The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-01-08

party nine hundred 5000 votes. The
Following, would, in such case, be the
result:
Jim Doe, Republican 9,2O0 votes
,Richard Roe, 4" l,lOO
srhnmas Brown, Democratic 1900
ewm. Jones, 1000
Edward Small. Workingmen's 2,7OO
f: The then highest in vote are
John Doe, Republican 1900
rhomis Brown, Democratic 1000
Edward Small. WorkinRmen's 2,TOO
tWho are elected.
Thus the parties numbering respect
ivel! 100 votes, 900 votes, and 900
ivotes, will each, under the proposed
system, have a representative, while
under the present iniquitous system the
lparty having eleven hundred voters
would have elected all the representa-
tives, leaving the two minority parties,
the majority Of the voters, wholly un!
represented.
We have worked this problem out in
many examples, often using fractions,
and we cannot conceive of a case
where il would not be vast improve
ment upon our present rude, primitive
and efficient mode of securing assem-
blages of representatives of the people
Cor the purpose Of eliciting orderly ex-
preston OF public sentiment. As to
the justice of proportionate represen-
tation and the injustice of the present
mode, it seems to us selfevident. As
to completely of detail, we cannot con-
ceive how it can perplex even an old
jurist who has been so long upon the
bench that he cannot move without the
leading strings of precedent, and is SO
o5livious regarding the intelligence OF
ordinary men that he is distrustful OF
the discretion and perceptive powers
Of the ablest and most influential body
Of men that has met in the State OF
Illinois for many years-we mean the
Constitutional Convention now in SEES
sion.
AS a member of the Minority Repre-
sentation Society. the writer hopes that
the committee appointed for the Pur-
pose will prepare a vigorous and earn
est memorial TO the Constitutional
Convention, urging the immediate
adoption Of this much needed reform
in the mode proposed by NJ. MediIl in
his able address to tine society on Fri
day evening last, which was thorough
" in sympathy with the views Of the
society. This plan is that OF the FREE
cote. 1t was first proposed, in 1853,
by James Garth Marshall, in a letter
to Lord John Russell, and very fully
and clearly explained therein. 1t was
proposed in the British Parliament
several years ago by Mr.. Lowe, and
was adopted in the late Reform Bill,
with some notifications, suggested by
Lord Cairns, (which were not, in our
opinion, improvements), and is in this
shape now IN force in quite number
Of districts in England, including
London and Liverpool. This is the
same plan Of application recommended
by a Select Committee of the United
States Senate in March last, ard the
principle is embodied in the only part
Of the New York Constitution which
has been approved by the people OF
that State.
After Mr.. GladstOne's recent speech
upon Mr. Stapleton's Representative
Peers Bill, in which he spoke of the
argument in favor Of the bill (applying
this principle) as irresistible, we may
regard the principle as practically &C
cepted by all political parties in Great
Britain.
Most of the newspapers in the State e
Illinois have, within the last few weeks,
earnestly advocated the principle Of
propOrtionate, minority or totality
representation-all the same thing, and
have severally urged the Convention
to apply this great modern improve
ment to the government of our State.
Switzerland is moving strong ly towards
the adoption of the principle. 1t has
been in partial operation in Denmark
for the past fourteen years under the
Andre plan Of application, giving per-
feet satisfaction.
As to some few of the infants of the
press, who have, in fcebly opposing
this great principle, manifested the
most lamentable ignorance of facts, we
have only to say that we once more
advise them to take back seats.
1t is objected by some that the inser-
ton of anything new in the proposed
Constitution will jeopardise its sdop-
ton by the people. Under the usual
mode of submitting Constitutions. we
only wonder that any Constitution is
ever adopted. The reason il, that
from the manner in which they are
submitted, if any person is opposed to
ang single clause he votes against the
ohole Constellation. This may be
avoided BY simply providing that any
person voting against the Constitution
must designate each clause against
,ohich he Oishes 10 rote. Let no one
vote against the Con titution who is
not Suffi ciantlv familiar with itS tot 70