St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-23

other IN another. so that it would be es-
sentially accurate in the aggregate. 1t
would be far nearer fair representation
than the present system. Last year the
100000 votes for Mr.. CLEVELAND in
Minnesota were an utter waste, as were
the 10000 for Mr.. HARRISON in Mis-
souri,. They represented vast amount
of wear and tear of mind and large out
lay of time and money, and yet had no
more effect upon the result than has the
canine bowling at the man in the moon.
But the pressing reason for the reform
is not to equalize the voting power of
the citizen without regard to state lines.
That is very desirable, but the
change finds its special value in
eliminating the pivotal states. This
would remove one of the most peri
lOuS and demoraliZing features OF
the struggles of parties for power.
1t was conceded in the last campaign
that the result would be determined by
the two great states of New York and
Indiana. A few hundred votes in them
were likely TO turn the scale either way.
The result proved this TO be the fact.
With such prize at stake, it would be
a surprise if the corrupting agencies OF
the campaign did not find their chief
activity in those states. The heavy
strain of the fight was all there, and it
was inevitable that tho vOte-gaining
methods should be most viciousiy nu-
merOus there. The new plan would
obviate all this, and diffuse the CAM
paign work all through the body poll
tic. 1t would very largely minify the
inducements to fraud and corrup-
ton, and do more to free the
voter from constraint and intimida-
ton than almost any c0nceiVa-
BILE agency. The Democrats would
have three of the seven electoral votes
of this state, and the Republicans gain
seven out of the sixteen in Missouri.
The result would usually be the same.
though it would be almost impossible
for a candidate to have quarter or
million majority in the popular vote
and be defeated i'm the electoral vote, as
in 1876. This method would satisfy all
demands for the recognition of the
states as such, and come near putting
all voters on an equality. 1t would
afford an inducement for white Demo-
Gratis to vote in Vermont and Kansas,
and colored Republicans in South Caro-
lima and Texas. If it were feasible to
put this plan into immediate operation,
it would secure wide popularity in both
parties from the fact that it would re-
move the whiplash from the hands OF
Indiana and New York. BEN HARRI-
son would never have been heard
of as a presidential aspirant. had
not Indiana been one of the plv-
otal states. The Democracy would
not have gone to New York for quar-
ter of century for its candidate if that
state had not vote that was expected
to decide the contest. 1t is irksome to
the average party man to be constantly
subservient to this sort of local expedi-
ency. New York and Indiana are en-
titled to equal recognition with other
states, and no more. A man large
enough to go on presidential ticket
might be found even west of the Missis-
sippi if the two or three doubtful states
east were put on this electoral regimen.
1t is a favorable time to consider this
matter, as it is far enough away from
the quadrennial struggle to weigh its
merits without partisan balances.