Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-02-11

| tor. Now, suppose each elector I'm the district
had three votes, what would be the result ?
The minority party could cast all their votes
! for one candidate, and would elect him, and
the majority party would cast their votes fos
two candidates, and elect them. This result
| would certainly follow. Tie respective mar.
ties wonid know their strength as We now
know H. II the majority party should under
take Ia elect three Senators, each one would
receive 10000 votes, while the minority party
\ would cast all their votes for one candidate
and hc would receive $4,000 votes, and tls
result would be that two Of the majority ant
one OF the minority party would be elected
And thus representation for the whole people
be secured. ..t.
Take the case Of the 18th, 18th and
18th Senatorial Districts. Suppose these
three districts were formed into one,
with the cumulative vote. The aggrc-
gate vote in that district, when the
! present Senate was chosen, was in round
numbers 10000, the Democratic vote be-
ing 10000, the Republican vote 1000.
What must take place there ? The 1000
republicans would cast their three Sotes
Tor one candidate, giving him 27 900
votes, and he wonld he elected, for the
10000 democrats, If they should under.
take to elect three Senators, could give
them but 20,009 votes each, and this
they would not do, but would vote for
two candidates, and would elect them.
Now, divide the State into suitable
districts, and provide for the cumulative
vote, and what would be the grand re-
suit in the State ? Each and every man
within our Jurisdiction would be repre-
sented in the Legislature. His voice
would be heard i'll the Representative
Hall and in the Senate Chamber. He
would be there wish his objections and
his arguments. n angry, di@conteatea
minority would remain at home % grieve
over fancled or real injuries, or hardshps.
But the State would be fairly represent
ed. All the people would be heard.
Then, indeed, would the great pripcipIe
OF self government be realized.
1t may be said that Notwithstanding all
this, the majority in Congress or the
Legislature must rule. This is true and
ought to be true. But under this sys-
tenn all the people would he represented.
No voice i'll the State would be silent.
Under the system now in force the ma
jority Of The majority rule. That is to
say about one-half of the electoral body
is represented, and the majority of that
half make the laws. In other words one
fourth Of the people make laws for aud
rule the balance. Suppose Ohio to have
five hundred thousand votes, and that
number is not tar from correct, by the
law as 1t now stands, two hundred and
hfty-one thousand votes can elect Leg
islature. A majority of that Legislature,
which majority might represent no more
than one hundred and twenty-five thou
sand votes, would make the laws for the
remaining three hundred and seventy
five thousand Of the voting power. This
is not a representation of the people. 1t
is representation of only part OF them.
The system under consideration, pro-
vides that all the people shall be repre-
sented, 1t is simply a means ior that
end. And when the people are fairly
represented, then the majority should
rule, The trouble with the old system,
is, that only about one-half the people
are represented, and majority Of that
half rule the State,
Apply this system to the clccilon of Con-
gressmen Take the case of Maryland. Its
Congressional delegation is entirely Demo-
cratic, and this result is scared by vote of
10000 electors, and yet there are in that State
51,0OO Republicans entirely unrepresented, and
VIII probably remain so for long series of
years under the present system of voting Is
there any reason why the So, coo electors should
forever pc deprived of all political influence,
and tor all practical purposes disfranchised
In the case OF Massachusetts,, with voting
population of $4,000, fifty thousand are silent
in their Congressional delegation. They have
IF III, a.
of the right of splfgoveTnment. Now apply
the cumulative vote To MARYLAND and to Massa
chusetts, and what would he the result 1t
would give to all the people representation,
according to the respective number of the
political parties And can there be any obec-
tion to the people being so represented Is
it not the very end of all political thought and
aGtion TO secure result so perfectly just and
equitable
Now, what would be tho effect of this
system, upon the manner of conducting
political campaigns, and holding elec-
tions We believe it would be the
means of preventing fraud and corrup-
tion, We believe it would create
healthy political action, and that il
would purity political thought. What
is the practical operation of our present
system 1t pays premium on porrup-
tion. 1t rewards dishonesty. But few |
men can dahbls in politics, as now con
Quoted, and keep themselves pure. The !
tendency IL 10 immortality and vice.
Now what are We doing every year In
the first place a disgracefll struggle |
takes place over the question, of who
shall be nominated for Office. Every
means are resorted to Ia secure a nomina-
tion. Men will be little themselves. by
a personal effort among their nighbors
and friends. They will go begging and
pleading after Office, and they will resort
to trickery and delpsion to get the ad- |
vantage of their opponent. And when
the nomination is made, and the two
parties enter into the contest, what fol
ows ? Suppose the county or district is
pretty equally divided between the par
lies, then commences struggle TO secure
The ten, twenty or one hundred men,
" no hold the balance of power between
The parties, The district is convnIsed
from end to end. Business is interrupted.
The political quarrel enters into the
affairs of the neighborhood and the house
hold pol hlool = a,a.anI..oI No;.l