The Still-Simmering South

Three of Mississippi's nine Democratic electors suddenly announced that they would cast their votes for Harry Byrd, fourth was ready to follow suit. And it was too late, apparently, to do anything much about it. While there was yet time (before September 7), New Dealers had not put a pro-Roosevelt list of electors on the ballot. Mindful of the Texas fracas, Governor Thomas L. Bailey had assured Mississippi that all nine electors promised to support the Roosevelt-Truman ticket. But last week, long after the state's Sept. 7 deadline, the four anti-Roosevelt electors apparently decided that the racial plank of the Democratic platform was "obnoxious." Day later, Gov. Bailey said he would call a special session of the Legislature, ask for a law which would force all electors to vote for the State's choice, i.e., Franklin Roosevelt.

But the U.S. was thus reminded once again that the President and Vice President are not elected by popular vote. The Founding Fathers of 1787 set up safeguards against such democracy. They held that a group of the best citizens, free from perhaps disastrous popular opinions, could best make the Republic's choice.

This is the constitutional law. It is only by sanctified custom that the Presidential electors have come to vote by states for their party's choice. Nothing in the Constitution actually so binds the elector; he may legally use his best judgment in selecting the best men--nominated or not --for President and Vice President.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.