Evening star., 1955-01-29
The Political Min
New Plan Would End
Electoral College Setup
Proposals Aimed at Changing
Way Of Electin9 President
The Political Min

Proposals Aimed at chunqina
Way of Electino President
By Gould Lincoln
Once again the stage is set for .
struggle over that fifth wheel in the
present system of electing Presidents
Of the United States-the electoral
college. The proposals, however, 60
further than the mere elimination of
the electoral college. They look to new
systems which, II adopted, viii take
into account the minority voters in
each State and give them representa-
ton in the final count.
AS Of today, If in New York State,
for example. the Republicans cast one
more vote than the Democrats. the
States entire IS electoral votes are
turned over to the Republican presi-
Dental candidate.
Under the old Lodge -Gossett pro-
posed constitutional amendment -
which has now been revived in both
cans of New York would be entitled. in
such division of the popular vote, to
so per cent plus Of the total Is elec-
toral votes and the Democrats to 40
per cent plus. The proponents Of the
change argue that 1t is the fair and
democratic way TO get q presidential
election.
A second proposed system the
Mundt- Coudert resolution - calls for
the decision on electoral votes In each
congressional district-with two elec-
toral votes for the State 'Sstwo Senators
to be determined in the Statewide
count Each of these proposed systems
does away with the electoral college,
composed of presidential electors"
which, as the Constitution now stands,
could elect any man President, but
which as practical matter obeys the
party mandate as given in a presiden-
tial election.
Several Sponsors.
In the Senate, Senator Estes Kefau-
yer of Tennessee and Senator Price
Daniel Of. Texas have taken the lead
in sponsoring the Lodge Gossett
amendment, and in the House its
sponsors are Representative Francis E.
Walter of Pennsylvania and Represent
ative Chauncey w. Reed of Illinois.
Joining with Kefauver and Daniel. both
Democrats, are a number OF Republi-
can Senators as sponsors OF the reso-
lution--among them Wiley of Wiscon-
sin, Dirksen of Illinois, Jenner OF In
diana and Ives of New York Senator
Mundt of South Dakota and Mr.. Cou-
dert of New York. Republicans, are the
authors Of the other plan for eliminat-
ing the electoral college.
The Lodge-GoSSett amendment was
approved by the Senate in 1850 by the
necessary two-thirds vote, required to
submit constitutional amendment to
the States for ratification. The vote
stood GA to 81. Lodge. then Senator
from Massachusetts, and now u. 8.
Ambassador to the United Nations, was
able to take II Republican Senators
along with him Notwithstanding the
strong opposition of the late Senator
Taft Of Ohio, who predicted that If the
amendment we're ratified, the Republic
can Party would not be able to elect
a President. Twenty-Five Republican
Senators voted with Senator Taft. On
the Democratic side. the odds were
heavily in favor of the amendment
46 Democrats for and only four against.
Strong partisanship manifested itself
in the House--although the amend-
ment was favorably reported by the
Judiciary Committee. The upshot was,
the resolution failed. Republican menu
bers of the House SHE'D away, fearing
that the Taft prediction would come
true. Some of the so-called liberal
Democrats decided against the amend
ment, fearing that If adopted it would
give the Democrats of the solid
South" too great influence again In
party affairs. including the nomina-
tions OF presidential candidates. Also.
leaders of organized labor and of other
minority groups which under the pres
ent system are able to exert great
pressure-and which have dominated
the Democratic Party frequently
turned against the amendment. Why
not?' The effect Of the amendment
would be to reduce the political in
fuence now enjoyed by minorities.
Under the amendment they could ex-
pect to exercise a degree Of influence
proportionate to the size of the vote
they cast and no more. Under the
FASSShAe oJ91CAu, tA1S ulItUTltiES, LlQuKA
relatively unimportant in terms of
numbers, can throw a States entire
electoral vote one way or another.
Doubtful Chance.
II the proposals for the elimination
Of the electoral college can be han
died on nonpartisan basis in the
present Congress. one of them may
get through. It's doubtful PROPOSE
ton, however. There is virtually no
chance that such an amendment TO
the Constitution. even If acted on
promptly by Congress this year, could
be ratified in time for the elections Of
1855. It would have to be ratified by
the legislatures OF three-fourths Of
the 48 States--and there would be no
time. Even SO, the Republicans look
askance on the Lodge -Gossett proposal
tnoW the Kefauver- Daniel and WAL
ter-Reed amendment). They stiil re-
member the Taft warning. On the
other hand, they probably would 20
for the Mundt- Coudert amendment.
which the Democrats look on with less
favor. So partisan politics may once
again interfere with a reform that is
tustified-and which might help break