The Omaha morning bee., 1924-10-12
sNOrris to Echo
Vote If House
Given Election
Declares in Bridgeport Ad.
dress That State Choice
Will Be
His.


address to the voters of Bridgeport
and vicinity tonight. United States
Senator George w. Norris made
answer to a question recently put to
him through the public press as to
how he would vote in case the cleo
ton of the president and vice presi-
dent were thrown into congress.
senator Norris welcomed the op-
portunity to make his position entire
~ clear to the voters and at the
same time. challenged the attention
of the voters of the entire state to
the fact that 1t is not question ad-
dressable to him alone but that it is
fair one with reference 10 every
member of the house of representa-
tives running for reelection in the
state. with the exception only that,
In case of the representatives, they
VIII have q choice of three while the
senator must respect the decree OF
the voters as to the choice OF the
two.
Senator Norris said.
Il have been asked through letters
printed in the public press how l
would vote in case the election of
president and vice president is
thrown into congress. believe the
question is a fair one: and I wei
come the opportunity of answering
1t through the same public medium
in which the question Is asked.
Regardless of what the motive
might be that prompts the inquiry,
] desire to be fair with the voters
of the state. I want no mans vote
through any misunderstanding or un-
der any false pretense. When the
people of Nebraska express their
choice in the coming election for pres
ident and vice president. I believe
It to be the duty of every citizen
and of every public official to do
everything IN his power to carry out
that decision and to give it full legal
effect. I, therefore, pledge myself in
case of the election of vice president
Is thrown into the senate that, unless
prevented by the limitations Of the
constitution of the United States,
which limits the vote in the senate
10 the two candidates having the
highest number of electoral votes,
will vote for the one who has car
ried the state of Nebraska. This
promise is good whether I am elected
or defeated. and 1t should be re-
membered in this connection that 1t
is the present congress. and not the
new one elected in November. that
elects a president and vice president
in case the election Is thrown into
congress.
Six House Members.
"May I not ask, however. why this
question appears to be asked of me
alone? Why should be singled out
and the question propounded to no
other candidate? Indeed. the ques-
ton Is Of much greater Importance
when applied to a member OF the
house than to a senator. The senate
elects vice president-an insignih'
cant office as compared with the
president. The president Is elected
hv the house. There are six members
OF the house from Nebra aska-three
republicans and three democrats-and
every one of them Is a candidate for
reelection. Why not ask them how
they will vote in case the election OF
president Is thrown into the housef
VIII these six candidates follow the
verdict lust rendered at the ballot
hoy or will they heed the commands
~ nartisan bosses and completely
nullify the decision rendered at tne
nolls and thus violate empnaucaiiy
the principle of a government OF, ior'
and by the people?
"Since the question has peei'
raised as to me, l respectfully ASK
,bat II be applied 70 all members oi
the present congress who are ru"
ming for reelection. ] respecluiiy
,all upon all patriotic citizens ol
The state. regardless OF party, "
demand that every such candida,e
shall state. before election, whether
II the election of president Is thrown
into the house he will heed ana opey
tho voice of the people Of Nebraska
lust as expressed at the baiiot DoA'
or whether he will disregard the Juos-
,nent rendered at the polls ana pii'iu'
" follow the commands OF party
bosses II is very similar to the con-
ditions existing in this state when we
provided for a method by whicn can
d,dates for the state legislature coun
rron,ise on the ballot TO vote Tor the
candidate of the United States sena-
tor who had just carried the state IN
the general election. ] myself was
.nce elected to the senate by such
LEGISLATURE. although majority OF
the members belonged to different
political party. The question resolves
itself into a simple proposition. pe
we want to give legal effect 10 tne
Judgment of the people rendered AZ
tb. polls? IL we do, then the position
have taken cannot be successfully
assailed. The alternative Is to disre-
gard the solemn mandate of an cleo
t,on In our state and to substitute
the command of party leaders. In
other words, to put party above coun-
try.
Only Three Candidates.
"It is we'll to note that members OK
the house, in voting for president
are not confined TO two candidates
,s are members OF the senate in vot-
ing for-vice president. They can vote
for any of three candidates and ev-
ervbody knows now that there VIII
10 hut three men who will receive
,.otes in the electoral college. There
fore. they will not be hiDdered In any
way from carrying out the Will OF
the people as expressed at tho cleo
ton. They should regard themselves
as only an instrumentality for carry
ing into effect the vote solemnly re-
corded at the polls. They. In fact.
take the place of the electoral college