Evening star., 1946-12-16
Letters to The Star
Approves Proposal To Abolish
Etectnrol C.n1Ie6A

| To the Editor OF The Star:
DR.. George M. Beckett is on safe
ground when he questions the useful
ness Of the electoral college (Ihe Star,
December o..
| Most voters who think about the
matter at all would be glad to do away
with this college. During every pres
idential campaign there is agitation for
its abolition, but once the campaign is
| over, the matter is dropped.
The electoral college is misfit among
our political institutions and on several
occasions has brought serious confusion
into our presidential elections. Then,
why don't we do away with 1t and
| arrange to have our Presidents elected
by a straight popular vote?
We don't because it would require
constitutional amendment to bring
these changes about. But. haven't we
amended our Constitution In other re-
| spects? Yes, we have; but in further
| ing those other amendments, many
individuals or groups foresaw tangible
benefits for themselves, which is not
true in this case. Yet direct popular
election OF our Presidents undoubtedly
would improve our national political
health: it would benefit our people col
lectively. This being the case, the
matter will have to be undertaken from
purely patriotic motives, which, so far,
no individual or group has been willing
to do. The persons best situated to
take the initiative in the matter are our
members of Congress, but no one else,
willing to invest the time and energy,
is barred.
Historically, there were reasons why
the electoral college was established.
One was because political parties had
not yet emerged when the Constitution
was framed and. consequently. the
trainers neither faced nor foresaw the
problem of fitting the Constitution to
political parties. That is not surprising,
but now there Is no way of supplying
the deficiency except by constitutional
amendment
The electoral college harms our ma
tional political health. especially by
AAuAiAyhe FoICs, dS LII. DECkcGL 1ldS
pointed out. There isn't much incentive
for voting in a State that is either
strongly Republican or strongly Demo-
cratic. A few. even many, extra votes
on either side are not likely to make
any difference. But on popular basis,
every vote, no matter where cast, would
count as much as any other vote. All
voters would be equally motivated so
far as the finsl count is concerned
w. C. RUEDIGER.
Living Memorial for johnson
To the Editor of The star:
monument in memory Of Walter
Johnson, Washington's great baseball
pitcher, has been proposed Such a
monument, regardless of its creator and
whatever its beauty, would be an empty,
lifeless thing in no way symbolic of the
warmth and fullness of his life, but.
rather, hideously emphasizing the fact
that he is dead.
Every middle-aged man alive today
who loves our national game is better
man for having followed Walter John
sons career. Every American boy in
clined to athletics may appropriate to
himself the code of sportsmanship, the
will to win, the great development OF
natural ability and, withal, the modesty
and simplicity of this great athlete
Bronze, cast iron and concrete never
can point out to Young America that a
major factor in his greatness was his
love of friends, home and. children.
Shutdown and finale found Walter
johnson as game and cheerful as ever,
the power and magnificence of his great
physique puny shadow. No epic
pitchers battle ever tried his courage
as did the months of illness in George
town Hospital but his was a sturdy
heart.
Tt is reasonable and just that fit
ting memorial be erected to perpetuate
the manly, matchless facets which were
the heart and soul of Walter johnson;
but let 1t be no bleak and voiceless image
on pedestal. It instead should pulsate
with health, good cheer clean living and
life.
memorial trust fund established to
defray expenses of INDECENT crippled
children, hospital room or ward
permanently endowed and reserved for
sick boys and girls money to provide
vocational training for blind boy or
handicapped girl, any of these or any
of thousand similar ideas which spring
to mind, would be living monument.
What better memorial could any one
imagine than life made happy. sickly
body made whole, faith in the good
ness of mankind kindled.
What rehabilitated boy or girl ever
would forget the valorous deeds and
the kindly spirit so practically presented
to him or her?
If Walter johnson himself had a
choice, would the power to light living
fire of hope in child's eyes decide him
or would he choose a sculptured idol,
it's destination not the fullness of life
but the rain, rust and disintegration at
Griffith Stadium?
The sponsors of this memorial have
heartwarming chance to make of his
memory blessing. FARIS JONES.
A Tenant Speaks Up
To the Editor of The Star:
May I have the privilege of comment
ing on letter to the editor in The Star
of December II entitled Another Land
lords Opinion?
The author requests 20 per cent
raise in rents because he claims that:
The plumbers, the carpenters, the
electricians, the paperhangers and the