Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1873-01-16
Minority Representa-

III FeCeDe Ietter 10 tOe eClt0i
of the Ohio &dts Journal, Mayo
Medill, of Chicago, reviews The
result of the trial Of the system
of cumulative voting in Illinois
and gives his opinion warmly in
its favor. He says it is too early
yet too tell whether the legisla-
tors elected by this method are
any better than their. predeces-
sors, but he is of opinion that they
compase iavOrably With them.
He continues:
"But in another respect the
new system has realized the most
sanguine anticipatioRs of it's
friends and others. For the first
time in the history of existing
political organizations, each party
is represented from every por-
tion of the State; and the aggre-
gate representation is exactly in
proportion TO the numerical
strength Of each party. Thus
the Republicans have elected Sc
members of the House and the
Democrats 67. The Republican
vote of the State was 240,837;
the Democratic vote (including
O'Conor's) was 1S7,250. This
would give an average of $500
Republican votes cast for each Re.
publican member, and 2,790 Dem
ocratic votes cast for each men,
Der of that persuasion. What
could be more equal or mathemat-
ically exact? The majority par
ty have complete control, but the
minority party have just the r.I--
they are entitled to on
principles of equality. Had the,
House been elected on the old
grab all method, it wonld stand,
Republican, 90; Democrat, 54
We elected our Senate by single
districts, and the Republicans car
ried SO districts and the Demo-
,rats but Is. Divide the total
Republican vote by the number
If Senators elected, and the quo.
lent is about 1900 votes TO each.
Divide the Democratic vote by
heir Senators elected, and the
Iuotient is l0.400. Thus you.
the Democrats are not
Iearly represented in the Senate
n proportion to their strength,
ut in the House, which was e.,
ected On the minority representa-.
ion plan, they have secured pre-
Isely the number of members
hey should have, on principles OF,
light and justice.
The practical working Of the
NO systems, viz: the grab-all'
nd the proportional, was exc npli-
ed in this county, which is di-.
ided into seven Senatorial dis
ricls. The Republicans carried
* Of them, and the Democrats,
My one; but for the other house,
ne Democrats elected eight and
be Republicans l3 members, and
lut is exactly the number of
lembers each party was entitled,
} in proportion to its strength at.
le polls in this county. For the
rst time IN many years, will the
of this city be repre-.
,nted in tie General Assembly
Y men of their choice and senti-
rents; and for the first time since
ne Republican party was organ
ed in Illinois, (in 1854 have
be Democrats secured represen-
ltion from Northern, or the Re-
ubIicans from Southern Illinois,
ith rare exceptions. The strong
st and the bitterest Democratic
istricts down in Egypt have now,
II the first time in the history OF
xisting parties, elected Republi'
ms to the General Assembly.
''Some of the politicians before
le election predicted that cumu-
tive voting would cause SO much
infusion and mischief that it
ould have to be abolished right
way. The people, they said,
ould never comprehend it, or
now how to vote by that method;
ID the judges of the election,
ley predicted, would be unable
count up the votes and make
,rrect returns. But noue OF
lelr evil representations came 70
lss. The people seemed to un-
,rstand their new power of Gu
ulative voting, and exercised it
eely. In quite a number OF in
ances they elected two Republi-
ns IT. a Democratic district, or
70 Democrats in a Republican
strict. This was done by
Jumping for tavOrite candidates,
transferring part OF the vote
a political opponent on account
his personal merits or popular.
y. But the general result did
IT change the proportional rep
n