Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-02-16
Minority Representation.

The subject of minority representa-
ton" has been brought before our legis-
lature in the form of proposed amends
ment to the State constitution, intro
duccd by Hon. D. W. Maxon, providing
for it. Doubtless all Of our readers are
familiar with what is meant whea "min-
ority representation" is spoken of, as it
has been frequently explained in our col
umns. Lest some Of them may not
have charged their minds with it, we
will once more explain what the term
minority representation means. The
idea is to have the views OF the minority
of a constituency as well as those of the
majority, represented in our legsa tive
bodies. To accomplish this, various
plans have been proposed the most nota-
bic Of which is the one recently incor-
porated in the constitution Of the State
Of Illinois. The plan is variously de-
nominated "free voting" cumulative
voting" &c. To Illustrate its theory and
practical operations, we viii suppose the
plan to be applied to our county We
lave in the county very nearly 5000
voters. two thirds, 600, of which are
republicans, and onethrd, 1000, are
democrats. The large republican MAJ
iority always enables that party to send
its own nominees to the assembly, while
the minority Of democrats, are for all
political purposes, practically disiran-
chlsed. 1t is true very few strictly polit-
ical questions come before our legisla-
ture, but the theory remains the same.
Now if the plan we have been speaking
of, were applied to our county, it would
operate as follows: The county would
be entitled to three represc natives in
the assembly. They would all have to
be elected on one ticket, and if the re,
publicans and democrats should each en-.
deayor to elect their three candidates,
the republicans would give their nom-
nees each 1000 votes and the democrats
would give theirs 1000 votes, and the
county would thus send three republi-
cans to the assembly. But aohe demo,
Gratis would know that they could not
elect three candidates they would con-
centrate all their vote on one man, each
elector giving him three votes or 5000
all together, which must elect him, be.
cause the republicans would only give
their candidates, if thov voted for three,
1000 votes each and Of course the dem
ocratic candidate having 5000 votes
would be the highest If the republi-
cans should only try to elect two men,
they would give ! votes 30 each candi-
date thus giving them 5000 votes each
The rule might be applied to any other
representative district and its practical
workings would be discovered. La most
all districts, the minority, by concentrate.
ing their votes, could elect the propor>
ton of candidates their number would
entitle them to, and thus all the people
would be represented instead of only
part as is now the case, on the assump>
ton that the man elected does not rep
resent the views Of those voting for the
other candidate, which is not always the
case. The idea is a progressive and
good one, but we are not at all certain as
20 what its practical operations will be-
IL is a cumbersome one, which the great
mass of electors will be slow to compre-
bend when they are called upon to vote.
f we were to propose a plan we should
recommend that one which has always
prevailed in the state of New York, in
the choice Of inspectors Of election.
That plan is briefly thus: Three in
spectors of elections are to be chosen,
but no man can have more than two
names for that Office on his ticket. Each
party then dominates and votes for two
candidates; the party in the majority
chooses its two candidates, while the
board must declare three men e'ected,
snl of course the candidate of the mi
nority party having the highest number
Of votes is declared the third man elect-
ed In this way the minority is always
represented by one man on the board,
and the party in the majority has its two
members. The plan is very simple
one, easily understood, and effectually
secures to the minority representation
We think it would be found much more
practical in its operations tran the plan
adopted in Illinois, which is, we believe,
substantially, the plan proposed in our
Stste legislature Portage Register.