The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-06-29

to be represented by any of the local cam
didates, might aid by their vote in the re-
turn of the person they liked best among
all those throughout the country, who had
expressed a willingness to be chosen.
This would, so far, give reality to the cleo
toral rights of the otherwise virtually dis
franchiSed minority. But 1T Is important
that not those alone who refuse to vote for
any of the local candidates, but those also
who vote for one Of them and are defeated,
should be enabled to find elsewhere the
representation which they have not sue
ceeded in obtaining in their own district.
1t is therefore provided that an elector
may deliver a voting paper, containing
other names in addition to the one which
stands foremost in his preference. His
vote would only be counted for one candi-
date; but If the object of his first choice
failed to be returned, from not having OBJ
tanned the quota, his second perhaps
might be more fortunate. He may ex-
tend his list to a greater number, in the
order of his preference, so thatlf the names
which stand near the top of the list eithe
cannot make up the quota, or are able TO
make it up without his vote, the vote may
still be used for some one whom it may
assist in returning. To obtain the full
number of members required to complete
the House, as well as to prevent very pOpu-
lar candidates from engrOSsing nearly all
the suffrages, it is necessary, however
many votes a candidate may obtain, that
counted for his return; the remainder of
those who voted for him would have their
votes counted for the next person on their
respective lists who needed them, and
could by their aid complete the quota. To
determine which of a candidates votes
should be used for his return, and which
set free for others, several methods are
proposed, into which we shall not here
enter. He would of course retain the votes
of all those who would not otherwise be
TOD Tr,l~ 4
ing lots, in default of better, would be an
unObjectiOnable eXpedlent The voting
papers would be conveyed to a central
Office, where the votes would be counted,
the number of first, second, third, and
other votes given for each candidate asCer-
tanned, and the quota would be allotted to
every one who could make it up, until the
number of the House was complete; first
votes being preferred to second, second to
third and SO forth. The voting papers,
would be placed in public repositories, ac
cessible to all whom they concerned; and
if any one who had obtained the quota was
not duly returned, it would be in his power
easily TO prove 1t.
Now we by no means advocate
introducing this system throughout
the group. 1t is for us too expert
mental, and would involve at this late
day too extensive changes IN the bill.
But why could it not be tried in Homo
lulu? 1t would certainly result in repre-
sentating any minority which is equal to
fifth, even to majority of fifth, of
all the voters in the district. 1t would
do with absolute certainty what the
division into wards may or may not do.
This would be a great gain. The oppor-
tunity seems good one for inserting the
thin edge of the wedge. We may men
ton the fact that the plan has been
successfully adopted in other small COM
munities.