The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-05-18
POLITICAL REFoRx.
Proportional Rsprsss ntation--Ths First Free
Vote In America.

In view Of the interest that is being mani.
Tested in all parts Of the country in the
matter Of political reform, and that our
readers may have AL the data possible to
enable them to properly discuss the subject
Of proportional representation, which is EN-
boiled in the new Constitution. we give the
following particulars of the first free vote
ever had in this country. II was held last
month in the town Of Bloomsbury, Pa a little
over six Thousand population, and the home
of Hon. Charles A. Buckalew, the author of
the movement. At his request and that of
the ruling party, the Democrats then being
in power, the Legislature passed ian act to
define the limits and to organize the Town
OF Bloomsbury" and in the AFT inserted a
provision sugge tied by Mr.. Buckalew. in
reference to the President and members Of
the Town Council. The Council was or
dered to consist Of six members and, as
the city was Democratic, if the election had
been ordered in the old way, they would
have carried the whole six. As it was, II
was thought fair to give the Radicals
chance, and the "free vote" was ordered
that is, every man might give one Vo'e 10
each OF six candidates, or Distribute HIS
votas amono a less number as he might |
wish but in such q way as not to have any
fractions less than q half. Perhaps the
right words of the act, however, will explain
this better The fourth section says
When six persons are to he chosen, each
voter may give one vote to each of six per-
sons, one vote and q half to each of four,
two votes to each of three, three votes to
each of two, or six votes to one.
The prohibition here implied against di-
vding the votes unequally WAS meant to
prevent confusion, and the omission OF the
case of . man wishine TO give his six votes
10 FIVE candidates is due to q belief that such
case was so improbable that it was not
worth while to provide for it This being
the law, and it being very novel, and the
election being to organize the town govern
ment on q stable basis, there was quite
good deal of interest shown in the election.
Il as the facts showed, resulted 10 a very
general approval of the new plan. The
Democrats nominated Robert F. CLARK for
President of the Town Council, and Messrs
W. B. Rooms, Stephen knoor, and Fred. G..
Ever as Cou .cilmen. The Radicals did not
seem to understand the new law very well
and though no formal Radical ticket Was
put out, the bulk of that party, with some
others, formed a Peoples ticket, with .
candidate for President of the Council, and
full ticket Of six candidates for the Coun
Gil. The nominee for President declined
and then, as the law came to be better un-
derstood, the ticket was remodeled so that
the Peoples tickle, finally stood, Elias Men
denhall for President, and James Sharpless,
Caleb Barton. Charles G. Barkley, and S
c. Shive for Council.
Senator Buckalew cast the first vote, and
then the balance of the day the election
went on as usual, the voters each voting the
ticket be favored, and the vote counting I'M
dor The law, each OF the three candidates on
the Democratic ticket being credited with
two votes and each Of the four Peoples tick
ct nominees with one and half. The vot
ing for President OF the council was in the
old way, The total number of votes cast
was lit,l over four hundred, though the
voting strength of the town in all is $50, and
the polls stood:
Far presid oF he