Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-05-13
The Importance OF the
Vice-Presidency

Democratic tickets this year.
Politicians are moving most
cautiously and carefully in pick
ing running mate for each OF
the presidential candidates.
Should LaFollette succeed in
developing strong third party
and then capture a small num-
Der Of doubtful states, the cleo
ton of president to succeed
Coolidge might be thrown into
the House of Representatives.
Undoubtedly the Republicans
will nominate Mr.. Coolidge and
his selection will not meet with
the approval of a number of
states, particularly the Dako-
tas, Minnesota and other states
in the North West.
Should the Democrats follow
IN the steps of the Republicans
and name some one to lead the
ticket who does not materially
differ from Coolidge, still 9TH
ers will be added to the nomi-
nee of third party.
With these possibilities staring
the politicians of the two major
parties in the face. they realize
the ability of LaF gillette or some
other so-called Republican pro-
gressive to literally tear up the
cabbage patch and throw the
election of a president into the
House of Representatives.
Thomas L. Stokes, Washing
ton political writer, discussing
the likelihood of an election be-
ing thrown into the house ex-
plains the procedure. as fixed by
the Constitution, in case the
House could not agree on a
President. He says;
If strong third party de-
yelopts the election of a Presi-
dent may be forced into the
House of Representatives But
because of the peculiar situation
there, deadlock is likely, so
that all that would be left would
be for the Vice-President, who
is selected by the Senate--in
the event of such deadlock-to
move up to the Presidency
Even in the Senate there is
chance of a deadlock, which
would complicate matters still
more, and raise situation which
has never been met in the coun-
try's history.
Under the plan as provided UNI
der the Constitution, when a
Presidential choice is thrown in
to the House, each State has one
vote, whether it is Democratic
or Republican being determined
by the preponderance of that
party in the State delegation.
AS constituted, Republicans
would have % votes under this
plan, DEMOCRATS 20, with one,
Wisconsin, though nominally Re-
publican, casting its vote for La
Toilette, and with five States
equally divided as between pemo~
Gratis and Republicans, and there
fore unable to cast a vote.
Under the situation created by
a third party candidate getting
a handful of States and prevent
ing a majority in the general
election, the House must choose
between three, a Republican,
Democrat and a third party can
didate. Since it would reouire
rs votes for any candidate to be
chosen, the House would be dead
locked.
The choice of Viee-Presi-
dent, who would be President.
would then be up to the Senate,
which brings the difficulty that
is worrying political leaders and is
leading many ambitious aspirants
to angle for the Vice-Presiden-
tial nomination.
But even there deadlock
might result. The paper ma
jority of 81 Republicans over a.
Democrats and two Farmer-Ta-
bOrites would not hold in such
situation. Senators LaFol-
lette, Brookhart Fraziers, and
Ladd stand apart from their par
ty, and have it within their pow
er, If the election should devolve
upon the Senate, to name the
next President, or by absenting
themselves, to throw the upper
House into a deadlock.
Beyond this contingency the
Constitution does not 90. There
is no other procedure authorized
in that document.
On the federal statutes, how
ever, is an instrument known as
the Presidential Succession act
of 1886, which provides that in
event of the death or incapacity
of both the President and the
Viee-President, the Secretary of
State becomes the Chief Execu-
tive. This, in the opinion of
some legal experts, might give
Charles Evans Hughes the Of.
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