The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-09-04
COOLIDGE
DAVIS
LA TOILETTE
Situation Hesir~ed for Those Nh"
Arr Interested la isSlif-
lcxi subjects

Publishing on its frst page a story 70
the effect that neither Coolidge nor
Davis nor Ia Fes.s;fs will be elected
president OF the United states Va No
Yamber At first glance such state,
ment might seem outside the realm
Of possibility. bat the political sifua-
flan ls compiler and the election MA
chlnery such that n does not require
much imagination 20 foreaee the pos
slhlllty. n not the probability Of such
\ situation Almost anything may
happen 10 November.
Turning the microscope on the Pc
ililcal machinofy. we md there are
sal votes IN the electoral c,liege.
The electoral college IL composed or
electors from each state. equal ~
number 10 tho nnmber OF senators
and representatives 10 which the
state Ia entitled. For example, New
York state hss two senators and Tor
ty.thfee representatives. Therefore.
Ns~ York has forty-nye votes In the
college. The total mmberahip OF the
electoral college equals the total
membership OF the senate and house
--8Sf. In voting II will be remem'
hered that the people vote Tor the
electors ~ their states. these names
appearing on the ballot. and not for
Coolidge or Davis or La Toilette.
The Constitution provides that a
majority OF those sal electoral votes
Or zss, 10 necessary 90 the ehpico OF
. president. The person having the
greatest number OF votes, OF course.
wins when there are only two eandi.
dates In the field. but with three the
complexities begin.
Here u the constitutional clause
The person having the greatest
number OF yotea lin the electoral col
iegel for president shall be the 4
president. " such number be a ma
iorify ,nf the whole number OF elec-
tors appointed. and II no person hav-
Ing such majority, then from the
persons having the Highest numbers,
not exceeding three. on the list Of
those voted for as president. tho
house OF representatives shalt choose
immediately by ballot. the preai
dent"
Now lot Ne turn 70 tho situation n
the candidate. receiving merely the
largest Number OF rssetorat votes
could BE- chosen. then tho entry OF
La Toilette into the neid would be
nnimpoftans. according 20 unbiased
and astuto political Judges. but this
u not tho case. and tnere are many
political obxbrvers who regard n as
highly unlikely that a majority OF
the electoral vote win be won by any
Of the candidates
The second Monday following Jan
usry the electors In each state choa-
On at the November election meet In
their respective state eapitola and do
clare for their candidates. The votes
VIII then BE- cent BY messenger 20 the
president OF tho senate IN washinE
ton. They win be counted on the
seecnd Wednesday In February be.
for. the iplnt session OF the house
and senate
Then the result will be announced.
II no candidate has a majority--two
hundred and sisty-sis votes then
the houss Of Representatives must
immediately convene for the purpose
OF choosing q president The choice
being limited 10 the three highest
candidates would mean that the
house would have lsniy the option 81
choosing enc. either Davis. Coolidge
o. La Toilette.
Here "a where the election maehln.
cry sskes on a different color There
Il 20 voting BY Individuals IN the
enusc. Moreover. each state has but
one vote. Rhode islands vote
oqaais that o. New york. The vote
81 each stats l. determined b. ma.
iority Of The congressional represent.
aiisvs Ia that state Thls polnt
Strapped. lee u Do remembered that
ths hloes'' Ia several delegations
bold the balance Of power Thus ths
Ia folieste Wheeler candidacy BE-
comes something 20 b. reck,ned
~lth.
Anyone familiar with the lineup Z
n TIE hoass last year can see how
Iksls y l. that neither Davis nor
Coolidge would IA able 10 ohtain 4
majority vote IN the house tn rebru E
sfy. A d~sdlesk u quite on the Z
cards. fepetsfloa o. TIE nen., 9
cratic nssiansl eonsentlon. perhaps.
ansli March 4. 1898. Al that time &
the rev heuss comes lnto being. bat &
he sew tess~ has neshlnF 20 90 wilh 8
the choices Of . pr~ziasnt
Ia the event Of deadlock uufll 9
'as dsslsssxrstion 81 the preseht D
scus~. the esss a,ald pass 20 M 3
-eas's. sad here Il must b. remrr,. q
h-aFes that the ssnstc votes oniy Tor
The vfc>-pr~ssdsns and nor fer the
prssid~as. ~ the soantrY sgandi
~ttkeas president. then thai ONES.
he,sx vacant. snast b. allied h4 ne
man chooses q. VICE gFesitent ~ ths
senate
At thss point 80 read another
The senate Is i.mitet
n x1f~ far fH< fao ntrha4s ran4fl. 1