The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1950-04-26
Proposed Lodge Amend
ment to Change Method
Of EIectins President

Concluded from last weekly -
THE EFFECT OF THE LODGE PROPOSAL ON
THE NORTHERN AND LARGER STATES
The Lodge proposal will result in q reduction of political
influence for the North as a whole. Political representatives
have had to pay attention to the needs Of northern states and
cause of the decisive effect of these groups In causing the blocks
of electoral votes in the large northern states to fall to one party
or the other. Under the Lodge proposal, each party would get
its proportionate share of the northern votes; consequently, the
competition for the northern states as a whole will be reduced
But it should be remembered that the political Influence Of the
South will still remain great since it viii continue to vote solidly
Democratic. The Importance of the South will grow in the
councils of the Democratic Party and in the nation as a whole.
For a long time persons concerned with politics have
realized the essential danger of minority election inherent In
the electoral college system, but they have thought that the
present system of electing the President is the only possible
political counter balance to the Solid South.
rs IT DEMOCRATIC TO OPPOSE THE
LODGE AMENDMENT?
A great man persons have admitted that the Lodge Amend
ment would have a bad effect on independent, liberal and Negro
groups in the North as a whole and on the Democratic Parity
But these persons have felt that one cannot logically oppose.
more democracy in America. 1t is assumed that the Lodge
proposal means more democracy.
First of all we do not have a democratic system Of govern
ment but a republican system. The Senate of the United States
States represents each state equally. The people Of New York.
13y0DOD00, have only two senator's. The people of Delaware
a23oODO, have two senator's. Under the present system Of elect
ing the President, the influence Of the people of New York and!
of it's independent groups is felt. Under the Lodge proposal
the influence Of the pecpl Of New York would be reduced and
there would be no counter balance to the equal representation
of the small states in the Senate.
Secondly, we have a federal system Of government and the
Lodge proposal fails to represent states in the election of the
President. While the electoral votes are to be apportioned in
accordance with the popular vote in each state, the real effect
of the Lodge proposal except for the loss of fractional popular
votes in each state, is to cast the United States as one great
Thirdly, the Lodge amendment provides that a man may
be elected President with only 40 per cent of the popular vote
We consistently do much better than this under our present
system. It is hardly a democratic proposal.
Lastly, the only offset the Negro has had to disfranchise-
ment in the South and the southern fiibuster has been his
political influence in the northern pivotal states. The Lodge
chising him in the South and without proposing to stop the
unconstitutional fiibuster.
THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THE LODGE PROPOSAL
AS FAR AS THE NEGRO AND OTHER INDEPENDENT
POLITICAL NATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS
GROUPS ARE CONCERNED
The Lodge proposal would have a bad effect in a cumula-
tive fashion. First of all, it win kill directly the political in
fluence Of the Negro and minority groups in pivotal states.
Secondly, it will reduce the Importance of the northern states
as a whole and the great industrial states specifically. Undoubt-
eddy, it is in the North where the Negro and minority groups
find most interest in their problems. Thirdly, it will destroy
the liberal Democratic party, for it will once again establish
the power of the Solid South over the Democratic party. In
the last twenty years most of the advancement of the Negro
and other minority groups has come as a result Of the interest
of the liberal wing of the Democratic party. Fourthly, many
independent groups, liberal groups and even labor groups will
begin to take less interest in the problems of the Negro and
political groups in America are formed by accretion. The Lodge
proposal will have a disntegrative effect on the political groups
with which the Negro and other minorities have been allied.
Filthy, the Lodge proposal will kill the influence of the great
urban pivotal states. These states have had for the most part
the most aggressive labor forces and have been the most power
full ones in presidential elections. They have been the doubtful
states where a swerve from two to four per cent of the vote
on the average has been enough to carry the state for one
presidential candidate or another.
WHY DID THE ADMINISTRATION FAIL TO OPPOSE
THE LODGE AMENDMENT IN THE SENATE?
It is difficult to understand why the opposition to the
Lodge Amendment in the Senate came only from Mr.. Taft and
his followers and from a few Democrats. There are several
possible explanations. First, it is possible that White House
political leadership missed the significance of the whole move.