The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-11-28
cUMULATivEsYsTEM orvorIxa
Joseph MednPs Opinion as TO How
IL WOrss In Illinois.
From the Ohio State Journal.l

Joseph MeduPs Opinion as TO How
IL WOrss Ia Illinois.
From the Ohio State Journal
CHICAGO, November q, 1872.
General Comfy, Editor State Journal:
DEAR SIR-You ask me, first, as it
too early 10 judge as to the effect OF
cumulat We voting in Illinois," Second,
If not, what do you think OF i,?'
1t is too early to tell whether the
cumulative system of voting has given
US a better body of legislators than the
old method would have done, that is,
more talented, capable and honest men,
bers. 1t will take several elections and
trials before we can judge with certain
ty as to the working OF the new system
in this respect. The most l am prepared
10 cay now is, that the new House
elected bv minority representation will
compare 'avorably with the last or any
preceding one, 80 far a. can judge by
appearances. In this county, which
embraces one-seventh Of the State, our
best men of neither party could be in
duced to be candidates. They would
not consent to spare the time to attend
the sessions OF the House; and we were
obliged to run the best men who would
accept. II we have not strong delega-
ton from this big county, the fault is
not with minority representation, but
must be attributed to the pressure Of
pro e. sional and business engagements
O the alter men. Still we have secured
the services of several gentlemen Of
very respectable ability.
But in another respect the new sys-
tenn has realized the most sansulne an
ticipations of its friends and others
For the first time in the history OF
political organizations, each party 10
represented rom every portion OF the
State, and the aggregate representation
ia exact,y in proportion to the numerl
cal strength of each party. Thus the
Republicans have elected eigh y-slx
memters of the House, and the Demo
Gratis sixry-seven. The Republican, vote
of the State was 240,S37; the Demo-
cratic vote (incluling OCoror's) was
1920 This would give an average
o. $500 Republican votes cast for each
Republican member. and 2I9O Demo-
crate votes for each OF that persuasion.
What could be more equal or mathe.
matically exact? The majority party
have complete control, but the minority
party have just the representation they
are entitled to on principles OF equality
Had the House been elected on the cd
grab all" method, it would stand: II:
publican 90. Democratic "a We elected
our Senate by single districts, and the
Republicans carried thirty>three dis
tricts and the Democrats but eighteen.
Divide the total Republican vote by the
number of Senators elected, and the
ouotieut is about 1900 votes to each.
Divide the Democratic vote by their
Senators elected, and the quotient is
10 400. Thus you perceive the Demo-
Gratis are not nearly represente in the
Senate in proportion to their strength;
but in the House, which was elected
on the minority representation plan,
thew have secured prec sely the num-
Der OF members they should have, on
principles OF right and justice.
The practical workings of the two
systems, Wiz: the "grab>all' and the
proportional, was strikingly exernpllfied
in this county, which is divided into
seven Senatorial districts. The Repub-
Iicans carried ak OF them aud the
Democrats only one; but for the other
house, the Democrats elected eight and
the Republicans thirteen members, and
that g exactly the number OF members
each party was entitled to in proportion
to it's strength at the polls IN this
county.
For the first time Cor many years, will
the Democrats OF this city be represented
in the General Assembly by men OF
their choice and sentiments; and for
the first time since the Republican party
was organized in Illinois Tin 1854 have
the Democrats secured repres entation
from Northern or the Republicans
from Southern Illinois, with rare excep'
tons. The strongest and bitterest Dem
ocra,ic districts down in Egypt" have
now, for the first time in the history OF
existing parties, elected Republicans to
the General Assembly.
send you list of the members elect
from all the districts-beginnlng with
Chicago and ending W tn Cairo: Mark
the number of Republicans who have
ceen chosen to the House from the
Thirty-third to the Fifty-first districts
inclusive. These, with two or three ex;
ceptions. have heretofore constituted
the Democratic stropgholds OF our
State. Also note the lumber OF Demo-
Gratis who have been returned IN the
stricts from the First to the TWENTY.
third (This district is called Canaan,
in contrsdistinction to Egypt" at the
opposite end OF the State From this
Canaan's fair and happy land Demo-
cratic members have been as scarce as
white black birds.
Some Of the politicians before the
elections, predicted that cumulative
y,ting would cause so much confusion
and mischief that it would have to be
abolished right away. The people, they
said, would never comprehend It, or
know how to vote by that method; and
rI- - ,ho aloction thew Dre~