Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-11
CUMULATIVE VOTING.

nAfOTlIF snOulQ RUE. his Is fundQ-
ga principle Of democratic institutions,
v.-hOut which republican form of govern
next would be lmpraetica6le. But at the same
tine u government Of the people by the peo-
e Ger he people as Mr.. Lscoln pnrased
70. he minority-generalIy a large portion Of
the community, quite a. respectable and in
Jr-ngsnt as those who oat.yote thern-sre en-
tt.ed 10 representation, and have rights Of
' niCh they should not be deprived. Tbs
'sE-say OF ms joritiss'' Is proverbal, and any
EessO-e looking 20 q more equal balance of
rover in a popular government, should meet
, IN say0r CnCer our present system OF elec-
tlsns It Is only the majority In any electoral
c strlct that has voice in the legislative body;
the minority. although IL may be within one
yo;e as Numerous IS the majority, being en-
rirely ca; of from any voice whatever, so far
a that election district is concerned. This
has always been felt 20 be an evil, and accord.
II gIy lie statesmen OF this and other countries
bsve been engaged tor a considerable time in
T-ying 20 nnd the proper and Just remedy
1C-it
In Englsnd plan for securing representa-
ten 70 The 1ehole Jo5g OF the people is that
Known a. the personal representation sys-
ten OF Mr. Hare, OF England, and advocated
b. John Stuart Mill and other Liberals in Par.
has IL advocates here A less elaborate plan
= the restrictive or elimination" system EN-
boiled IN the Reform bill passed at the last
session Of Parliament in England, and tried in
taIs country in the selection of school directors
Jury commissioners, &c, in ennsylvania and
lately used on larger scale in choosing dele
gates 20 the New ork Constitutional Con ven.
tor, where II was found to work very well
The plan may be thus briefly illustrated
Where three representative officers are to be
chosen by vote Of the people, the vote of each
@a1 - restricted TO two candidates, and the
minority is thus enabled to make sure OF the
e,ecuon OF one The plan, however, which
seems 20 meet with most favor in this country
- bat known as cumulative voting which
s5mits equally OF application in the choice OF
spTsSentatIyes in Congress, Electors for
Pendent ana yice-President of the United
SAFES, Senator's snd Representatives in the
: ate legislature, and other principal officers
2 his reform can be introduced by Congress
- ;5out any constitutional amendment, 80 far
=, Congressional representation 10 concerned,
aac he plan can be applied TO the choice OF
4 .-sidential Electors by the Legislatures of
t. several States, who have the power to pre-
sc-ibs the node IN which these Electors shall
h. chosen.
Cumulative voting is that, where more than
Gre officer Is TO be chosen, the elector shall
possess IS many votes as there are persons TO
% CHOSEN, and he may bestov those votes n
hIs discretion upon the whole lumber or upon
sly less number. accommodating, If he chooses
upon, one. TWO. or three persons, or any mum.
be- lees than the whole. The result of this
would De, that any political interest IN a com.
ruai;y, Il 10 can ascertain about the relative
p-opertion OF It's strength to the whole vote
nay cast It's votes in such q manner that thew
vii tell IN the result, and il will then happen
TIA: every man who Votes will vote for some
Ca11Ida,e o. candidates who will be certain
70 BE- chosen. For example. each ward of
Washington elects three members Of the Board
c. Coumon Council UHder the present plan
L he parties are nearly equally balanced, but
the dominant party should happen to have a
very small majority in each ward, they would
ss-t The whole board, and the minority almost
a. Numerous, would not be represented at
al. By The cumulative plan each one OF the
- .rority instead of voting for three men and
essctlng none, could cast three votes for the
CHOSEN candidate OF his party, thus securing
che representative. against two which the
Esjority would be enabled 10 elect, ana
n ore-third representation in the Board of
trenty-one members. IL Geergeto wn, where
eeyer members of the Lower Board are voted
Il nsy happen under the present system
that me dominant party Will elect the entire
delegation. By the cumulative plan, when
tae parties are nearly equal, as they are there
j. Will be seen thai the minority, if each one
sAould distribute his eleven votes on i've candi.
oates nominated BY his side, could easily Sc.
cure their eleetion-leaving the majority to
e-eCt six. Nothing could be fairer or more
Izra-iIal than such system, and IL is 90 prac-
tcab!e and easily understood, that II will prob.
shy come into general use in this country in
JIe course Of a few years. Senator Buckalsw
recently advocated its adoption at a large as
ssmbIsge of citizens IN Philadelphia, irrespec.
tive OF party, who invited MN to address them
O. he true principles OF voting for Represen-
Jstiyes under 8 Government like ours, and his
suggestions net The views OF nearly ali who
ve-e present, whether democrats or Republl.