New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-05
MINORITY REPRESENTATION

STATES or ILLINOIS AND NV -iohh-'io /
PRACTICAL WORKING AND ADVANTAGES
OVER THE PRESENT SYSTEM
The question of what is called the Free Vote |
ia now under in the State OF Illinois Mr. Joseph
Medi the interchangeable and clearheaded agtator OF
The Chicago Tribune Chairman OF the Committee on
Electoral and Representative Reform, in the COnsu'
tona Convention having the matter In hand Its object
is the fair representation Of the minority as well as the
majority gsative bodies. and Its application gen
eral all States whose government that OF repre-
sentaves elected by the people. The objections to the
present system Of elective representation which have led
the consideration OF this question summed up In
the fact that large portions Of the whole mass OF voters
In districts which elect two representatives are
left unrepresented and without voice the public adj
ministrstion Of affairs Under the present status Of
things mnorities represented fairly taking nuu
bers the proper basis Of representation and the
sbe results Of the system much worse than ap that
have yet In reality appeared.
The theory OF Government is that the majority
should rule but the theory may reversed in actual
practice under the present cstricons OF the elective
franchise II In given district three representatives
to be chosen. and nree parties are In the field
OF them comprsr but little third of the entire
number OF vors may elect its three candidates while
the nearly wothrds making up the other parties get no
representation. Such as this have occurred ana
oterb may be supposed in which four or more parties are
cohcerned and still smaller portion Of the total number
practical and important phase of the question relates OF
to the proper adjustment Of representation with
two parties being by far the most common form OF
political contest and the essential features OF the pro
posed adjustment the administration OF govern
ment by the actual majority and same time repre-
sentaon Of the minority according to their numbers
that approximately the latter II fournfths as large
the former shall have fourths many representa-
ves and so whatever may be the ratio OF parties the
ratio of representatives shall be Identical with 1t. II Is
proposed to effect this the following manner. Each
electo shall have many votes az there are re-
be chosen but he shall be privileged to
cast them all for candidate or TO otherwise distribute
them as he may choose there but candidate
be chosen the plan Of course could not alter the
result the majority would always win, but II the cand
two three larger number the minority
might obtain representation according to their strength
and the larger the number OF representatives the more
| accurate the adjustment.
II district with 10000 voters elects representa-
tive 5OOl will suffice elect him under either sys
TEN II there two to be chosen tho new system may
make an important difference Surprising party to
be 5000 strong and the other 1000 the latter may elect
OF the representatives. Each man has two votes,
and the 1000 party may cast 5000 for candidate and
tho 6OOO party cannot divide their 1900 votes
elect their two candidates over the one of the
other party The result would be the same, and each
representative until party might be-
come little than double the size OF the other then
it would evidently be possible TO divide Its votes so as
give each of its candidates q majority over the other
party 1t would appear just that party comprs'
ing little more than onethird tho entire number OF
voters in district should half the representation
than none at all the arthmetca ground that they are
number of their opponents than TO zero IL
less than half their opponents, or onethrd the entire
they would nearly approximate zero
and get representation But supposing their candi-
date be elected from the district the adjustment
OF the system becomes more accurate Under the
old 1901 voters might elect all three and the 1929 have
no representative Under the new 1893 voters and the
number might be decreased to onefourth OF the entire
number OF voters plus one may always obtain one repre-
sentative out of three for instance, taking the lowest
number 5ol voters ono than onefourth OF 10000
will by concentration east 1903 votes for one representa-
tive The other party, numbering 1872 clearly cannot
cast for each OF the three representatives more thah
r. 400 votes apiece it must give up and take put tWo
four representatives to be chosen from the same
district a still smaller minority might secure single re-
or il the minority nearly the number
of the majority they might get half the representation
Thus larger the number OF representatives. the more
accurate and well proportiOned the working OF the sys
tem-and in a district with five representatives. one
sixth plus one of the entire number Of voters would be
able TO elect one out OF tho five representatives, two
sxths plus might elect two threesi1ths plus one
three and four-sxths plus four. In the ease OF
three parties in district of 10000 electors two OF them
he minority parties socaed each less Ill numbers
the third yet If their combined numbers arc III eN
cess of the majority party socaled, and the disparity
between themselves not too great, the minority parties
may each elect one out OF three representatives
useless consider the great multitude OF cases that
might rise in all sorts OF suppOsabe but Improbable
contingencies. The system is selfregulang one' ana
in any se that might OCCUR the approximation to cor
rect representation according TO numbers would prove
more nearly accurate than the present system Inc
only objection which il may be worth while to notice is
In such case as this. There might be closely
tested election IN which the electoral minority in given
district might return the representative majority to the
legislature through Scratching" the part OF the
majority yet this, the most serious objection ufSed
against the system in itself has little force as the danger
of the same thing happening under the eAlstpS hys
tenn is quite as great and when 1t does occur under inc
nresent system il is not majority of representatives,
that the minority gain but all them Thus the free vote
in the worstsupporable case is an Improvement upon
the old method The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS can pro-
pose and work at any number OF representative proDeS
in this new system but they can find no haw or iaacy
in IT, aud objection to lie against IL whch does NOT
rest with heavier weight against the present syseh
Like the system of mathematics which Is developed from
unity in the beginning and perfect III all its ramif
cations "a the original this system, which in its ut
most complexity is but a development OF simple pro-
cess will be found approximately perfect in all its parts
The practical effects Of this system. which applies |
chiefly in this country to the election OF State Legsa
tures would DO 10 increase the minority representation
In every state Legislature throughout the Union. In
Illinois for instance, the Legislature, on joint ballot
stands Republican &c, Democrats "a. With appor-
tionment Of districts arranged nearly may be to
contain 10000 electors EACH the result would have been
Republican 49, Democrats IS. The Democratic vote in
Illinois at the last Presidential election was somewhat
less that 100000 the Republican somewhat 100000
According 10 numbers the Democracy in Illinois were
entitled TO somewhat less than forhhs the number Of