Evening star., 1924-09-15

What would have happened to Gov.
Smith and the legislature is another
question, not altogether of legal
variety
In the early days of the republic
electors in most of the States were
appointed by the legislatures. This
plan was unpopular from the first,
and State after State gave the people
the right to choose their own electors.
until in 1928 the only State clinging
to this method of Legislative ap-
pointment was South Carolina, which
persisted in that plan until 1860.
Since the Civil War the only instance
in which legislatures appointed the
electors were Florida, in 1868. and
Colorado, in 1876.
1t is interesting just now to recall
that in 1896 the legislature of Ten
nessee provided for the appointment
of the three electors of that State
by naming in statute number Of
persons of property who were TO
select the electors in their respective
districts 80 that the election might
trouble the people as little as pos
sible."
This is quite a contrast from the
election in this year of our Lord,
There may be trouble in plenty for
people this November.
There are as many members of the
electoral college as there are mem
bers of both houses of Congress, 436,
plus 96, or 531. To be chosen Presi-
dent of the United States a. candi-
date must receive a majority of the
votes in the electoral college which
| is 266. 1t is possible, therefore, in
the election this fall. that by carry
ing even one single State, La Toilette
| will make it impossible for either
Coolidge the Republican nominee, or
.
er, to secure a majority in the cleo
toral college. Such a result, of
course, depends upon what would be
practically a tie between Coolidge
and Davis.
La Toilette Strength Unknown.
1t is possible, also, that La Toilette
will carry more States than one or the
F., other of the candidates of the major
parties, and thus receive more electoral
votes than one or the other of them. -
This happened when Roosevelt led a
, third-party movement in 1912. Roose-
| welt carried six States and received Ss
electoral votes, while Taft, the Repub-
lican candidate, carried but two States
| and received only electoral votes.
| Wilson the Democratic nominee, carried
all the other States and had 4S5 Of the
! 531 votes in the electoral college.
Thus it is seen that RooSevelts rum
ming merely had the effect of insuring
/ Wilson's election by an overwhelming
majority of electoral votes In the
popular vote, Roosevelt also ran second.
| Wilson became President, although he
| did not receive a majority of the popu-
/ lar vote. the aggregate of the Roosevelt
/ and Taft vote exceeding Wilson's total.
The question is frequently asked as
to what States La Toilette must carry
| in order to bring about a deadlock in
| ~ al ND fhrpx he al
| ton Of the President into the House Of
Representatives. AS I have said, he
| might do this by carrying only one
State. His own State of Wisconsin
| might suffice. 1t depends entirely upon
how evenly Coolidge and Davis are
matched in popular strength.
| 1t is entirely a matter of guess
| work to say what State or States La
| Toilette will or should be able to
| carry. There is no knowing whether
| he will develop the popular following
| that Roosevelt commanded. Roose-
welt undoubtedly was more popular
| in 1912 than La Toilette was. but
| there is no means of knowing until
| the votes have been cast whether La
| Toilette is as popular in 1924 as
| Roosevelt was in 1912.
| AS to whether La Follette's candi-
dacy will hurt Coolidge more than it
will Davis, that is also entirely a
| matter Of speculation at this time.
| One thing is reasonably certain, the
presidential contest this year is
| fraught with more interesting posi- J
| bilities than any the country has wit
| messed since most of my readers were
| born. The result may have a far
| reaching effect upon our political and
| governmental structure.
| Our ancient and honored system
may hold together, to carry US for
ward in an orderly way. or 1t may
break down and bring chaoz.sss,