New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-01

that the objection to this mistaken method Of govern
o ~ n0s NO matter Of whom Composed no matter in
what manner selected, DISCHARGE the duties which
ed mosp honest men in the country would bIunder
the effort because Of tho want of prompt decision and
minisiration Any Of their number, acting alone,
would do well where all Of them acting together would
be pretty sure to do Ill.
CUMULATIVE VOTING.
The remedy which relied against the evils OF mis-
government under this charter, is tho cumulative sys-
tenn Of voting which introduces in order TO secure
fuller representation Of the minority Is claimed tnat
this will result only In better class OF representa-
ves in greater the H%r OF the arm :" Ss
elected in each district, and every eector Is antnor-
ized instead Of voting once for each OF nine Candidates
to cast II chooses TO do, nine votes Tor any ono
candidate or TO cast three votes each Tor any nree
candidates, and so on. This plan seeks 10 iet the
put into Office its candidate. in spite Of the Oppos
tion OF the political majority: Experiments are now nov,
cumulative method of voting as TO some OF their local
elections but these have been inauguraed so recently
from actual practice and experience 1t proposed by
this bin that we shall Try the experiment IN tas si e
to DO failure. city of 100000 inhabitants is not the
an experiment which many of the thoughtful Of
people believe to be Visionary, inpraetcapic anu
unconstitutional. II would be much wiser Tor us 10
awt the results of the trials going on elsewhere
This would not be the first time that scheme 70 allow
the minority 10 put into Office In spite OF the oppo
sition of the majority been tired in this state For
many years the Board of supervisors IN Was
elected upon this principle In that instance the minority
wei allowed practically, to choose just hai the BOARD
Cais experiment. warmly and earnestly advocated at us
Introduction q valuable Improvement, resulted as ai,
admit now, IN disastrous failure, and was abanaonea
with general consent There Is THIS
the minority secured equal share OF power while
here Il expected they will obtain only share pro-
portioned to their actual numbers.
CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION.
very serious question arises whether this method OF
voting In conformity with the provisions OF the Con-
suon Many of the ablest lawyers OF the State have
not hestated to express their convictions that must
be held unconstitutional 1t said and with great
force the election regulated by this charter Is
not an election in tho in which that word
understood at the time the Constitution was made and
An election is the choice Of public officer by his re-
cevng larger number OF votes than any other cand
electors being entitled to vote once at such election
for q candidate for the place to be filed 1t Is
electors shall be entitled to vote for all officers who
to be elected by the people, and that any elector exer
to be chosen for his district his single
of the candidates cannot be overridden by one OF ms
place without an nfraction Of his equal right OF
suffrage as an elector under the Constitution
ordered under this charter might be declared
invalid at a time when the Legislature is not
prevail in the affairs Of the city While, in ordinary
cases. threat of litigation Is not OF itself suincent
law or why should refuse 1t my approval. yet when
the change to be made In the law so rev oS ~ s
constitutiOnality grave and serlons aud w1en
complicated and INJURIOUS litigation Is almost Inc Sera h
prudent regard for the public interests 10 abstain lrch
making great innovations not called Tor ny any over
The fundamental principle Of our Government, FAINT
liar to the people IS that elective oncerS sna De @
part in the choice In all questions submitted 70 Ine PEG
fol no ufr "a
magnitude proposed, which ought not 10 DO tfeu un
der the sanction Of an CT the Legislature only if so
great change is to DO made at 1t should be only
with the careful deberatlOn winch pertains 10 reVsons
independent Of tho constitutional question Is that of
the eXpedency OF this change III Inc ethoo o cnooss
f0r Of ann aOo not
prove TO be improvement. This has, nowhere Deen
1d pR MIN operate 1S III
in considering which men whose ineiiisenee respect
hand many OF equal intelligence anticipate very great
evils from it, In the absence OF actual experience al
opinions upon it speculative merely suggest some
OF the dangers which this stem may IL seems 10 me-
be exposed in pracuce.
NECESSITY OF TWO POLITICAL PARTIES.
In all free the people divide themselves
into two great parties. This tendency is 30 universal
that it is not craftsmanship to Ignore it. Enactments
will not it. 1t is natural, useful, and whole
some division; 1t insures q large body of men
among the people interested in. and intent, upon
faufndng with the party in power and struggling by
of Of their errors TO bring over TO the
side OF the minority enough OF the electors to convert II
into O majority, and 50 TO take over the government
politics. in other things, 1t is agitation which pur
fes Under this proposed new system OF voting. the
minority carry in their candidates without effort The
majority do the same. In district where 1t is
known that the political majority usually casts about
twothrds Of the whole vote, there being nine Aldermen
elected nominating convention OF the
political majority will naturally concentrate oil Their
votes upon six 5ae caucus oI ane minority
test before the people The DEGREES OF the party
tftppf yardn
ton. For the two parties VIII be acting at the polls
not against each Other but independent each DOL OF
crees u the party caucuses, on oOth SIDES,
aTe The leaders or both sides for an upon dy
sion power against which combinations the mass OF
the voters might under this system. struggle in vain
If is trne there is an opportunity for combination In
favor of two candidates or independent voters
the power OF the regular party organization Is consld
ered will not this influence OF combinations OF indie
and very rarey9 viii it be equal TO the power which
voters disposed to disregard their party associations
Thousands Of in New City exerted their power
in this way last Autumn. The political revolution in
that city was wrought out by the tremendous power of
the majority not through any scheme OF divided votes
1t may be fatal mistake for to be overconfdent
that the effect OF this method OF voting VIII be merely TO
unselnsh and more vrtuous among the electors The
professional politicians may use IL more skilfay and
power beyond the reach of the popular majority or OF
popular condemnation This system must tend to IN
crease very largely the power IN politics OF men who
have q personal following in the shape of clubs and
associations formed to promote the Of
IN local politics. The weight OF club OF this kind will
be increased nnefOd, club OF 1000 welding 1900 votes
Nor s 1t TO be overlooked that this cumulative method
of voting confers higher money value on the ballot OF
any who Is corrupt enough to sell It, He can make
his vote worth 70 candidate nine times much
1t is now The inducement to pay and the induce
ment TO take brides will both be greater than now The
Legislature must itself have looked upon this method CT
voting nothing better than experiment.; If 1t had
been satisfied Of its merits and had had confidence in its
working WELL it would have applied the principle gen
orally, wherever 1t could be applied to local elections ut
least throughout the State.
MINORITY RIGHTS.