The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-04-27
MINORITY DIFFERENTIATION.
Practical Working OF the New System
In Pennsylvanin--~Leatcr from En-
Senate Ruckalew..

IL nc GlNIJ vi ~ W. VSf 4 wv WV
SIR-The Bloomsbury town election tmade
the subject Of some remarks in. yonr paper to-
da5) was as nearly right as legal regulation
could make IT., and strongly Illustrates the
advantages of reformed voting. The new
council, as chosen, composed OF SIX members
and a president stands politically four Demo
Gratis, two Republicans, and one Republican
%workingman. Under the old plan Of majority
voting, there would not probably have BEEN
single Democrat chosen OF the whole number,
although ordinarily there Is q small Democratic
majority in the town. For 1t was the case Of
y third party-a balance OF power party-in-
terposing to disturb results. The worktngmen
one:sixth or more Of the voters. and
had ample power to elect the ticket OF
either OF the regular political parties, or
q coalition ticket, under the majority vote.
For particular reasons existing In this case
and because OF the natural" tendency OF minor
titles to combine, they would doubtless. have
elected o Republican ticket entire, or O Union
ticket arranged with that party. The result
would have been a Council wholly Republican,
or mostly Republican, with one or two work
ingmen members. This combination might
have been either honest or corrupt in concoc-
lion, but In either case 1t would have led TO an
unjust result-to.wit, the virtual disfra1chlse-
ment OF all the Democratic voters OF the town.
Under the free vote, however, any such result
WA6 lmpOSSiOic, auu ocCdtoc IL mas lIuPVooiYPS
NO such combination as that just supposed was
attempted. The w%orkingmen voted for their
own candidate. and elected him because they
had votes enough TO entitle them to one coun-
Gilman, and the regular parties elected all the
rest with convenience and certainty, Rs ii. no
third party existed. Bloomsbury contains GW
voters (the exact number OF votes p0lled
for Governor In 1862 and elects her Coun-
Gil annually on the second Tues.ey OF April.
Organized by an act Of 4Ch OF March, 1870,
tine first Council was chosen on the 18th
Of April following, and the second on
Tuesday last. In October last two assessors OF
taxes, TWO assistant assessors, and W c0nsta-
bles were chosen for one-year terms, and two
school directors and three town auditors for
three. year terms. ALI. these officers. except
the president Of the. coulcil, are electa6le
upon the plan of the tree vote, which has Sc
cured Tor the town government throughout
most competent and excellent men. During
the administrative year Just closed the expend-
lures of the town have been less than one
half what they were for the previous year be-
fore the new organization, although Improve
ments have been made and liberal expenses
incurred for proper objects oil outlay, including
q lock-up and IN excellent town map, eXhioit,
ing roads, streets, lanes. alleys, lots. &C., based
on actual survey. The latter alone cost about
$500. In short, the people have had much more
ofproper results from local administration than
the year before ut one-half the expense. To a
great extent, unquestlonably, reformed ad-
ministraLion, peaceful and cheap elections,
and general good feeling In the town. have
been secured by the free vote. Four Demo.
Gratis aud three Republicans have constituted
the council, but their action throughout the
year has been nnselfsl, n%on-partisan, upright
and judicious. This. accounts for The general
aequiescence in their re. election, for The alb
sence Of q contest for nominations or betwecn
the old parties Of the town, and for q light
vote. Besides, if the vote had been full, me
would have been the same. Only be-
cause the w%orkingmen desired to manifest
their existence and take to themselves openly
their share Of representation In the govern
menl of the town was the re. election OF all the
old councilmen prevented. The w~orkinSmen
their candidate, and thus set aside one
OF the old Republican members OF the COUNCIL.
This was their reasonable right, and was coIo-
pletely just, especially as a majority OF them
hail belonged. and may hereafter belong, 10
the Republican party. But what Is most
portant in this case Is the Information al
Of the free vote when o third party interposes
at On election. Such party can commonly get
its just share Of power and no more. IL can
not turn an election upside down. IL can OBJ
tain or vindicate its own right, but 1t can per-
petrate no injustice. It's capacity as a balance
otr.power party TO do wrong, 10 turn the scale
between the main parties and to deprive one
these oil all representation, is entirely taken
and yet, along with this deprivation of
power TO do injustice to others, It's own right
TO tair representation is completely secured. l
need hardly add what is most manifest that by
the free vote the motive 10 purchase side par
Ties, or factions. or floating votes, is almost en-
lireiy destroyed. They are not necessary 10
lust representation, and they cannot give un-
power. COMBINED interests can MY b oGr
c%ouiuint vote, and not the whole power OF the
constitute ncy or district.
april II, 1871. e. r. BccKALE".