Evening star., 1960-11-14

! hope this close election
will cause the Congress to
take action to eliminate the
electoral college system. The
worst feature Of the present
system Is that it encourages
Q presidential candidate to
debase himself by directing
his appeal toward we'll
organized pressure groups
that may swing more elec-
toral votes than their actual
numbers warrant. I hope the
voters will let their congress
sional representatives know
that they demand q system
which provides for a direct
vote for President. The cleo
toral college was out Of date
almost as soon as 1t was
established. Let's don't pass
up this golden opportunity to
get rid Of it.
Violet Palmer.
. . =
In the November 9 issue Of
The Star ! find David Brod.
er's analysis Of President.
elect Kennedy's victory un.
fair in his comparison with
the first Roosevelt victory.
Mr.. Broder writes: But the
dimensions Of this victory
make comparison with Presi-
dent Roosevelt's achievement
almost absurd"
In the first place. Senator
Kennedy's campaign did not
coincide with the worst de-
preston this country has ever
experienced. as in 1882, the
rock-bottom year! Kennedy's
campaign coincided with rel
atively good times-always q
handicap to the "outs." In
the second place. Senator
Kennedy was not running
against an unpopular Presi-
dent, as the unfortunate Mr..
Hoover was regarded In 1882.
Mr.. Kennedy ran against q
nationally prominent Vice
President, who had the back
ing Of one Of the most popu-
lar Presidents In history. In
the third place. Senator Ken
nedy carried an unpopular
message to the voters: That
all Is not well. This is q hard
pill to swallow after being fed
tranquilizers for nearly eight
years. In the fourth place.
Mr.. Roosevelt was q Protes-
tant. I believe that future an
alyses Of the votes on the
Midwest will show that the
farm revolt" was averted by
anti Catholicism.
When all these circum-
stances are added it certainly
is apparent that Senator
Kennedy's mandate is strong
and his victory miraculous.
Kathryn T. Eager.
= =
Why is it that there are
always o few big. bad losers
in the Republican Party? I
cannot recall such o distaste-
full. unpatriotic attitude by
the Democrats after the 1852
and 1856 elections. It is about
time for the managers" Of
the G. O. p. to admit defeat.
quiet down and accept it, and
join the American people in
the process Of backing q
truly intelligent, persevering
young man who in every
respect is worthy of the trust
placed in him, even though
by q simmer margin than
usual. He has the stature
and great maturity to support
this trust.
Evelyn Van Wrinkle.
. . q =
It becomes evident that in
this country, New York. Phil
adelphia and Chicago pick
our Presidents. The rest of
us seem to have very little to
say about it.
This election pleased many
Of our so-called European
friends, and even one of our
enemies. but more than half
Of the people most concerned
are not too happy at this
point. No wonder so many
people don't bother to vote.
What's the use?
Disillusi0ned.
= \
Why could you not extend
your congratulations to Sen
ator Kennedy in your No
vember 10 editorial, "The
Challenge Ahead? The Vice
President did.
Philip A. Ridgely.
Il y y 4
I am q Democrat who voted
for Nixon. I wish he had won.
I am q Protestant who has
grown up with some knowl-
edge Of the sometimes vio-
lent differences between Prot
estants and Catholics. As q
veteran who spent 10 months
with n signal hattalion in