The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-11-26

1neTe are 100 many iedSoiio AoA
keeping it, but one of them IS sell
dom mentioned. The Founding Faith
ers either thought of an amazing lot
of things which might develop IN the
future, or they had remarkable luck
One of the samples of this in ]usti-
tying the electoral college is that 1t
prevents type of sectional feeling
which might easily lead to civil
war.
Assume, for example, a vary
close election-in fact, the favorite
example of those who would ike
to abolish the electoral college
where all the states except New
York and Pennsylvania add up even,
both as to popular and electoral
votes. In this often used illustra-
ton the idea was that New York
would 20 Democratic by 500, or
some such trifing majority, but that
Pennsylvania should 60 Republican
by a million.
Nevertheless, despite this ire
mendously greater strength OF the
Republican candidate, the Democrat
would be elected, Pennsylvania hav-
ing less electoral votes than New
York.
1t is perfectly true, OF course,
that this could happen. It is also
true that it has almost happened IN
our history. For instance, in Cleve-
lands time. For instance, in the
case OF California in 1916.
But in neither case did it pro-
yoke the citizenry of some OF the
states, which had gone for the los
ing candidate by big majorities, to
think in terms of mob marching
into the offending commonwealth to
burn and harrow. There have been
bitter words. In fact. in 1916, one
Of the great papers on the losing
side referred to California as the
boob state But even that paper
did not propose the raising OF an
army to invade California and pun
ish her, or to march on Washington
and seat the candidate defeated by
CALIFORNIA; close vote.
Hayes Tilden Case
| In contrast, in 1876, a great DEM
ocratic editor, Marse Henry Wat
terson, actually appealed for $4,000
volunteers who should march to
Washington and seat Samuel ]. Til
den as President And that propos-
/ FILL r
are apt to think today. AS a matter
Of fact, it was very potent. The
| Democrats of the country were
thoroughly aroused. The danger OF
civil war was much greater than
most histories reveal. It was avoid
ed only by the promise OF the sue
cessful candidate, Rutherford B.
Hayes, to withdraw all federal
troops from the South.
/ The point is that most Democrats
OF that time, and for that matter
many historians since, believed
firmly that the seating of Hayes
after the election was a gross fraud
which is very different from being
defeated by the mere fact that q
big state with a small majority
happens to have more electora
votes than a smaller state which
may have big majority the other
way.
But suppose that the electoral col
lege we're abolished, and popular
voting substituted. Consider wha
would happen il the entire country
outside OF the city OF Chicago SHOULD
be decisive. And suppose that tht
people of the country thought O.
Chicago politics what they do now
or what they think OF the Fender
CAST machine in Kansas City, OF
what they thought of the Ware ma
chine in Philadelphia in the ole
days.
And then suppose Chicago, on thu
face of the returns, should roll III
million majority for one OF thu
candidates, with practically every
body in the entire country absolute
ly convinced that the machine hat
sold out
That would not be like California
in lol6-or New York in Cleveland
time. That would be like 1875, wit
no guarantee that there would b
any such happy solutionl
G. O. P. Minus Leaders
1t is literally amazing that a par
ty which polled nearly 10000
votes should be so utterly starve
for available leadership as the Re
publicans are today. The Wor
available" is highly important, !
this connection, for there are woult
be leaders and saviors and resusc
tators galore.
1t was the formula OF those WI
ran the campaign for Governor A
M. Landon that none OF the o.
G. O. r. leaders should be prom
nent in the picture. 1t seemed GOO
strategy then. The mere fact tn
they were overwhelmingly beate
does not prove now that it was be
strategy. 1t is perfectly true tn
the Republican campaign was RI
by amateurs, but on the other har
the few remaining old guard lea
ers have never proved their pol
ical ability in any striking wa
Quite the contrary.
In fact, with the illness durll
|