Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1891-12-17
THE GERR1MANDER.
A Protest Against the Prevailing Meth.
DDS of Politicians.

A Protest Against the Prevailing Meth
DDS of Politicians.
The methods of appointment by the states OF
electors of president and vice president has re-
Gently attracted renewed interest by reason OF
q departure by the state OF Michigan from the
method which has become uniform in all the
states. Prior to 1882 various methods had
been used by the different states and even by
the same state. In some the choice was made
by the Legislatures in Others electors were chosen
by districts, but more generally by the voters
OF the whole state upon a general ticket.
The movement towards the adoption of the
last named method had an early beginning and
went steadily forward among the states. until
in 1882 there remained but single state, South
Carolina, that had not adopted it. That state,
until the civil war, continued to choose its
electors by vote OF the legislature, but after
the war changed its method and conformed to
the practice OF the other states. For nearly six
ty years ali the states save one have appointed
their electors by a popular vote upon a general
ticket and for nearly thirty years this method
was universal.
portant division or dissent in any state and
age s as " must believe. .S but soisly
ity was desirable, and that a general election in
territorial divisions not subject to change was
most consistent with the popular character of
the voters. and perfectly removed the choice Of
president from the baneful influence OF the
'gerrymander," the practice OF all the states
renee should now be broken is, 1 think. an ull-
fortunate and even threatening episode, ana
one that may well suggest whether the states
that still give their approval to the old and pre-.
vaing method ought not to secure by a consti-
tutional amendment practice which has had
the approval OF all.
The recent Michigan legislation provides for
choosing what are popularity known the
congressional electors for president by congress
sional districts, aud the two senat orial electors
by districts created for that purpose: This
legislation was, of course accompanied by a new
congressional apportlonment and the two stat
utes bringing the electoral vote of the state un-
gerrymanders for congressional purposes are in
most cases buttressed by q gerrymander of the
legislative districts, thus making it Impossible
for majority OF the legal voters OF the state to
correct the appOrtiCnment and eQualiZe the
congressional districts. A minority rule is es-
tablished that only political commissions can
overthrow.
have recently been advised that in one
county III a certain state three districts for the
election OF members OF the legislature are con-
stituted as follows: One has $4,000 ,popuIa-
ton, one $4,000 and one 10000; while in
other county, detached, non-contiguous sections
have been united! to make legislative district.
These methods have already found effective ap-#
plication so the choice OF senators and repre-
sentatives in congress- and now an evil start
has been made in the direction of applying them
to the choice by the states OF electors OF presi-
dent and vice president. If this is accomplished
we shall then have the three great departments
Of the government
IN THE GRASP OF THE .'GERRYMANDER,''
the legislative and executive directly and the
Judiciary Indirectly through the power OF ap-s
pointment. An election implies body OF cleo
tors having prescribed qualifications, each one
of whom has an equal value and influence in de-
termining the result. SO when the constitution
provides that "each state shall appoint"
ofshall direct a number OF electors, ETC.,
unrestricted power was not given to the legisla-
lures in the selection OF the methods to be used.
"A republican form Of government is guaran-
teed by the constitution to each state and the
power given by thesame instrument to the leg
islatures of the states to prescribe methods for
the choice by the stare of electors must be ex-
ercised under that limitation. The essential
features OF such government are the right Of
nearest practicable equality Of value in the.
suffrages given in determining that choice.
It will not be claimed that the power given to
the legislature would support law providing
that the persons receiving the smallest vote
should be electors or q law that all the electors
should be chosen by the voters Of u single con-
gressional district. The state is to choose,
and Under the preteEse of regulating those bod
les the legislature can never vest the right of
choice elsewhere, nor adopt methods not con-.
#formable to republican institutions It is not
my purpose to discuss the question whether
choice by the legislature or by the voters of
equal single districts is q choice by the state,
but only to recommend such legislation OF this
matter by constitutional amendment as will
secure uniformity and prevent that disgraceful
partisan jugglery to which such liberty OF
choice. il il exists, offers q temptal zion.
Nothing just now IL more important tfan to