, 1877-03-21
ELECTION REFORM.
ELECTING A 1'fs ESrDENT.
n fAs Edtt6r AZ TAf Fi4nhs.


b The one question now mosl worthy Of agitation,
discussion, and decision By tho American people,
AL thinEa considered, Tbs plan Of Mr.. ,Buekaitw
tecms 10 bc tho best proposed, &nd with a1lght
notifications, In detail, not In principle, would DO
probably ~ perfect an could bo consrved eona!st-
ent with the tnon Of tho states On the present ba.
sis. II otherwise desirable. an election By the d.
rset vots Of all the people cannot be had, because
ths small states will never consent to such
surrender Of influence. Whatever amond-
mcnt may ba made must thersfore preserve
Tho relative weight and power Of tho States on tho
present basis This ID done By the plans known ~
uucka1cw's and Nofton's, both alike; Int It Ia sn
apparently convincing, II not conclusivo arxu.
mene, against the latters scheme. that double mo.
usesslonaf dlstrieta And Il 4 poor argument e
s.y tnas sush tricks BY ne party IN eae STATE w
p aSe 9 o,efa
frauds in Pladslphia vii preserve ihs balance or
nsss II e s9s e +
which e!clndee ftaud entirely. and fraud VIII be
h." h., EXCLUDED h hs .hfa oF s:s
moisd |. Tr ": Ta,nuSs ss' PROPOSE. m
" T. any ss sss af wo
votes will eii ascs srge premium for stand IN
s.'t as 70 * aGs
ono bo4ua votc may dctermlno tho whole Electoral
vote OF the lasrtst al we'll ~ sma1eet State, hut
M paess: tss: pasa ps. 10 sss Il w ~
take the place Of Tho old ones. Two Electoral
yGss u es9 e.e st md fv9 saa
how much one vote may 30 worth viii hereafter hc
we'll known: But eyon Il tho majority n Tho stase
eassea q so i've wsoo 7ese
were three candidates. Or fonr II the hsia, thosc
two votes might bo controlled " vote !lttls great.
Again, under tho pueka'cw plan "a proposed Inot
ssS ssS for I ss1 s1 Il es a more sss q IL
SS'ss + ~ ss;$ ss$; r. e 4;ss
nj BE- counted. Thts would ilo Nc hsss,, i 4, n
II there sero ofher candidates the result might bc
Affected. 3d. too, In any State having either an
ever q oda number q roses Il hsre wste three o.
prove tmpossb,s 10 spporon tho whole ,ote q ithe
@ s.s g e ,ia s,. psf.ns TS . IT,
ossu!, and no scheme should b ssa.pted witl,ont
coniectufcnblo possibilities.
\ modification Of the Ducka'er plan can be nssda
which ~l a?poon tns whoe .ote @ o. % %sny stss ,
actual malosiIy 81 plurality Il. jutt sdvsntaac; :;
VIII fa,nlsl, proper motives 70 bring tho voter 70
weaker patty, aid yct viii eter sae sliettest possi
bio reward ior the preparation Of any frnnd That
sassSs Ss Kss ss ssH y :sP{ :.eS e n yss9s ys IT, % s
tlonablo among tho candidates voted for, pro fsta.
recording to the popular vote given for each. and
complete IN whole votes, tho remaining role Or
votes shall be divided Into such fractiuns not less
than tsay) tcnths ~ will permit tie most accurate
nppottiunmcnt, and snch fractions Of votes tha!l
bo pro- ssted hHlong the candidates, giving to oac'
according to the number Of his popular votes not
represented by tho whole Electoral votes III
anyl already apport'oned to him: Thus
modified tho plan BeclnB to be subject to no
Just objection. TO any md all nsrttes would b
awnrded With inhthesnat,tal accuracy The ne.sure
election sEcoedtug1y close Cunning OH one-tenih
Of an Electoral votel. could iosaI franl have my
H. ,aef f. nu oo sot sosa
fruudnlent popular yota Of 2, 600 would cunlsol
only ono -sonth OF Electoral vote, whIte. as al.
elc ballot may 'siutermIno the us rotcs OF New
York, ahdt under tho Morton plan. or the Tntn.
USE n,odltnatlbr Of the Fl,eknlsw plan, might In
any 8tatc determine two Electoral votes. ".