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Story
October 31, 1898
The Paducah Daily Sun
Paducah, Mccracken County, Kentucky
What is this article about?
An explanatory article on the US Electoral College, describing its complex mechanism where voters elect unnamed electors who then cast state votes for president, its historical origins, and criticisms as cumbersome machinery.
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THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
Is a Curious and Complicated Piece of Machinery.
The electoral college is a piece of political machinery so complicated that to the uninitiated its working is difficult of comprehension. When men vote for president of the United States, they do not find the name of the candidate for whom they vote upon their tickets, but, instead, a list of names of men, most of whom they never heard of before. These are the electors, who, when chosen, proceed to the capital of the state in which they live, and there cast the vote of the state for the man of their choice. They are supposed to vote for the ticket on which they were elected, and there has never been a case in our political history in which an elector proved false to the trust reposed in him. After the state electors have cast their votes the result is recorded and transmitted in duplicate to Washington, where the votes are counted in congress. The original intention of the framers of the constitution was that the candidates for president and vice president should not come before the people at all. This intention has been frustrated by changes in our political system, but the electoral college remains, although regarded by many as a rather cumbrous piece of governmental machinery.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Is a Curious and Complicated Piece of Machinery.
The electoral college is a piece of political machinery so complicated that to the uninitiated its working is difficult of comprehension. When men vote for president of the United States, they do not find the name of the candidate for whom they vote upon their tickets, but, instead, a list of names of men, most of whom they never heard of before. These are the electors, who, when chosen, proceed to the capital of the state in which they live, and there cast the vote of the state for the man of their choice. They are supposed to vote for the ticket on which they were elected, and there has never been a case in our political history in which an elector proved false to the trust reposed in him. After the state electors have cast their votes the result is recorded and transmitted in duplicate to Washington, where the votes are counted in congress. The original intention of the framers of the constitution was that the candidates for president and vice president should not come before the people at all. This intention has been frustrated by changes in our political system, but the electoral college remains, although regarded by many as a rather cumbrous piece of governmental machinery.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Electoral College
Us Presidential Election
Political Machinery
Electors
Constitution Framers
Where did it happen?
United States, Washington
Story Details
Location
United States, Washington
Story Details
The electoral college involves voters selecting unnamed electors who cast state votes for president at state capitals, with results sent to Congress; originally intended to keep candidates from direct public view, now seen as cumbersome.