The Labor enquirer., 1884-01-12
PEOPLES POWER.
How to Make and Unmake Par
ties proportions Rep
resentation.
Taxation Without Representation
the Result Of Our Ballot
System.
Simeon Stetson, Author Of The
Peoples Power" Talks to
F4 Point.

Peoples Power, Talks to
E Point,
Pamphlet by Simeon Stetson
There are two fatal defects in our
present electoral system. One is the
necessity Of getting majority or . plu-
rality in ordc-- to elect. The other is the
separation Of voters by district lines
which prevent them from cooperating
to protect themselves from political
tricksters, and the various combinations
of the corrupt elements in society,
These two defects operating together
make it almost impossible to either dis
band an old party, Or form a new one.
If an exception now and then occurs,
much time and money must be expend-
ed; and when the new one becomes
strong enough to do anything, it is
likely to be so corrupt that it does more
bad deeds than good ones. In fact,
these two defects enable corrupting in
fuences to take root in party even at
its birth and to continue with it com
stantly. 1t is common remark thatsail
parties will become corrupt after a long
lease of power. 1t would be strange if
they did not, organized as they are un-
der method of voting which tends to-
make them corrupt at the start. New
parties are sometimes worse in this re-
spect than old ones The trouble with
parties is, not that they become corrupt
in time, but that they are so all the time
in greater or less degree. Even when
parties are at their best, the public well
fare is second to that of party. These
things must continue until parties are
organized and managed in a different
way. They must be made up of groups
or sections, each section being indepen-
dent of the others, or In other words,
having the power to elect its representa-
tive without either dictation or assist
ance from the other sections. Each
section will manage itself, and can defeat
any boss element in the party that may
attempt to rule it, since the voters will
not be compelled is get majority in
order to elect. = r. e. Y r
Ao anftn orn r,nu mia a
voters must support ticket selected by
the managers" If they refuse to ratify
the nominations made by whomsoever
or by whatever may be the "boss," in
their party, they are pretty sure to divide
their ranks and thereby suffer defeat.
The voters are therefore we'll nigh help
less. They are repeatedly reminded of
their enslaved condition, for at every
election they are warned not to throw
away their votes in other words, they
must obey orders the same as the rank
and file of an army. The result is, they
are misrepresented by men they elect
but do not select. To be misrepresented
is as bad as to be unrepresented.
Our present method of votingis there
fore responsible for the virtual disfran-
chisement of majorities as well as mi
norities. 1t results in making our ballot
a sham and a counterfeit; for it must be
admitted that to be endowed with agen-
uine ballot means that those so endowed
have liberty to use it as they please, and
at the same time the power to make it
execute their will. The liberty the voters
now have is to refuse to vote for men
selected by party bosses" or "wrung in"
by party tricksters. All the power they
have is to throw their votes away in
trying to elect men of their own choice.
The result is that parties are controlled
by special interests, cliques and rings"
No people can govern themselves un-
til they can control their parties; and
this they never can do SO long as they
are compelled to belong to great party,
and to obey party leaders. The voters
cannot be their own masters, cannot
govern themselves" cannot in any way
protect themselves, except it be by force,
unless they can vote for whom they
please, and at the same time make their
ballot count in proportion to the number
cast, whether that number constitutes q
majority or not. They must, therefore,
do away with the necessity of belonging
to great party but they must retain
the power to create great party at any
time and, above all, they must be able
to control it, to muster it out" and to
form new one at their own pleasure,
instead of waiting for the word of COM
mand from some power behind the
throne" A great party is dangerous
power when some one or few special
interests, or few bad men, can control
it. Proportional representation does