New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-28
MINORITY REPRESENTATIONS.

In a recent letter to the editor of The Ohio
Sty Journal Mayor Medil Of Chicago reviews the
suit Of the trial OF the of cumulative voting in
Illinois. and gives his opinion warmly IN its favor He
says it is too early vet tell whether the legislators
elected by this method any better than their prede
csOr but he of opinion that they compare favOraby
with them. He continues
But in another respect the has realized the
most sanguine anEcipaOus of us Trends and others
For the first time the history of existing political
ganiZatOus each party Is reuresenfed from every
ton OF the state and the aggregate representation Is
exactly in proportion 70 the numerical strength OF each
party Thus the Republicans have elected Sc members
OF the House ana the Democrats ST. The Republican
vote Of The state was 24081 the Democratic vote lin
Guiding OCOnOrs) lS7-jO. This would give aver
age VI $500 Republican woes east for each Republican
member 279O Democratic each member
of that persuasion. What could he equal mathe
matcaly exacti The majority party have complete
representation they entitled 70 principles
Of equality Had the House been elected on the old
grab ALL method II would stand Republican 49, Dem
Ocrat "a We elected senate Dy single Districts and
the Republicans carried G districts and the Democrats
but ls Divide the total republican vote by the number
OF Senators elected and the quotent Il about 1900 votes
10 each Divide the Democratic vote by their Senators
elected and me quOtleH1 Is loi. Ihus yOu perceive
the Democrats not nearly represented in the Senate
in proportion TO their strength but IN the House which
was elected on the minority representation PAN Iiry
have secured precisely the number OF members they
should have, on principles OF right and Justice
The practical working OF the two systems viz: the
"grab-alf" and the proportional, was strtkingly ex
empineu III Inls counrg wien rs ul.lueu Iut9 aeNen
Senatorial districts The Republicans carried SIX OF
them, and the Democrats only one; but for the other
house the Democrats elected eight ana the Repubhcaus
members and thai s exactly the number Of members
party entitled 10 in proportion to Its strength
at the polls this county. For the first time for many
years will the Democrats OF tls city he represented in
the General Assembly Nv OF their choice and sen
ments; and for the first time since the Republican
party organized in Illinois Gin 1850 have the Demo
Gratis secured representation from Northern OF the Re
publicans Southern Illinois. with exceptions
The strongest and berest Democratic districts down
Egypt" have now, for the first tine the history OF
existing parties, elected Republicans TO the General
Assembly
tho politicians. before the election. predicted
that cumulative voting would mucn confusion
and mischief that 10 would have TO be abolished right
away The people, they said, would comprehend
IT, know now vote by that method and the Judges
OF the election they predicted would bo une.io
up the votes and correct returns. But none Of
their evil prOgnOst1caOns came 20 pass. The people
seemed 10 understand their spOwcr OF cumulative
voting and exercised IL freely. Tn quite number Of
instances they elected two Republicans In Democratic
district two Democrats IN Republican district.
This done by pumping FOR faYOrite
candidates transferring part OF vote 20 political
opponent account Of lis personal merits popular
y But the general result did not change the proper
representation OF parties. Since the election see
no assaults on the system in the Illinois papers, ana
NV opinion the press and people well pleased
the operation OF the experiment OF cumulative
voting and proportional representation; and unless II
dew Ops hidden weakness evil IN the future. 10
viii be permanently retained IN our Constitution, and
extended other branches and departments Of our
sfarp