Milford chronicle., 1924-08-01

um. If no person has a majority of votes for
Vice-Presdent, the Constitution says "Tbe per
son having the greatest number of votes as
Vice-President shall be Vice-President if sucb
number by majority Of the whole number of
electors appointed, and if no person have
majority then from the two highest on the list
of the Senate shall choose the Vice-President
quorum being two-thirds of all the Senators
and a majority of all Senators eecting. The
succession of the Vice-President to the Office Of
President is clearly fixed by the Constitution.
The Twelfth Amendment also says that "if the
House of Representatives shall not choose a
President, whenever the right of choice shall
devolve on them, before the fourth of March
next following, then the Vice-President shall act
as President, as in the case of the death or other
constitutional disability of the President"
This would mean, Of course, that he would
serve Chief Executive for the ensuing four
years. The amendment has been widely criti-
cized since its adoption in 1904 but has never
been changed. It has been argued that the
Twelfth Amendment is defective in that it re-
CURES a majority of the electoral votes for a
choice by the electoral colleges. It is said that
if plurality were sufficient there would be very
little danger of the electors failing at any time
to make a choice
Another complaint concerning the electoral
system is aimed at the general ticket plan,
which, it is claimed, is unjust to the minority
voters in the state. The statement has been
made by responsible authorities that it is the
Oretically possible for thirteen of the larger
states to elect a candidate to whom the other
thirty-five should be opposed There are twelve
states that altogether have an electoral vote
lacking but three for a majority, but a combina-
ton of those states for any one candidate is re-
garded extremely doubtful because of Sec
tional differences.
1t is likewise argued that the general ticket
system gives position of stragetic importance
to some of the so-called doubtful states. Just
how important, may be illustrated in the cause
of California in 1916, when the election was de-
cided by plurality for Wilson of less than four
thousand or O.4 per cent of the popular vote of
the state. Just at present New York has be-
come the pivotal state as the three leading con-
testants for the Presidency are concentrating in
their bid for the electoral vote. Political history
shows that New York has influenced more cleo
tons than any one state. The election of Polk
in 1874 by margin of merely IL per cent of it's
popular vote. Cleveland was given the entire
electoral vote of New York by a plurality of
about 1000, or OIL per cent of the popular vote
If the state. Throwing down Cleveland four
,ears late, the New York electoral votes were
given to Harrison. New York. at it's best, is
lever a certain state for any party. Harrison O
vas elected President on the national ticket de-
pite the fact that Cleveland led by about 1000
n the popular vote. II
The reports from various political headquar-
ers issued by campaign managers on behalf H
f their respective candidates, claim the popular
nd electoral votes of many states. A compari- II
on of their claims show that they are more y
ptimistic than the facts warrant but that is l
ot an unusual state of mind for politicians.
ReVerting to the possibility of an election by
he House of Representatives each state has an
quail vote. Just where the strategists employ
d by Mr.. LaFOllette may bring about dead II
,ck, is evident in the Constitutional require
tents that "a majority of all the states is nee II
ssary for choice" The refusal of one or two III
ates to cast a ballot would naturally prevent
lie leading candidate from obtaining a majority. In
is pointed out that state might in good faith B
prevented from voting because of it's repre- lk
,ntation being so divided as to have no ma y
rity for any candidate Considering the polit- lO
al complexion of the present Congress which "
Ould have the decision, this condition is not n
possible. 1t is conceivable that the states lN
edged to LaFOllette could Intentionally re- W
ain from voting in order to prevent an cleo H
IN or obtain concessions from the other states 81
Whose political star is in the ascendancy de- IN
nds upon partisan views. Several observers 81
Id the opinion that if LaFolette is to dominate IH
the Senate, assuming that the election reaches ~
1t body, his followers would likely accept l0
vernon Bryan as against General Dawes, be- ~
lse Bryans political views are said to be more M
harmony with LaFollettes IDEAS than the IIl
publican Vice-Presidential candidate, How &&
r. predictions these days depend largely upon M
tisanship and must be accepted on such rs
unds. lRl
ABORS PATH AS SEEN IN WISCONSIN lMI
Mt of the wisdom of his years. Frank ]. Web %%