Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-11-19
RATIO OF REPRESENTATION.
Figures Showing that the Republican Vote
Is Not SupprI ssed In the South.

Figures Showing that the Republican Vote
Is Not Suppressed In the South.
l. It is fact that 80, sol votes elected
two representatives from Republican
Rhode Island, while it took "a, 1876 to
elect two members from Democratic
Missouri.
2. 1t is fact that 178, 941 votes were
polled to elect five Congressman from
Minnesota, while $4,000 sufficed to
elect five of their New England col
leagues.
s. 1t took 66.655 votes to elect one
than half that number elected two Re-
publican Representatives from Rhode
Island.
The Graphic might multiply these il
Illustrations through column of its
space, but a glance at any compendium
of election statistics will show that the
votes for Congressman vary all over
the country according to local circum-
stances, although the districts are APP
portioned so as to embrace approx
mately equal populations. Thus an ag-
gregate of $1,000 votes elected in the
in the Fourth. An aggregate ballot of
$4,000 sufliced to send Congressman
Burleigh to Washington from our own
State, while no less than 10000 were
recorded to confirm the title of Hon.
Perry Belmont. One Republican vote
in Rhode Island counts for as much as
two Democratic votes in Delaware. If
$4,000 ballots elected seven Repre-
sentatives in New York, it is also true
that $4,000 elected only six Repre-
sentatives in Maryland.
1t is therefore very clear that the ratio
of representation, if gagged by the
votes actually cast, is variable and
cratic one all over the country. Some
would pronounce it foolish and I'M
just one. But the explanation is simple:
In some places large percentage
of the total vote is brought out-in
others only small percentage. State
laws, restrictive qualifications, poll
taxes, long distances and lack of organ
izaticn contribute in various degrees to
affect the result. Massachusetts levies
a poll tax. Rhode Island DISTINGUISHES
every foreign-born citizen who is not an
owner of real estate. Some of the
Southern States levy poll tax. and in
the majority of them the Republican
party has been disorganiZed and apa-
thetic since the downfall of carpet-Dag
rule. In Alabama. for example, two
Congressional districts were uncontest-
ed by any Republican. In Georgia
several districts had no Republican can
didates and the total Republican Con-
gr-ssional vote was only %, 617 against
4S, 063 for Blaine. In those Southern
States where the Republicans are or
gained and aggressive the Congress
sional vote is large. as in Florida,
Maryland. Missouri. Virginia and West
Virginia Only one Louisiana district
was theoretically contested. and there
the notorious William Pitt Kellogg was
defeated in an aggregate vote of 30, 900.
Coming to the case of South Carolina,
we find that the Republicans made no
resolute struggle except in the Seventh
District, and there the colored man
Smalls defeated his Democratic antag-
onist by S,419 to 1854. That South
Carolina took but feeble interest in
last years election is clearly indicated
by her total vote of 2l,733 fer Blaine
and 69,8 for Cleveland, as against
58.071 for Garfield and 1882 for
Hancock in 1880. The result was
looked upon as a foregone conclusion,
and the vote of neither party was
brought out by agitation and organiza-
ton.
1t is not denied that in times past in
timidatiOn and coercion have been
practiced in some Southern States, ex-
asperated beyond endurance as they
were by the enormities of carpetbag
and scalawag rule. But that era has
passed away, and the comparative
paucity of the Republican vote in South
Carolina or Georgia is no more proof of
bulldozing to-day than is the vote of
Massachusetts, or Rhode Island. If MIR.
John Sherman desires to apportion
representation in Congress on the vote
actually cast inst lad of on the Consti-
tutional basis of population he is well
come to make the attempt Then, to
be consistent, we must make a new ap-
portionment every alternate year. He
should remember, however that the
Republican vote in the South is now
far larger than it ever was i'll the
palmy days of Republican bayonet
rule. Y. Graphic.