Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-29
when Congressman Ought to be
Elected.


when Congressman Ought to be
Elected.
The people o. West Virginia ratified al
the late election constitutional amend
ment fixing ,heii congressional elections on
the Tuesday after the first Monday in No
ytmbtr, which Is the day, once In four
years. OF the presidential election.
Ohio r. now the only State which has
October elections In presldentisl-clection
years. she ought not TO be allowed longer
10 have them--fbat il, so far rs elections
for members Of the national House OF Rep
reseuistives are concerned.
Congress has tie power TO fix the day
for the elections OF all congressman OF
both houses. II has done so. The cleo
t,ons OF United States Senators are re-
auired TO he held Tor rather begun on the
second Tuesday after the meeting aud or.
cspizaticn OF the Legislature iasi elected
before the term expires OF the United
States Senator whose place Is to be filed
This has been the law Of the land for twen-
~ years. But II ought TO be amended so
As to provide that the elections for sens-
tors shall take place, or begin, on the Sec
ond Tuesday after the meeting OF the Leg
stature last elected before the expiration OF
the term Of the Senator whose place Is to be
filled when that session shall he the last ses-
sion OF the Legislature to be held before
the expiration Of said term, but on the
second Tuesday after the last meeting OF
the Legislature before said term expires in
osses in which the same Legislature meets
q second time after the election Of its u,em-
hers before the term Of the United States
senator expires. In Louisiana United
States Senator was elected few years ago
who could not take bis seat in less
than about four years after his election.
Whenever and wherever Legislature is
elected for four years, this may happen
The Louisiana Legislature was 10 meet
again before United States Senator's term
expired, but as at that otter session there
would be no second Tuesday after the
" organization - of the Legislature. it was
necessary to choose United States Sena-
tor, as we have said. about four years be-
fore be could take his seat. 1
For members Of the House OF Represen.
taiives an act OF Congress provides that the
elections shall be held on the Tuesday next
after the first Monday In November. except
in States whose Constitutions would have
to be changed in order to enable them to
bold their other elections at the same time.
AL that Ia necessary for Congress to do in
order TO abolish the nuisance and put down
the wrong Of October elections In Ohio IS to
strike out Of the law as Il stands the excep-
ton we hive mentioned. The October cleo
iions In Ohio are burthen TO the country.
They are heavy tax upon both parties.
They put il into the power Of the party
having the most money al It's command to
decide presidential election by coneeu-
tra,ing all IL men and means upon Ohio.
and thus carrying the October election.
The October election in Ohio did not
decide the presidential election this
year, bu, IL came very near doing
ii. II the Democrats had not tenn
pered the Republican victory by electIns 10
many Democratic congressman, New York
would have voted for BLAINE. A. it was,
CLEVELAND carried New York State BY a
plurality of only n little over eleven hundred;
whereas II tie Democrats had carried OHIO
ia October, CLEVELAND would have got
twenty or perhaps fifty thousand majority
in his own State. and several OF the States
that voted for BLAINE would have voted
for CLEyELASD.
II Is all wrong thus to permit one state
to dominate the Union. II presents temp
tations 10 commit fraud aud to intimidate
the yoters, TO which the Congress OF the
United states ought not 10 be party. It
encourages bribery, bulldozing, and frauds
OF all sorts. II one county In a state had
such a power over the result in the Whole
State BY reason Of a local election occur
ling a few weeks ago before the State cleo
ton, no State Legislature would allow such
a wrong to exist longer than until 1t could
be abolished by law. Nay, no city legisla'
ture would allow one OF its wards thus to
control the entire city. But how insignia.
cant and unworthy Of consideration would
such municipal OF state wrong be when
contrasted with the gigantic wrong OF
allowing oue single State TO control thirty
eight, and this by the use Of the most dis
reputable methods.
Let Congress do lis part towards abatins
this nuisance, and righ,ing this wrong. Lei
that body require all elections for member:
Of the House Of Representatives to be held
on the came day whatever the State cousti
tutionE may provide as to State elections
and Ohio viii soon fall into line with hei
sister States. There Il no doub, as to tn
power Of Congress TO override by a mel
oct Of Congress any provision OF stat
constitution that fxes y day for the eleC
tlen Of congressman.