The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-15
AN ELECTION FRAUD.
Inequalities of the Present APP
portionmenf.
A NEW FEDERAL LAW NEEDED
The Present system Is = Standing Viola
tion Of the Spirit OF the
Constitution.

ssNN-A UttNh 441ct ufcEASSsoh ASkaoAS MeEl-
bers OF both the great political parties respect
ing me passage OF reapport.onmentlaw by
the fifty-iirst congress, in crdsr that the
enormous inequalities which now exist may
De rectifed before the next Presidential
election. 1t IS understood that the census
returns Of population, upon which the law
must be hased. viii he completed on or be-
fore October !, 1850. which viii allow con-
gresslonal committees, If they hold sessions
IN the recess, 70 prepare q biz and lay it
before congress on the FIRST Monday in De
cember. 1t IS a matter of much conse-
quence TO thirty-one of the states, the legis-
latures of which VIII be in session
&c various dates between January 10. tS9i,
and October, 1892, and which viii not be
IN regular session again until two years
afterward, that reapportionment shall
be placed on the statute books as early as
the former date. There are now only five
OF the older states which have annual ses-
sions of their legislatures.
But there Is q still stronger reason why
reapportionment law should be enacted
prior to the next presidential election. The
makers OF the constitution, of course never
designed that in one state two, or four, or
SIX times as many people should be re-
quired for each district representative in
the electoral college as would be required
IN another state. They aimed al absolute
equality OF representation, with the single
exception that every state should be en-
titled 10 al least one representative in con-
gresS. and as consequence one electoral
vote IN addition to the two derived from the
states representation in the United States
Senate. This exception proves the rule, and
70 gave TO Cleveland one electoral vote from
Delaware, and 70 Harrison one electoral vote
from Nevada, which they would not
otherwise nave received. as neither of
those states, at the time of the last census,
contained population sufficient TO entitle
1t TO representative in congress under the
apportionment now in force.
The present condition of things is a
standing violation OF the spirit and esign
of the constitution. and is due in part to
the congress which enacted the last reap
portionment law. but more largely to an
apparent decline OF population in some of
the states and an equally rapid increase in
other states. Whatever may be the causes,
the present inequalities should be removed
as soon as practicable. in order that no
man shall be elevated to the presidency in
stitutionally appointed presidential cleo
tors in the respective states.
1t Is yehemently asserted, and Riterated
on every possible occasion. by the mem
bers OF one Of the great political parties
that elections in the cotton states" are as
fair and free as anywhere in the United
States. Let that be admitted without re-
serve, and, keeping it in mind. let some
figures be examined. In 1850, the popula-
ton OF Sonth Carolina was sos, 557. the
total vote for presidential electors was no.
95s, or one to $40 persons; the num-
Der of her representatives in con-
gress was five, which, of course,
was the number OF votes in the electoral
college. minus the two senatorial votes.
The large population OF South Carolina in
1850 gave her two additional representa-
tiyes. In 1884 she cast seven
district electoral votes for Cleveland,
and the same number for him
m 1855. But the vote of the latter year
showed an enormous decline in population,
which, at the ratio of 5 $40 10 each voter.
had reeed ed from 996.a in iss0. to 49,
$50. so that South Carolina in Iss3 was en-
tit:ed 10 cast only three district electoral
votes for Mr.. Cleveland, instead of seven
votes. In other words, each Of the district
presidential electors In South Carolina ii
Igss represented a population Of only 3D.
lbs, TBS less than the number required
by the apportionment law TO entitle the
state TO a vote in the electoral college, and
the average number OF votes received by
eech elector, ascertained by dividing the
total number Of votes by the number on
district electors, was only ii SOS.
Now. elections are rs free and fair in
Kansas as ia South Carolina, ard each
cast the same number OF district electoral
votes in IsSS-South Carolina. seven for
Mr.. Cleveland, and Kansas, seven for GEN
eraI Harrison. La 1850 the population of
Kansas was 5000; the total vote for
presidential electors was 21i .236, or about
one 70 every i've persons. kansas was
then entitled 20 three district electoral
votes. The large population of ksnsas in
ESQ gave Der four additional district elect
ors. In lss4 Kansas cast seven district
electoral votes for Mr.. Blaine. and in IssS
the same number for General Harrison.
But the vote Of the latter year showed an
I enormous growth of population, which, on
/ the ratio OF Ave 20 each voter. had In
creased from Sos 900 90 6al,i 50 that
Kansas. on the present basis of congress
I sfonal represontasiou-on TO every lai .9l7
persons would have been entitled 10 cast
| ele.en district electoral votes for General
| Harrison. instead Of seven. In other
/ words. each OF the district presidential
/ electors ia Kansas. in lssss represented =
/ reputation Of 81. as. or 79sJAl more than
! The number required 10 entitie the state 70
a vote in the electoral college; and the
| average nnrnhsr of votes 20 eacA district
/ e.ector was q. 1Si
/ The facts naAy be summarized as follows;
south Carolina Population in issl, 8t,.
I So. In lsss. So. so: decrease. aSS,0g7.
Kansas Population in 1850 8sitosi in
1 ISIS. $50 rs: increase. 628.i55.
! Sonth Carolina District Electars-iss0
Eve. ISIS. seven; population 20 esch saec-
TOR in $50. III -
{ Kansas District Elec+ors--i5Sa. three:
/ ISIS. seven. population to sseh elecsor IN
I fssS, i4zzs
soath Carolina Population 70 each cleo.
/ tor N ISIS. "a. 10; votes 10 each e3ector
/ II re.
Kansas Population 20 each esectcr IL
1 fSss. ~ .gss. votes 20 each ssersor. Sse-si.
In shsse calculations exactly the sans
/ tests are applied 70 both states. II = ad'
snltfea without reserve that eae<ssaons IL
+ beth states are eouaiiy free and Eair Ihs
+ results speak fer themselves aass form
+ controlling and tnapsegnAssle Fesscs WIS
there should be ppogtsonnaeFat Of repre-
B septasives IN congress before the rsxt pEes
& dental eseetioG-
The MODERN sODoM.