New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-02
A DIRECT VOTE FOR PRESIDENT.

ADVANTAGES OF THE FLAN-TEECAUnoNS THAI
SHOULD BE ADOPTED TO PREVENT FRAUDULENT
VOTING.
80 the Editor Of The rtbune.
SIR: Its nearly 3 years since THE 1RIRUNE
printed an article Of mine advocating the election Of
President by the direct vote u adult citizens and CONT
ingthe result by the plurality vote Of each Congressional
district Since then have frequently advocated the d.
rect vote and have ncyeryct found person Who de
sired TO retain the Electoral College method. Having
made IS a special subject Of consideration, am satisfied
the desire fo change is universal among all parties
and classes OF citizens recent Journey through ten
States confirms in this opinion Let Us then nave an
amendment 70 the Constitution aboisnng Che Electoral
College and providing for the election Of the President
and yco-Prcsideut 10y the direct vote The real Guc
ton TO Dc considered is the manner of decla1ns tAe
vote. Four methods popuiErly spoken Of:
Fyst: To declare the plurality vote Of each state
counting as many votes the State has Representative
IL Cou-.es. and Senator'S This would bc The same as
present system as to counting the vote. without i-"
use VI electors Anuud0ubtcd Improvement, but Hot s'
nc;cui 10 meet the demands oi the times.
Second: 70 CONT the vote OF each Congressional @
trot a. one according TO the pluravote OF the district
and two votes for the plurality vote Of the state entire
THIS is Senator Merton, plan.
Third same a. No. ,, except that il dspenS rs wifi @
two state votes In other Won ds this s Tie district lN
ten eccUng by the direct vote Of tho people bu count
ina on. by the highest vote given 90 the candIacs I'D
many advantages is just % all sections. fraud
however great could only Affect vote for each district
having only its pr1pctiouate eject the total vote of
the Safe. Every candidate FOR Congress would be an
especial guardian OF the vote TO that no fraud WAS
committed iu Under this plan vote could be
Given each Territory and 10 the District o C'iWha
In ,stion TO tlsIIau but objection is presented
and that founded the old theory OF States Rights,
Which, by the way, nearly always means STATE wrongs
against the right. OF the people.
FosoO The direct vote absolute. The man and party
receiving the highest number Of 10 win, he there
two candidates or dozen The vote Of each citizen
throuchout the land 10 count choice expressed
IL dakOSlting secret ballot are there any ObrcuoAS
cC,,il,,tnd dis,rrrslbIe and Igrbaus fatal method
l know Of Once / favored che district pian but
careful investigation am satisfied mat TIN dec
vote AID aggregate count De- tAo best ana most secure OF
good results. That il Is the most popular no one VIII
partisaus VINO hope 20 gain some party edY'n-t htm
Old customs. The people arc ~ earnest loI ciit
tiOus por into Congress asking for such amendment
as viii give us the direct vote Then LET Congress pass
asd submit 10 the people two amendments 10 INC Cosi
tuition each giving the direct vote cat one requiring the
system Of counting by DISTRICTS and the Other requiring
the count the aggregate vote OF the whole county
JleG the matter be fairly discussed ~ The Lo7!sia
the requisite approval the people of wothirds Of the
States would De the law OF the land
guards AGAINST fraud ON Tie eocuye Franchise yel
after u party zeal ana eumesthess for what each party
deems ne bort policy Tor the cUmtiy is he eot ldotc
ton OF the purity Ot the ballot The details OF IA cleo
Ioh may Dc ictl 70 tlC Lv'l'S.l,,S o,,, y ~ i
voter Ike the following: Lawful axe, cltzcu ~ ieast
one year. residence the state slN months. and M the
election district thirty dag, before Presidential cleo
ton or election members OF Congress- ana a citizens
voting fOr the fret tmO after 1876 should DO able %
read al least the ballots they cast registry OF all such
voters should De provided before the day OF election aud
each name checked the list az the vote is taken The
tickets President and member OF Congress should
each be separate and deposited ~ s O" hoN, ana en-
tircy distinct from any votes cast Tor state o.ce-.
Voting districts should be small, and the polls closed
early u The day, AMI the vote counted by dNhSht.
1len with reasonable provision for prompt returns 81
votes, and adequate pCAaItt, fur an forms ar llaudu-
lent voting and counting, may L0pO FOR an election
satisfactory % the people whatever she result may be as
candidates. Let have cad 10 hCuuck Upsu Uccc
voting with "Chaihlug down the vote" bohind The
scenes South Carolina boxes hidden from sight, with
one Tor whites and another for mixed CO0rs, or the
Louisiana Iufauiy OF bulldOzuE." uniform day Tor
Tho election throughout the country, plain, uniform
system o. conducting tho election, uniform ideal Of
Justice TO the voter, and full recognition Of the equal
night and veeit OF every OF citizen The demand
OF the situation. CHAs. W. hhkbN I'LL.
BROOKLYN, Il. d., Nov. 80 1875.