The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-30

sion OF the representation Of the Slate in Con-
gress would be 10 Republicans to 12 Democrats
But as this would make the delegation a tie,
while the Republicans have a respectable maio-
rity on the popular vote, the most reasonable
demands that the Democracy could make would
cause the delegation to stand 13 Republicans to
II Democrats, instead Of 1s Of the former to 6 Of
the latter, as the case Is.
Taking the Republican and Democratic dis
tricts apart from each other, we have 26S, 2l5
Republicans represented by 18 Congressmen--
an average constituency of 1868 Republican
voters; and 81, 16S Democrats, represented by 6
Congressmen--an average constituency of
1904 Democratic voters--while 227296 Demo-
Gratis in the IS Republican Districts, and &C, 1873
Republicans In thep6 Democratic districts, are
without any representation at all. No reason
able man will claim that the wrong herein done
to the 227,296 disfranchised Democrats is of a
greater or less degree than that which is In
flicted on the G6, 1873 disfranchised Republicans.
But the defenders of the present system will
insist that the 227, ,296 Democrats In the t8 Re-
publican districts, and the &C. 16S Republicans In
the 6 Democratic districts, are represented, as a
matter of fact, by the Congressman of their own
creed from the districts in which their respec-
tive parties are in the majority. This argument,
however, is demolished by another grouping of
the figures If the entire Republican vote of
the State aggregating 329, 403, is to be taken as
fully represented by the lS Republican members
of the delegation, each of the 1S represents on
the floor of the House au average constituency
of 1890 voters; and if the entire Democratic
vote, footing up 321 459, is to be regarded as
fully represented by the Democratic members
each of the latter is burdened with an average
constituency of $3.50 voters, or nearly three
times the number allotted to the Republican
representatives AS we have already remarked
in reference to the Legislature, this state of
affairs is q very consolipg one for those who are
anxious to see the supremacy of the Republican
party preserved at all hazards, but there have
been times in this State when the Democracy
could console themselves after the same fashion,
and such times may come again; while at the
present moment there are States in the Union
Maryland ana Kentucky, for example-in which
the Democracy are thus unequally and unfairly
represented
The Minority Convention at Reading.
political system which exhibits such glaring
defects as are illustrated above certainly needs
reformation, and with the view of developing
some tangible method of bringing it about
convention is to be held at Reading commen-
cling at II o'clock tomorrow morning. This
convention is the result of the original gather
of July, and like it is to be held under the aus
pices of prominent Republicans from the
Democratic Congressional districts of the State
although the presence of persons from the Re-
publican districts, and of Democratic affiliations
as well, is desired and anticipated. At least
one influential Democrat, ex-senator Charles r.
Buckalew, is expected to be present, and the
general attendance of delegates from the coun-
ties east of the Alleghenies especially promises
to be good. Mr.. Buckalew has given the subject
of the rights and wrongs of minorities careful
and thorough attention, and his presence at
Reading will be of inestimable value. The con-
yention is to be held-in pursuance of the follow
ing CALI
"a convention of delegates from the several coun-
ties OF the State Of OF such only
favorable to the movement to secure minority
representation will be held at the City OF Reading
on "Wednesday, the 9lst day OF August next, at II
'The convention will consist of two delegates for
each representative in the lower house OF the State
Legislature, provided that each county shall be re-
presented by at least one delegate By order OF the
y. W. IooD, Secretary. ''''n VA"'' man. .
| "ALLENTowN, Pa July II, 1870"
| In the address which accompanied this call
occurred the following pertinent passages: : 4,
"The Republicans OF Pennsylvania who live in
m ana yoers
than One-third OF the whole Republican VOTE They
own and control very large and varied material in
terests, requiring the care and protection afforded
! by wise and salutary laws That these people are
| wholly excluded from participation in the manage
ment and control OF their respective county govern
ments does not in the least estrange their devotion
| to Republican principles or cause them to abate
! their efforts in behalf of the success of the
Republican party. They have just cause of
| complaint, however, in the fact that, while
their political brethren are and for many years have
been in the ascendancy in the State Legislature,
they are entirely unrepresented, and by an unjust
rule established by a Republican majority they are
continually subjected TO unjust and oppressive laws,
while they are persistently denied such legislation
as their material interests require That so large
body OF the people should find themselves unrepre-
sented in the law-makng power Is evidence OF a de-
mode OF representation as established by the Con-
| sttutiOn and laws of Pennsylvania, more than one
third Of her voting and tax-paying t citizens are ex
department of the State and the same remark vii
! hold true as TO the General Government
! Projects of Reform.
] AS for the schemes which will come up fo
! the consideration of the convention, there are
but two which are in any degree practicable
and deserve attention. One of these is known
as the cumulative vote; the other is yet withou
distinctive and descriptive title, and, for wan
of such, must be known as
The 'sNIinority Clause'' System.
The last named has for some years been IL
operation in this city in the election of schoo
directors. Public opinion SO generally recog
nj ses the necessity of having all shades of sen
timent represented in our school boards that tn,
system has encountered no opposition, and beer
suffered to have a fair and impartial trial, will
results of the most satisfactory character. 1
consists simply in each voter being restricted
TO casting ballots for two members of the schoo
board, while the three highest on the Iist ar,
held to be elected By this means the general