The Wilmington morning star., 1946-12-10
MORE ABOUT
LIPPMANN
FROM PAGE ONE

answer.
passing over this point, would
now observe that the Founding
Fathers were very much concerned
with the selection of a proper
character for the Vice-Presidency.
The office indeed was insignificant
almost the only one in the
world, said John Adams. in which
firmness and patience are useless
but the mode provided for filling
it was such as to give some reason
able expectation that the person
chosen would be a continental
character The electors were not
allowed to designate the candi-
dates such a one for President,
such another for Vice-President-
but were made to vote each for
two persons as President. leaving
it more or less to chance which
would be President and which
Vice-President. Each elector, it
was thought, would select two
characters, each suitable for the
Presidency; the one highest in the
vote would be President; the one
second, Vice-President; both Of
fees would be filled with men OF
Presidential callbar or, at any
rate, with men in whom the people
$500 ~. Li4bo 80 fr11c+
But in 1900 this system broke
down by reason of the electors dis
eliminating in their minds which
of the two persons voted for should
be President and which Vice-Pres-
ident; and in 1904 an amendment
to the Constitution was adopted
changing the whole spirit of the
electoral system by the introduc-
ton of the designating principle.
The effect of this innovation the
object of which was perhaps less
to improve the mode of selection
than 20 provide against the choice
of a Federalist Vice-President in
1904 is well known.
"It is not so well that all the
evils which have happened
we're accurately forseen at the
time. Here, for example, is a
prophecy by Senator Plumer: The
Vice : President will no
longer be voted for as President
of the United States. but as Presi-
dent of the Senate - he will be
elected to preside over forms in
this House. He will have less
dignity, and be less respectable
This will be the unavoidable con-
sequence of the change. In electing
a subordinate officer, men do not,
they will not, seek for, or require,
those qualifications which they
deer.1 requisite for supreme com
mand.' civilian Plumer's Memo.
randum of Proceedings in the
United States Senate %1S03-1So7,
y. 64.)
1.-THE opportunity for political
chicanery was much insisted on,
Under the designating plan the at
tention of the public would be
wholly centered on the contest fol-
the Presidency; the Vice-Presi
dency would either be left tc
chance or prostituted to the bases
purposes: Character, talent, virtue
and merit, will not be sought after
in the candidate. The question viii
not be asked, is he capable? Is he
honest? But can he by his name,
by his connections, by his wealth,
by his social situation, by his in.
fluence, or his intrigues, best pro-
mote the election of a PRESIDENT
annals, Eighth Congress, first
session, col. 144.) In short, the new
mode would expose the people tt
the selection of a less important
and more unfit person than, the
Constitutional provision.
Bearing all this in mind. ]
think it is safe to say that if the
members of the Federal Convea.
ton had happened to prescribe
the mode Of voting for the Presi
dency and Vice-Presidency which
is now the rule, they would at the
same time have provided for ar
intermediate election in the event
of the Presidents death or resig.
nation. They would have done
this, not to avoid a governmental.
deadlock, but because the same
considerations would have weighted
with them as weighted with the
authors Of the act of 1892 when
they provided for a special cleo.
ton in the event of the succession
passing to the President pro ten
OF the Senate or to the Speaker o.
the House. A man who has no
been voted on for the Presidency