New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-16
HINTS, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

VOTING POPULATION NORTH AND SOUTH
To The Edttor or Tke Tribune
SIR: L care little Tor either political marty
but desire TO cali attention TO a subject on which
thhR The TRIBUNE might proftaby employ a rs,y edi
torals before Congress meets. Imean the voting No.,
uaton returned from some OF the Southern Co,srt.
siona Districts. To Illustrate let me take Michigan ana
Georgia. almost equal i'm census population ana eractv
equal IN Representatives and compare the total vote "a
turned in 1880 from their Congressional Districts
Georgia: 1897; l7,9l3 lO.367; 1922; 1904,
1873; 22,299; 1887; 2l,242. Michigan: 81 .97s:
374o6; 4o,l99; 35,737; 4S.7s3; 1860; $500,
1914; 80 200.
In other words, apportionment Of
13l.4Oo total population 10 a Congressional Dis
trct, an average of 39,169 voters exercise tina
right Of suffrage in each Congressional District
of Michigan, while In Georgia, where politics
is everything the average is only 16425i In only one
Northern Congressional District snd that represent 4
by Democratic member from Massachusetts, does the
total vote fan below 10000; only Gcorgas eight
Representatives, two Of Alabamas eight Representa-
uves, and one of MIssissppi's six Representatives
have, by their own showing, more than 10000 voters
among their constituents. Dakota with 2s426 voters
remains Territory; only Of the twenty three Rep
resentatves OF the States Just named has that
number Of voters behind him. Neither Of the dis
tT1cts represented by Messrs. Blount and A H. Stephens
o., Ee0Ts has as many voters az single one OF The
CO. In Mr. Blounts district by bis account, all out
1878 voters were fond OF him that they STAYED az
home on election day, and couldn't hired TO vote for
him or any body else ~
There needs no microscope the Niger in TIA
woodplle = the thing wanted j. TO him ont Every
one OF the nineteen members from Ohio represents over
10000 voters; not one Of the members from Alabama
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Misssslpui
ana Maryland. represents so many 10000 voters.
Can you name a remedy for any such afalrSa
~ you attempt TO find IL in action by Congressional
committees individual cases, in unseatnR
individual members, deciding contested cases
against the sitting members, you take the
straight road toward increasing the Northern
Democratic vote. And yet what general rule lie
Formulated II the House has the power decide tine
qualifications OF its own members. IL
committee TO consider return OF Of less than say
is per cent the total population OF the district
ton, and order additional safeguards the new cleo
toni n
Aof7oaUt Conn, Aug 20, 1881.
Ut would be hard TO frame a general rule that
would not be liable TO work injustice in special
cases. The evil is undoubtedly great but
we think the best remedy is in
patient appeal to public opinion in favor Of
" full VOTE free ballot and . fair count" Where
it can be shown that unlawful means have been EN-.
poyed to keep voters from the polls il will ALWAYS
be in the power of the House 20 unseat the member
elected by the aid OF such means. Discretionary
power in such cases is safer than a fixed rule A.
Stunning thar vote falling short of a certain per-
centage OF the population is prina facIe evidence Of
intimidatiOn.-Edl