Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-04-19
The Basis of Representation in Re-
publican Conventions.
Grant Co. Wis. April II 1877

Editor of the HERALD
/ am pleased TO see disposition
on the part of Newspaper Men to
discuss the resolution introduced IN
the late Judicial Convention by Geo.
A. Cham bers, Esq. 1t is to be
hoped that the subject will be treat
ed fairly, giving the total vote and
the party vote of the several towns
losing or gaining by the proposed
change. In making calculations on
tho presentation in order to OBJ
tain similar results the same fraction
of the vote must be used Mr..
Chambers basis of representation
was one delegate for every 30 Re-
publican votes cast and an addition
al one for each fraction of ID and
over. The Editor OF the NelOS used
the fraction Of 13 votes and over.
This partially accounts for the DIS
crepancy between his figures and
those of Mr.. Chambers. | also hope
that this discussion will not be con-
fined to newspaper men that citi-
zens of each town in the county will
give their views through the papers,
and / propose at this time to show
how it looks to one of them.
You, Mr.. HERALD, say that there
are reasons for the change and reas-
ons against It, But through my
glasses. 1.-The reasons for" look good,
but 1.-THE reasons against" look bad
In looking over the 1st, Assembly
District | can see no good reason
why the SO Republican voters in
jamestown should have 5 delegates
in convention while the 1874 Republi-
can voters of Lima have 4. In the
End. District [ can see no good
reason why the 215 Republican
votes of Potesi should have IL dele
gates in convention while tho 212
Repu blican voters of Bloomington
have but 6. In this case Potosi
casts only three moro Republican
voters than does Bloomington yet
these three extra votes are represen-
ted by 5 delegates 10 convention
this is an unequal representation and
to me seems a good reason for
change. In the Bird, District [ can
see no good reason why the "a Re-
publican voters OF Castle Rock
should have delegates in conven-
ton while the AZ Republican voters
of Millville have but one. Will
some one who can see a good reason
please explain.
Muscoda and Castle Rock are the
only towns iu the 3rd. District that
lose by the proposed system. These
towns gave Tilden 1876 majority ;
they have under the present system
s delegates.
Fennimore and Mount Hope are
the only towns In the 3rd District
that gain by the proposed system
These towns gave Hayes 205 MAORI
ty they have 10 delegates.
Is it just that IS Republicans in
the towns of Castle Rock and Mus
coda should have a delegate and at
the same time require Fennimore
and Mount Hope to have 80 Repub.
licans for delegate La all candor
can a good reason be given for toll
Grating such unequal representatiop?
To perpetuate this system seems
like offering premium for D3mo-
cratic votes.
But to illustrate further. Cass-
vile, Liberty and Potosi ARE the on
ly towns in the End. District which
lose by the proposed change. These
towns gave Tilden TAG majority;
they have under the present system
10 delegates. Bloomington, Lancas-
ter and Little Grant are the only
towns that gain in the 2nd. District.
These towns gave Hayes 40 major
ity-ten more votes than the whole
Republican vote of tho towns of
CaasvilIe, Liberty and Potosi-and
they have only 20 delegates 10 con-
vention.
Now if these 400 minority voters
should as the Ne0s suggests, quietly
lie down and refuse TO poll vote,'
it would not defeat the majority
candidate. But on the other hand
ho,o ,could it be with a minority can
didate IL case the majority should
equieily lie down and refuse to poll
vote ?" No, No; it will not do for
minorities to dictate to majorlties.
Under the present system politi-
clans will strive TO get ont as large
vote as possible in order to increase
their representation and they will
care but little how a man votes
Such system cannot sustain par h
ty, much less build up one. II
Under the proposed system poll
ticians would strive to increase their
party vote and would urge partzans :
to the polls. This system will build !