New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-12
POLITICAL REFORM.
rEcTvrRE by PROF. F. A. WALKER.


NEw-HAyES April THE Kent Club of the Yale
Law School is managing q course OF lectures, now
being delivered by professors in the University, ana
also by eminent persons not connected with the
School Prof w. G. Sumner and Mr.. David A. Wells
are among those yet to speak. This evening frof-
+. A. Walker delivered an address, Offering some
suggestions for the reform Of our politics.
In BEGINNING the address he spoke Of the popular dis
trust of reform movements and the general Indifference
TO forms Of government provided affairs move on qs"y
Popular TO the safeguards Of our government
was too great He compared the constitutions and laws
OF the country TO line Of breastwOrks, which were va'
able only they well manned and defended Com
ing then to the growing demand for the reform OF ee
ton machinery he first considered some OF the complaints
against the present system, and replied to some ooec
tons.
Ia OF complaint that our Legislatures or Con-
gress are not miniatures Of the peopei Some political
writer's claim there should be such keness and IL Ia
urged In behalf OF Mr.. Hares system OF cumulative vot
ing would such representation WINE othefs
would carry the idea far as TO give the pckpocxes OF
the country representation II they arc constituency
numerous enough Legislature is special organ for
special purpose and 1t should be the supreme authority
Of the land to give the people, and 50 should have
the highest ability and soundest Judgment OF the people
collected in It, Under the proposed scheme fanatics ana
enthusiasts Of the EXTREMIST type would be liable TO Do
elected Is IL Of complaint thai large proper
their own Our late Congresses have furnished ex
treme examples Of such lack OF representation. Forty
two per cent 1868 O0O Of the countrys voting popu-
ln at the election for the XLth Congress voted ior
candidates who were not elected This percentage was
the in the XLlst Congress. But cuzens oOhg'F
ton to obey the not based on his having voted Tor
the successful candidate Senator or Representative
holds trust for the benefit of the nation, not for the
benefit OF any individuals All our history Is In favor OF
local representation opposed to country con-
stituency and the burden OF proof lies those who
would make the change.
Can we complain Of the character OF the Representa-
tives choseni Not as a whole The representa-
tives should from the people and represent them
faithfully. Provncalism Of language or manners on
the floor Of Congress not evil and there should oe
more OF It, We 10 demand the oldtIne stiffness
and dignity and want men OF the same piece Win the
world about them so cannot complain that our Con-
gressInen are not Of intellectual giaus We need
them no more in Congress than at the head OF banks
railroads steamship and telegraph companies. stil ess
can we complain OF the marked decline In the eoquenes
of American public men and statesmen. The whoie
power Of the country Is in the hands OF cqree we the
real parties in their power, and look Gu and wltes
the struggle OF factions dspung for the spos
No opportunity exists to exert political force outside OF
the rings Occasionally spasmodic efforts at reform are
made by the Of the people, but they soon grow IN
different again. and the cllques reassume control Can
elections be made to the peopef We must taAa
human nature as it is We cannot elevate the people or
change their aims and with facts they are the problem
is how to break down the present abuse Of the caucus
and make the elections the will OF the people
CUMULATIVE VOTING.
OF all schees for defeating the tyranny OF the cancns
simplicity Of working, and for adaptation TO our
political condition. can be compared with eumu-
lative voting" This term is not used rs embodyng the
idea OF minority representation The object OF eunua
two voting" Is 10 prevent tho misrepresentation OF
nur IA
| resentation We believe in majority rule, and the
minority must be content with the result OF the election
until another voting time gives them chance To make
change But by district system large mjotes may
be swamped, by gerrymandertng' minority eYen'
may come into power. In the XLh Congress II repre-
sentation had been proportoned to tie party vote inc
House would have stood, Republicans lo7 Democrats
ga Actually it stood, Republicans, 49, Democrats, AZ
By such majority the Republicans could pass bills and
did over the vote, by the required twOtEds vote ID
the XLIst Congress IL proportional reresehatloh-
Republicans 1917; Democrats 49, actual, Republicans
I59; Democrats SO. In the XLIId Congress the Demo
Gratis we're within OF their full share state dele
cations showed equal irregularities. In the NLth Con
gress Kentucky should have stood, pr0pCrtOnaiy-ke
pubicans, 3; Democrats, 8; actually II VS., EepGo'
LEANS o; Democrats, o. Missouri also, proportionay-
Republicans 81 Democrats, A actually Republicans, 90
Democrats l. Pennsylvania, prOportlonaIy' Il 10 rs
actually, Republicans, IS; Democras,6 ..
Prof Walker then proposed scheme for cumulative
voting which he claimed would be great advantage
over the present single district system He would have
all the electoral districts arranged IL trees THIS mum
her is taken because Is unfayorabe 20 allow successful
emulation where the minority is small while more
than would be unwieldy and would lead 70 waste OF
nautical strength Ii far well practicable N
any scheme OF fractional votes Too great danger Wod
attend liz extension All officers where there are OF
grade could be chosen by the cumulative metod which
could thus he employed IN the election OF ~ Goveih
ments School Boards, State LeGiltuTts RE Electoral
College and National Representatives. Every eiiiZen
should have right 10 vote for candidates or unts
for candidate, IA lie chose Whenever inc mihoriE
in triple district than sneourti II would be sure
of electng az least one candidate Should tls snene Do
applied to Congress, 1t would reduce ar-c my ofl VIZ
this would be q benefit Legislative maorliles should
the real good OF the nation were tNe ml2ll Dsi"
working force IL would be put always 10 ls pest enott
Cumulative voting tends TO modify growing stcuOhai
bias In our present system the minority !, ~ gaVas
disadvantage. II Is weak IN one place ana expects rs
Tbns 10 l" ssveianed mat antaeonsm ot sections
which is the great tendency OF all 1--WE govern
clearly shows. Another advantage Of cumulative votns
is that Il determines the P o tba or CON cs bc
quoted, showing what the proportional repIesent-
ton would have been. We do not need strong Legsl-
ture; our want IL rather OF strong Executive Large
legislative maOrues often spt mo factions, and
Wild selfish legislation is the result But the adyan
tage OF cumulative voting is that would break down tho
system. IL would prevent unworthy noumltohs.
over the candidates would always be tie poorest
The worst would be killed on Nominating eonven-
tons would put forward their best menthe minority 10
to retain their power. Now men 90 not hke 10 N0to
against their pary TO throw away their yoes 30 the
n5nlnaGon OF poor man by convention Is too aiten 40
good "a an ELECTION But by cumulative voting ts would
he prevented AM the caucus would become advisory not
cfvu. SERVICE REFORM.
Certainly no moral social change would 10 so much
to remove the evils which act nation AS The substi-
tuition for the loose irrational nonAmercan scheme OF
appointment Office O thorough organization OF tho
civil service the basis Of competitive examinations
and lawful permanence Of tenure IL Z reasonable to
look for such refOrm OF course maze 10 reference
to the unamented reform OF the civil service OF
which much said and little seen. In spite OF
the many ludcr0us and some shameful violations or
the sOaled rules which the President nerpetated or