New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-19
CHOOSING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.


COMMENTS on Mr.. PoTTER's BlLT-pIFFERENCks
OF opINIoNAAMONG REPUBLICANS.
The bill of AssembiStnan Potter providing for tho
election of Presidential Electors by Congressional
Districts instead Of on the State ticket at large,
been yariously commented upon. The results OF
inquiries made by TRIBUNE reporters in regard 10
the opinlons of a few prominent Republicans are as
follows;
Collector Merritt said he thought ii was measure
of doubtful policy because if the Presidential can
Iidae is satisfactory to all the elements OF the he
. publican party, and If the Legislature pursnes a
wise course the State can be carried without doubt
by the Republicans at the next election.
This will surely occur if the Democrats are
so unwise as to renominate Mr. Tidcn.
Nothing can be said against the proposed
change as undemocratic, for it brings the choice OF
the President still nearer to the people. il Mr.
Potter's bill becomes law, the Republicans with
an understandable candidate, could safely count
upon carving twenty or twenty-five Congressional
districts, whether the state foes hepu2can Vi p 4t,
said that as a new question he believed III the sc:
lcctonOf the Presidential Electors by Congressional
Districts. AS for changing the system now ne
thought il simply matter of consideration
whether it is necessary to protect the kepub-
hcan party from unfair legislation by the Demo-
cratic legislatures in other States. II they 60
ing into that sort of. thing the Republicans must
meet them. lie did not believe the Democrats
Il
would then be in favor OF change. lie ala not De-
iieve there was anything in the claim that 10 nave
the Presidential Electors chosen by the Legislature
would be O fraud upon the rights OF the people -
certainly would not be if the Legislature should
be elected after such law should be passed
prominent Republican official said that he was
not certain that the proposed change would not be
good thing. If a candidate should be nominated
who could not command the hearty support
of every element of the party, then the
party would need all the help it could obtain 1t
would certainly be better to have half of the cleo
toral vote of the State than to lose all This was
not new idea. A similar bill was introduced In
the Assembly by Mr.. Hepburn. of st. Lawrence,
few years ago and passed that body, but was
smothered in the Senate. There could be TO oD1ec-
tion to the spirit of the BILL 1t did not take away
DENTAL electors. The proposed mode Of choosing
Electors once prevailed III this State, and it would
simply be going back 10 that way 1t was largely
question of political expedlency.
veteran Republican politician said that
ing the mode Of choosing Presidential
Electors at the present time: The people always
looked with suspicion on political action OF tins
kind 1t was open TO misconstructon ana iurnished
a weapon to the enemy. Ii MIR. Tildcn were re-
nominated land he believed that the same lniiu-
ences which secured his nomination before would be
used with effect again at the next Democratic PTes-
identia ConyentiOn), NewYork State would 60 he
publican always provided that an unobJecuOnaDle
man should be nominated by the Republicans II
Mr.. Tildcn should be nominated there would surely
DO Democratic bolt.