New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-21
MINORITY REPRESENTATIONS.

New York is to try the system OF cumulative
voting and minority representation, II the bill
passed by the Legislature on Wednesday be-
comes a law. No change could be OF greater
importance than this. 1t may, its supporters
hope that it will, effect a complete revolution
10 the government of the City of New oik,
not in a partisan sense, but by permanently
securing to the people more worthy, intelli-
gent and upright rulers.
At the outset, it should be understood that
this change has no partisan end in view.
Democratic votes can elect just as many Alder
men under the cumulative plan as Democratic
votes have elected by the district system The
Republican minority can elect minority
Of Aldermen, just as it has elected a minority.
But the majority will be compelled to put up
and elect different sort of men, it is hoped,
if forced to nominate ticket for the whole city,
and the minority Will also be compelled to put
up and elect different sort of men. The
power of comparatively small number of
voters to secure Il single representative will be
increased, and also its power to defeat any
especially obnoxious candidate. 1t is to be
presumed that there will be as much skill dis
played in the organization ana management of
It's vote by one party as by the other, SO That
Republican votes i'll secure only the rcprcsen-
taton TO which they are entitled by their mum
bers. On party grounds, therefore, opposition
TO the change is unreasonable, unless it is sup
posed that Democratic man lgcrS are wholly
incompetent, or that they do not at all repre-
sent Democratic voters.
This great change it is hoped, may 90 far to
destroy the influence of district demigogucs
nil Nnr
has been ruled by its grog shops, and the con-
victon of one Alderman and the indictment of
many others bring sharply before the public
the consequences of such system. The inlu-
ence of the dollhouse politician is necessarily
confined to Il comparatively limited district.
The man who can certainly pack convention
and elect a candidate for the district in which
he operates will find himself powerless even
to nominate single man on a general ticket,
and if by his influence an Objectionable man
should be nominated, his defeat would be COM
paratively easy. If the grog-shOp politicians Of
different districts should combine and put up
a ticket representing their interests throughout
the city, the defeat of a considerable part of
such ticket would be almost certain.
Respectable citizens of every class must rea-
lie that this measure offers them Il better
opportunity than they have ever had to take
the government Of this great city from
the hands of its worst men. If they do not
concentrate all their efforts in both parties TO
that end, they will deserve the bad govern
mcnt and the disgrace which they will then
suffer Minority representation always calls
for higher intelligence in the voters and mana
gers than election by the old district sy stcm.
But if the respectable and respecting citi-
zens OF New-YOrk have not the necessary
intelligence, and the necessary aptitude in
making the bes use of Their votes, they will
again deserve their defeat and all its consc-
quencca.