Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-12-13
rroporlionnI representation

We are in receipt Of ex-senator Bucka-
LEWIS new book, proportional Represen-
tation," (Meesls. John Campbell 6, Son, Of
Philadelphia, publishers). 1t gives TO the
pu bic the first clear and comprehensive ac-
count Of the various election schemes for
the representation Of minOri!es which has
appeared III book form.
Under ore name and another, Proportion
al Representation has been advocased in
several States in county aud municipal cleo
tons. Our Own city, We believe, is the only
experiment yet made in the South.
In Illinois the system las been adopted
in the election Of members TO the State
House of Representatives. Complete Off
cial returns have now been published, and
the result is most gratifying to the friends
and advocates Of minority representation
and cumulative voting. The object Of q
representative government is, or rather
should be, to give every man an equal voice
in the legislative branch Of tho government.
Government Of tie majority IS lot all
that is required, for the minority las some
rights. Take the case Of Illinois. Under
the Old constitution, the Republicans i'll the
southern portion of the State Wero unrep-
resented, and the same was true in regard
20 the Democrats in tho northern half. Not
less than one hundred and fifty Thousand
were wholly unrepresentcd, just as the four
thousand republicans Of New Haven and
the twelve hundred Democrats Of Norwich
arc unrepfesented in the Connecticut less-
lature. Mr.. Medin, Of Chicago, no has
given much attention TO this subject, has
prepared some figures which seem TO lrove
that the plan adopted In Illinois las given
each party representation IL exact proper
ton to its numerical 6reu9th.
Tbo House Of Representatives WIS elected
on the cumulative voting plan, willie the
Senate was elected in tie old way. Let
rs compare the results. Tic Republicans
elected eighty-six members Of the House,
and the Democrats and Liberals sixty
seven. The Republican vote Of Illinois
was two hundred and forty thousand eight
hundred and thirty-seyen, and The Demo
cratic and Liberal one hundred and eighty
seven thousand two hundred and fifty.
The whole number Of representatives is
one hundred and fifty three, which would
give two thousand seven hundred and
nInety-seven to each Representative. The
average vote for each Republican Repre-
sentative was two thousand eight hundred,
and for each Democratic member two
thousand seven hundred and ninety-tivc.
Had the Representatives been apport;oned
by the rule Of three, ths result would have
Geen exactly the same. The result is that
while the majority have control OF the
House, the minority have Just the repre-
sentation that their numerical strength ell
tiles them to. It viii be recolected that the
Sta e Is divided int" tifty-one districts, each
OF which elects one Senator and three Rep
resentatives. Had the old plan been fol-
lowed, Mr.. Medill says that tie Republi-
cans would have elected ninety-nine MEM
bers, thirteen more than they are entitled
to, and the Democrats and Liberals ,hir-
teeh less.
One Senator is elected in each of the
fifty-one districts. The Republicans carried
thir -y-three Of these districts and the oppo-
sltion eighteen. Divide the whole number
OF Votes cast by the whole number of
Senators, and the result is eight Thousand
three hundred and eigbtv-three. THE
number Of votes ought to elect a Senator.
But the Republicans elected Senator for
each seven thousand three hundred votes
cast, while the opposition cast ten thousand
four hundred votes to each Senator elected.
That 10 to say, it required three thousand
one hundred more votes to elect a Demo-
cratic or Liberal than to elect Republican.
Cumulative voting is thus far a success.
The plan is, as our readers know, to give
sdch voter as maRy votes as there are