AMERICAN RIGHTS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 20, 18 October 1944, Page 8

AMERICAN RIGHTS

What Presidential Election Reveals “In the matter of public opinion, I visited your university the other night, and heard one of your professors, in a very charming manner, state that if a Gallup poll were taken, it ‘would be found that possibly only some 60 per cent, of the people of the United States knew what their consfitution provided, and probably some 80 per cent, did not even know what the Bill of Rights was,” said Air. Sydney Greenbie, consultant to the United States Alinister in New Zealand, at a Wellington Rotary Club luncheon yesterday. “I would like to say, he continued, “that if anyone wished, to know American opinion he should visit the States during a presidential election. There he would find that the man who did not express his opinions was a very weak and modest one indeed.” This election was held every four years, Air. Greenbie added, and on those occasions, the people knew pretty well what they wanted, and, when challenged, knew equally well what their rights were. True, there were revolutionary changes of Government from time to time, bringing about drastic results, yet, as soon as the election was over, the excitement subsided, and everyone accepted the will of the majority. He explained, however, that it was possible for States with a comparatively small population to swing an election. He instanced the case of the State of Maine, with its five members for Congress and two to the Senate, representing a population of. 800.000 people, as compared with New York, with a population of 14,000,000, returning 45 members to Congress, and two to the Senate. That was a disproportionate vote, for if it were taken on a popm lation basis New York should have 75 members to return to Congress. Air. Greenbie mentioned that once a majority had been secured in a state for president and vice-president, the full weight of that state's votes went, for those candidates. He instanced the case of Woodrow Wilson, who secured a majority of only 4000 votes in the State of California, yet as soon as. that was assured the votes of the whole of that state went for Wilson. Similarly in the last election Wendell Willkie’s majority in the state of Alichigan was only 7000, yet that was sufficient to ensure him the full support of that state. There were about 87,000,000 electors in the United States, of which some 57,000,000 voted. This year there might easily be 50 per cent, more votes from the women. As to the nomination of President Roosevelt for a fourth term, it was not so much a matter of policy as it was one of expediency. born of wartime emergency. The people of the United States did'not like anyone to stand for a third term, to say nothing of a fourth, yet they knew that, as Lincoln had said, it was no use to change horses in the middle of a stream, and to elect a new president now might, disorganize. the whole war machine.

Before leaving America Mr. Greenbie said he bad approached the Governor of Maine, a personal friend, to ask him whether he thought that after the war America would withdraw into herself and go back on the British Empire and her other allies. “No. we will not,” he had said. Mr. Greenbie said he had half an hour with the late Wendell Willkic in his offices in New York before he left for New Zealand. He asked him the same question. “It will depend on leadership.” Mr. Willkie had answered. "The President is leader, and it will largely depend on him whether wc withdraw or do not withdraw.” It would be seen that the President in the United States was a very great power. More powers were granted him than to any other single administrator. The President was not responsible to the legislature—ho was only responsible to the people of the United States.