The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-06-06

resentation-Leffer from Hon. 10.
seph MediII. .-....... ....
MAYoR's OFFICE. CHICAGO.
May 81, 1878.
Hon. Samuel F. Hunt, Ohio Constitu.
tional Convention
DEAR SIR: You ask me whether the
system Of minority representation adop.
ted in Illinois operates to the satisfac-
ton of our people ?
1 unhesitatingly reply in the affirm
ative. 1t proves in practice to be just
what was promised and predicted in its
behalf. The experiment is conceded to
be quite successful, and is regarded as
a great improvement on the old one.
sided system OF representation. 1t ia
far more popular now than it was q
year ago, before the first election under
it. Then there were doubts as to its
practicability. Its opponents said the
people would not be able to compre-
bend it, and that confusion would re-
suit at the polls, that bad men would
slip into the Legislature by its means,
that it would enable the minority TO rule
the majority, and that the interests Of
the people would be harmed or sacri-
feed.
Not one of these representations ol
evil have come to pass. The voters
understand the new system without
difficulty or much explanation, and
discovered nothing ststruce or incom-
prehensible in it. They were quick to
discern that it gave them increased
power and liberty of action, and that
the old and arbitrary restrictions in the
freedom OF the ballot were removed,
and they will be slow to consent to
yield back the cumulative vote or to-
tality representation.
The new system commends itself as
more democratic than the old. The
whole mass OF the people are now rep
resented in the popular branch, instead
Of a mere majority, as formerly.
Every voter, whether q Democrat or
Republican, has now the man OF his
choice in the Assembly to represent
him. Neither party is now unrepre-
sented in any district. The minority is
no longer practically disfranchised, as
was previously the case. The vote oil
the majority is not impaired or disturb
ed. The stronger party at the polls
have control OF the House. but the
weaker one is represented in proportion
to its strength. The unjust monopoly
of representation is broken. Every
Democratic District elected two Demo-
Gratis and one Republican, and every
Republican District two Republicans
and one Democrat to the House. The
exception to this rule only occurred
when candidate OF the stronger party
was unpopular, or that OF the weaker
party the filter man to such degree as
to constrain enough of his opponents to
vote for him to elect him. No party
advantage was gained from these ex-
ceptional cases, because they were as
numerous on one side as the other
gamer and loser balancing each other.
1t was a noticeable fact that, taken as
whole the so.called minority mem-
bers" were the ablest men. Several OF
the strongest and most conspicuous
members were sent to the Assembly by
the "plumping" vote OF the minority,
showing that the weaker party, as a
rule, were more careful and conscien.
tious in making selections OF representa-.
tives than the majority side. This
result was predicted by the friends OF
the new system when advocating it's
adoption before the people, but was
hooted at as wholly improbable by its
opponents, who now confess their error
and admits its verifcation.
Minority representation in Illinois
has been demonstrated to be an actual
reform-not change merely. but an
improvement in the science OF Popular
Government, and the people are pleased
with the operation Of the experiment,
and intend 10 give it fair and thor
ough trial. At first many were hostile
to its adoption; but few OF them would
now vote for its sbrogation. Those
who were ct the outset in doubt as to
it's wisdom are now its supporters, or
willing to await future Developments.
The only opposers Of this new sys-
tenn are OF the Bourbon breed, who for
get nothing and learn nothing, or the
clan of court house partisans who be-
lieve in disfranchising their political
opponents from motives OF unscrupu-
lous selfshness and narrow-minded lie
liberality.
1t is to be hoped that your Conven-
tion will at least submit this Electoral
and Representative Reform as q sepa.
rate proposition to popular ratification
or rejection. aud let the people decide
for themselves whether they want it.
Ohio has generally been in the lead,
and never IN the rear OF the column OF
progress.
Very respectfully.
JOSEPH MEDlLL.