Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-13
Politics at Large
By G.. Could Lincoln.

Charles Curtis of Kansas today were
officially counted in" to Office as Presi-
dent and Vice President, respectively.
The Senate and House met solennly in
joint conclave to canvass the returns
from the electoral college, in accord
ance with the provisions of the Con-
stitution and of law. It was safe bet
that the Republican ticket Curtis and
Hoover, would be elected, however, be-
fore ever ballot from the electors had
been opened. Originally it was the
plan to choose foremost citizens of the
various States as presidential electors
and to give them free rein, in the
electoral college, to pick the President
and Vice President of the United States.
This plan, however, has fallen into in
nocuous desuetude. If any member of
the electoral college, which is made up
of the presidential electors chosen last
November in the general election, failed
to vote for the candidate on whose
ticket he had been named as an elector,
there would be real commotion. The
ceremony in the House of Representa-
tives today, therefore, was merely a
formal step, making a final record Of
the election of Mr.. Hoover and Senator
Curtis. 1t was not strange that when
all the ballots had been canvaSsed 1t
been cast for Herbert Hoover and
Charles Curtis, and 81 had been cast
for Alfred E. Smith and Joseph T..
Robinson, their Democratic opponents.
1t happened that both Republican
and Democratic candidates tor Vice
President, Curtis and Robinson, both
members of the Senate, are in Wash
ington today for this ceremony of can
vassing the vote OF the electoral COL
lege. They are the leaders, respec-
lively, of the Republican and Demo-
cratic hosts in the Senate.
No provision is made in the Consti-
tuition or bylaws for the formal noti-
fication of PreSident-elect Hoover and
Vice President-elect Curtis of the re-
suits of the canvass made of the elec-
toral vote by the joint session of Con-
gress. 1t is generally supposed, how
ever, that both Mr. Hoover and Sem
ator Curtis will take cognizance of their
election and will be on hand for the
inaugural proceedings on March 4.
The counting of the electoral votes
by Congress showed that Hoover car
ried 40 States and Smith. 8. This, too
is no news, but merely serves to bring
in November.
There is talk of compromise which
may lead to the passage finally of the
deficiency bill, which has been hung
up" for some time because of the So
called Harris amendment, proposing an
additional appropriation of $24,000,000
for prohibition enforcement. Senator
Harris Of Georgia, author of the now
famous amendment, has been charged
with offering the amendment merely
for the purpose of playing politics and
putting the Republicans in a hole. while
at the same time making political capt.
tai for the Southern Democrats who
followed AL Smith into the wet camp
last Fall. Although there is no doubt that
the amendment has been used as a
vehicle for political discussion by both
the Republicans and Democrats, it is
unfair tc&;enator Harris to charge him
with offering the amendment merely
as political move Senator Harris
comes up for reelection in Georgia in
1880, next year. Those who are well
informed regarding Georgia politics in
sist that there is not the slightest danger
OF his being defeated for reelection
Indeed, there is no opposition to him at
all that has manifested itself, and none
is expected. The Democratic nominal
ton in Georgia Is tant2mount to elec-
ton. The senatorial primary will set
tie the matter. Georgia was one of
those Southern States Which stuck fast
to the Democratic tradition in the last
election, casting its electoral vote for
Gov. Smith. although folN. of the "solid
South" States fell away.
X X IS
Senator Harris, when the deficiency
bill was in committee, suggested to
Senator Wesley L. Jones of Washing
ton, Republican dry, that it would be
advisable to tack 100000 item on
the bill for prohibition enforcement.
Senator Jones, it is reported, replied
that he would meet the Democratic
Senator half way and make it $25,000,-
900. The Harris amendment sprung to
life, 1t is said, in that way. When the
administration, particularly Secretary
Mellon and President Coolidge, turned
their backs on the proposal, on the
ground it would upset the budget and
also that the money could not be prop
erly expended. the Republican end of
the HarriS-Jones combination fell away,
and Senator Jones voted against the
amendment when it was finally brought
up in the Senate.
Republican dryS who are now oppoS-
ing the adoption of the Harris amend
ment insist that PreSident-elect Herbert
Hoover be given a chance to work out
the prohibition problem. 1t is now we'll
that the President-elect will
appoint a commission to go thoroughly
into the question ofprohibition enforce
ment. In fact, the deficiency bill, which
has been tied up in the row over the
Harris amendment also carries Senate
providing $250OOO to per-
NIT the President to make an investi-
cation Of law enforcement in the
country.
One of the combinations set up for
the Hoover cabinet by those who pro-
TESS to be 'in the know places Stuart
w. Cramer of North Carolina in the
Office of Secretary of the Navy This
particular combination presupposes that
Secretary Wilbur of the Navy is to re-
tire forthwith in order, it is said, to
be appointed to Federal judgeship,
and that his brother. Ray Lyman Will
bur, president of Stanford University
In California, is to be made Secretary
Va VAC 4IlOCAkOA NIL NldlLiCI ID q Skdu-
uate of the Naval Academy, in the
same class, indeed, as that of Secre-
tary Wilbur. After he left the Navy
Mr.. Cramer went into business in New
England, but eventually he returned to
his native State, North Carolina, and
finally into the cotton mill business, in
which he has made great success
He has always been Republican and
was delegate to the Kansas City con-
vention last June and a strong sup
porter of Mr.. Hoover for the presiden-
tial nomination. During the campaign
Mr.. Cramer was active in the fight
which finally landed North Carolina in
the Republican column. His appoint
ment to the cabinet. it is urged. would
give recognition to the South, help to
retain Republican grip on the Tar
Ia cvontyfivc oil yIa al hoc