The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-04-01

The new constitution Of Illinois also
provides for the election of directors
Of all private corporations on the same
principle. The following is the clause
of the constitution referred to:
ARTICLE XII
SEC. 8. The General Assembly shall pre-
vide. by law, that in all elections for directors
or managers Of incorporated companies, every
stockhol1er shall have the right to vote. in per
son or by proxy, for the number OF shares Of
stock owned BY him, for as many persons as
| there are directors or managers TO be elected,
or to cum1late said votes, and give one can
didate as many votes as the number OF direc-
tors, multiplied by the number OF his shares
Of stock, shall equal, or 70 distribute them on
the same principle among IS many candidates
as he shall think fit; and such directors or
managers shall not be elected in any other man
ner.
This will enable workmen who take
stock in the corporations for which
they work, to be represented in the
board of directors, which is very diff
cult now, for one more than half the
shares of stock, under the old "grab-all
system, elects all the directors. Under
the above clause, if the employees in a
boot and shoe factory club together
and buy say one-tenth OF the stock,
and they are ten directors, they can, by
concentrating their votes upon one can
didate, each give him ten votes and
elect him as one of the ten directors
and though the majority Of the direO-
tors will rme-yet their one represen-
tstive will keep his constituents "post-
ed" and advise them whether to sell
their stock or to buy more. Success
full cooperation requires the union Of
lst Industrial skill.
I'd. Practical business skill and sa-
gacity.
Sd. Accumulated means-whether Of
money, buildings, machinery, or mate
rial-called capital.
Where cooperation has not succeed
ed it has been owing 10 a want of one
of these three elements, all of which are
indispensable and these must be hon
estly exercised for the common good,
and the only way to secure honest
management of the interest of each of
these three classes, is TO have each
class represented in the direction of the
affairs of the association. We predict
that within the next twenty years there
will not be, in the State of Illinois, a
single large mandatory establishment
which will not be run on the principles
Of cooperation and minority represent
tation.
The following extract from the re-
port of the proceedings Of the Illinois
Legislature is significant of the progress
of the principle of minority representa-
ton. which will certainly prevail in a
few years in national, state, county,
city and town government in this coun-
try and in every country where repre-
sentative government obtains
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The following is the county commits
sioners bill introduced by Mr.. Morrison,
of Cook, and reported for passage
by the committee on counties and
county organization
A Bit for act to provide fer the election Of
county commissioners
SECTION |. Be il enacted by the people of
the State or Illinois, repre- scented in the Cen
erale Assembly, That at all eeci ions Of county
/ commissioners where two or more commission
ers are 70 be elected, each qualified voter may
cast rs many votes for one candidate as there
are commissioners to be elected, or NAV dis
tribute the same, or equal parts thereof, as he
may see fit, and the candidates receiving the
highest number Of votes shall be declared elec-
ted: Provided, That no fraction OF vote
shall he less than one-fourth of a whole vote
The returns of the county canvassers or a Ger
tilted copy thereof. under the hand Of the
clerk Of the county court and the seal of said
/
# said election.
SEC. 2. Whenever voter shall intend to
give more than one vote 10 any candidate, he
shall express lis intention on the face Of his
ballot in figures, or words, or both where no
number is placed opposite he name Of a candi
date, one vote only shall be deemed cast for
UGH Candidate. Fractional votes shall be add
ed together, and the amount in whole numbers
shall be counted and allowed 60 the candidate
! for whom they we're given.
| SEC. 8. All acts and parts Of acts in conflict
with the provisions of This act are hereby re-
pealed.
We assume that this bill will become
law. ESQ, in this Cook county, we
shall elect fifteen commissioners On the
minority representation principle,
among which all classes Of our people
will have representation, and our coun-
ty government will truly represent the
desires, the intelligence and the integ-
rity of our people. 1t is expected that
before the legislature adjourns it will
amend the city charter so as TO apply
the same principle TO the city govern
ment
WORK H0UsEs.-No /.
1t is conceded by all who have ever
given the subject any reflection that