The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-04-05

" ~ GSiAS llisuAdCt-
standing as to what is really meant by
that clause in the omnibus bill providing
Tor minority repYeseatation'-that il,
whether il is meant that a voter in the
minority patty could cast two votes for
the same person or one vote for two per
sons simply. Congressman Springer ex-
plains the matter fully in a letter to the
Fargo Argus. In Illinois minority repre-
sentetien is provided in the constitution
but 1T is what is known as the cum ula-
tive plan. An elector can cast ono or
more votes for a candidate or parts oil
votes. Tbs provisions of the omnibus
bin are explained by Mr.. Springer as
follows;
1t wss the istention of the act to afford
the minority party in each district the
right to elect ona of the delegates to the
constitutional convention, ard ii was as
sumea that neither of the great parties,
however large their maioritirs might he
in any district, would attempt, by any
political %tinrsse, TO secure all three of the
delegates in any district. However,
such Il thing would be possible where
the majority was very large. The sys-
TEN of voting incorporate in the act is
not what ls known rs cumulative vot.
ing. Each elector can cast but one
vote. He cannot place more than two
names upon his ticket, but he may vote
fpr hnt ana Nnrs,p T.y Jalz-. - ~.
person receiving this vote will have the
benefit ofbut one vGte only. 1t was as
sumed that tho party in the majority
would nominate two delegates. and the
minority would nominate one; hut where
II district is doubtful or where each party
claimed II possible majority, both parties
would nominate We candidates for dele
gates, which would make four candi-
dates, and the three ersons having the
largest number Of votes would be elect
ed.
As tho convention which is 10 be elect
ed un Ter this method of voting is to
frame u constitution which is to become
the fundamental law of the new state. I,
il to be hoped that il the choice of It's
delegates there Will be as little partisan
feeling engendercd as possible 1t is OF
the utmost Importance to the people of
the new state that the ablss; aud bcs.
men should be selected as delegates in
order that Il fundamental law may be os-
tablished which will, in the lsaguage of
the preamble to our federal constitution,
establish j~ustles, iusGre domestic tran
qnility, provide for the common defence.
promote the general welfare and secure
the blessings Of liberty 10 the future in
habiiants of the new state"
OF the clause section . which provides
fer the submission of the constitution
formed in each proposed state TO a vote
OF the people. and ii rejected authorizing
the r~econvepiDg OF smother convention.
Mr.. Springer says:
1T will be seen BY this p~royiso that If
the people in any of the proposed states
are dissatisfied with the constitution
which is submitted in October, they may
safely vote it down, aed In SO doing the
admission will only BE delayed a few
months At farthest. My object in FRAN
ing this proyiso was TO secure sts+eheod
to all the proposed states without the ne
eeSsity for any further action Whatever
on the part of congress, and also to
leave the people. in adopting or reject
lag The constitution. free 10 cast such
votes upon the merits of the instrument,
andnot oe required or cosfced into got-
ing for an obiecIiona instrulneut under
penalty of being deprived OF statehood"