilds and merchants sent electors 10 an election dinner party. Under the benign influence of much splced food officers were elected and snnouncd 10 the waiting populace. Election day was a holiday within the town.
 Out of the town Rotary club elections grew the imperial electoral college which proclaimed the head of the Holy Roman empire. At Matnz. and later at Frankfort, the bishops of Cologne and Mainz and few nobles of larger German states met after the death of an emperor to elect his sue cessor. Maryland's electoral college and the present American electoral college are direct descendants of this Holy Roman empire institution. , New Electors Never Meetj
 "The electoral college for which of citizens will vote in Mo- vember, will never meet. In each of the 4S states cert1in little groups will gather and mail an envelope to Wash lngton. The contents of this envelope will be counted by two tellers of the house of representatives and read by the president of the senate and the ,mmbers of the electoral college will have been graduated until another four years.
 Difficulties of American parties in candidates for presidential elections fade against deadlocks in the electoral college of cardinals at Rome. Undue delays led early to the present ,ustom of forced seclusion during the 'oting for Pope. The cardinals in- ,ome was cut off during the conclave. hey were allowed one servant apiece, md they lived a common life without eparate cells. Their food was passed through a guarded window. It con- listed of only one dish after the first hree days and bread and water after he fifth. When these measures rought no result in 1868, the roof of he episcopal palace was taken of; nd the cardinals seemed to have amped under the sky for nearly hree years before they chose a pom if. ....
 A $1OO, 1000, ,OOO Convention Hall
 France has a $100,o0o, 1000 conven- ion hall for it's electoral college. This uditorium, which cost the Reign ot error, was surprised in the midst of $ regular seven year sleep recently. 'hen the august senators and the pirited deputies trouped out 12 miles rom Paris to elect M. Doumergue resident of France.
 Versailles, whose mirrors have re- ected world moving events from the of Madame de Mainte- on to the signing of the world war 'eaty in 1918, is less often recognized s the official capital of France. 5
 Elections In Palace and Clubs
 Although the senate and chamber deputies of France convene in aris now, they must meet jointly at ersailles to elect a president. This fficer ordinarily lives for seven years l the Palais de rElysee and performs uties similar to those of the British ing; he speaks at patriotic gather lgs, unveils monuments and calls in ew premiers to replace deefated exv ,utives Millerand. under pressure the French legislature, resigned be- ire his term ended. That is why the l0,000,000 home of Louis XIV, a orious monument to monarchy un- lecked, awoke out of its seven year eep to find heavy guard thrown bout its marble court while French. gislators rolled up to the south wing
 automobiles.
 "Cologne's early Rathaus where lrghers dined and voted. finds. 'unterpart today in some of Lon. on's famous political clubs. Many ngish premiers are elected in the arlton club and similar institutions , Pail Mall under the shadow of rockingham palace and few blocks om the parliament buildings. Selcc- on by the king is merely an approval
 decision by leaders made in ading conservative or liberal or bor' cluh' ''