, 1872-10-30

EoH REPRESENTATIVES, IN THE f4H5l 0AS4h4GAs
John Smith.
James Brown.
Henry Robinson.
The ballot made out in this form needs no fig
ures, but it shall be construed under the law that
the elector desires to give John Smith, James
Brown, and Henry Robinson one vote each. In
all other cases, it is necessary to place opposite
the name Of the candidate voted for
the number Of votes which the elector intends
to give him. In case the purpose is to divide
the votes equally between two candidates, the
form is:
John smith-1H votes.
james Brown-1A votes.
Another form OF voting is rs follows:
John Smith, votes.
James Browu-1 votc.
Or, if it be the intention to cumulate the
votes on single candidate, the ballot should
read:
John Smiths votes.
Tho purpose Of this law is that the minority
Of the people in each district shall be repre-
scented in the Legislature. tits thought that it's
intelligent application will bo felt in Partisan
and in non-partisan way with equally good
effect.
l. In partisan application, it is evident that
the minority party will thus secure representa-
ton in perhaps every district in the State. The
majority party has everywhere, except in sin-
gle district (the Ninth) recognized the inevita-
ble result Of tho ba1loting under this system,
and nominated but two candidates for the Legis-
lature where three are to be elected. In
this case the minority party must secure
one Representative, no matter how small
their vote may be, or how many candidates they
may see fit to place in the field. It ia only in
the rare case where the majority party has three
fourths Of the popular vote that it can nominate
three candidates, and distribute votes impair
TALLY among them, without danger Of losing
their proportionate representation. In such
case, tho minority party should nominate only
one candidate; and, thought the cumnlation Of all
three votes On this candidate would not be sufh-
cient to elect him as against three-fourths
popular vote evenly distributed upon the three
other candidates, it would require but slight
detection from the majority party, or the cumu-
lation Of few OF the majority votes upon one
or two OF their candidates., to give the minority
candidate the necessary plurality over ono Of his
three competitors to secure his election.
2 The hope for an improvement in our Legis-
1ative system by the application Of the minority
plan of representation is still greater from
non-partisan point Of view. Its proper uso will
enab1e an intelligent class OF citizens who regard
the formation OF the State Legislature as work
entirely distinct from National politics. to assert
strength which would otherwise be overcome.
Thus, in districts where the majority party has
nominated only two candidates for tho Logis-
lature, the minority party has also nominated
nothing by dividing it's votes equally between its
candidates, as one OF them must be
elected in order to complete the
quota of three Representatives from each
district In the event that one Of the two
candidates nominated by the majority party is
notorious1y unfit for Representative, it is
morally certain that large number Of voters be-
longing will either cumulate all their votes
npon the other and less Objectionable candidate
or will give the latter part Of their votes, and
transfer either one vote, or one and half
votes, or two votes, to one or both Of the oppos-
ing candidates. In this case the two candidates
of the minority party might be ELECTED, and the
majority party would be taught the wholesome
lesson to nominate better candidates next time
Take, for instance, district in which
the Republican party vote should be
2,500, and the Liberal party vote 2,200:
4 strict party vote here wonld elect two Repub-
Gcan Representatives and one Ltboral Repre-
sentative. But, suppose John Smith, ono Of the
Republican candidates, should be notoriously-
corrupt man, and 300 Republican voters Of the
district should refuse to rote for him. Suppose
$50 Of these 800 voters should cumulate all their
three Votea on James Brown, tho other Repubi-
can candidate; 100 others should give James
Brown half their votes, and the other half to
Henry Robinson, one of the two opposing candi-
dates, and the remaining SO of the 800 diaaTected
voters should give half their votes to James
Brown, aud the other half to Jonathan Wilson,
the second Liberal candidate. The result would
be as follows, in case che Liberals had divided
their votes evenly between their two candidates
James Brown, Rep...... ..................... 3,s75
Henry Robinson, Lib. $3.50
Jonathan Wilson, 3,375
John Smith, $500
The result would DO the. election Of the two
Liberal candidates and only one of the Repub-
Lean candidates, though the Republican party
should cast majority Of 800 ballots for other
candidates to whom the minority plan should not