People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1896 — Electing a Vice-President. [ARTICLE]

Electing a Vice-President.

In the absence of a majority vote determining the election of a vice-president the senate* of the United States, in 1837, elected Richard M. Johnson to that office. In the event of the election of William J. Bryan next November this same cotingency very likely will confront the national senate at the coming session. Populists have been making brisk bargains in fusing with the democracy. Oregon populists have declared for Bryan, but with the stipulation that Watson haye second place on the ticket. California fusionists agree that five electoral votes be democratic, with four for the populists. Illinois populists have been conceded four votes for Watson, and Indiana populists are expecting even more. In other states, also, fusion gives Watson part of the electors.

In Illinois of the twenty-four electors of the fused parties Bryan will command the full strength; of these, however, Sewall can get only twenty. Watson getting the remaining four if fusion carries the state. In Oregon the four votes of that state will go for Bryan and Watson if fusion wins, leaving Sewall out entirely. There has been opposition to Sewall from many sides, and with the concessions already made to the populist party its demands are not likely to become more modest as the compaigu proceeds. In liie iighr, of the seconditions if Bryan shall win in November it is probable that no candidate for vice-president will get a majority of the electoral vote. The twelfth amendment to the constitution provides that “the person having the greatest number of votes as vice-president, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed: and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list the senate shall choose the vicepresident; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of senators and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice.”

Right here is another interesting situation. If Bryan be elected and if no majority is counted for a vice-presidential candidate it is reasonable to suppose that Sewall and Hobart will have the “two highest numbers on the list.” The senate’s choice will thus be between Sewall and Ho bart, and as that body is for free silver its logical choice in such an emergency would be Sewall.

Referring to suggestion above regarding the election a vice president by the senate, the Pilot would call attention to the fact that it takes a majority of the senate to elect, and the populists hold the balance of power, and they will never vote for Sewall, thus leaving that office vacant,, unless the old parties combine