Sol's Seat

If an Indian Summer develops a strong third party this year,

If, as a consequence, no party receives a majority in the electoral college,

If, therefore, the election of a sucessor to Calvin Coolidge is thrown into the House of Representatives,

If, as is quite likely, the vote of New York State determines the election in the House,

If (since the Democrats have 22-21 majority of the New York delegation) a Democrat is elected President, he will be constrained to give thanks for the life and labors of Congressman Sol Bloom.

On Jan. 30, 1923, in the Manhattan district which includes Columbia University, a stretch of Riverside Drive, a Yiddish theatre and other sources of amusement, Sol Bloom was elected to Congress over Congressman Chandler, 17,909--17,718. There was an official recount and still Sol Bloom had it, 17,802--17,676. The House of Representatives itself conducted a recount. Still Sol won, 17,857--17,704.

Then the Republican members of the Election Committee decided "there was such an utter complete and reckless disregard of the election laws" that they threw out the votes of three election districts, pronounced Sol defeated, and urged the House to unseat him. But the Republicans had to contend not only with the Democrats but also with the Republican Radicals. The latter joined with the Democrats, voted that Sol's seat in Congress was his to have and to hold.