Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-12-19
MORE OF THE MESSAGE.
Election Reforms Discussed.
The presidents message contains the fol-
lowing sections:


Nothing just now is more important than
to provide every guaranty for the absolutely
fair and free choice by an equal suffrage
within the respective states of all the officers
| of the national government, whether that
suffrage is applied directly as In the choice of
members of representatives, or indirectly as
in the choice of senators and electors of
president. Respect for public officers and
obedience to the law will not cease to be
the characteristics of our people until our
| elections cease to declare the will OF MAORI
| ties fairly ascertaIned without fraud, sup
preston or gerrymander.
If were called upon to declare wherein
our chief national danger lies l should say
| without hesitation, in the overthrow OF ma
jority control by the suppression or perver-
sion of the popular suffrage. That there is
real danger here all must agree. But the en-
ergies of those who see it have been chiefly
expended in trying to fix responsibility upon
the opposite party, rather than in efforts to
make such practices impossible by either
party.
Is 1t not possible now to adjourn that in
terminable and inconclusive debate while We
take, by consent, one step IN the direction of
| reform by eliminating the gerrymander
which has been denounced by all parties as
| an influence in the election of electors of
president ana members of congress?
All the states have, acting freely and sepa-
rately, determined that the choice of electors
by general ticket is the wsest anG safest
method, anG it would seem there could be
no objection to constitutional amendment
| making that method permanent. II legls.
iature chosen in one year upon purely local
questions should. pending presidential con-
| test meet and reScind the law for choice
| upon general ticket and provide for the
choice of electors by the legislature, and this
| trick should determine the result, it is not
-, - kkok xtav vvoIC
be seriously and widely endangered.
DANGERS OF THE aERRYMANDER.
I have alluded to the ''Gerrymander" as
affecting the method of selecting electors of
president by congressional districts, but the
primary intent and effect Of this form of
political robbery have relation to the selec-
lion of members of the house of representa-
tives. The power of congress Is ample to
deal with this threatening and intolerable
abuse. The unfailng test of sincerity in
election reform will be found in willing
ness to confer as to remedies and to put into
force such measures as will most effectualy
preserve the right of the people !" free and
equal representation.
An attempt was made last congress to
bring to bear the constitutional powers of
the general government for the correction
of frauds against the suffrage. 1t is impor-
tant to know whether the opposition to such
measures is really rested in particular fea-
lures supposed to be objectionable, or IN
cludes any proposition to give to the election
laws of the United States adequacy to the
correction of grave and acknowledged
evils. must yet entertain the hope that it
is possible 70 secure a calm, patriotic consid-
Grafton of such constitutional or statutory
changes as may be necessary to secure the
choice of the officers of the government to
the people by fair apportionment and free
elections.
believe it would be possible to constitute
commission, non partisan in its member
ship, and composed of patriotic, wise and
impartial men, to whom q consideration of
the questions of the evils connected with our
election system and methods might be COM
mitted with good prospect of securing
unanimity in some plan for removing or
mitigating those evils The constitution
would permit the selection of the commission
| to be vested in the supreme court, if that
method would give the best guaranty of i'm
Partially.
This commission should be charged with
the duty Of inquiring into the subject of the
! law OF elections as related to the choice of
officers OF the national government with
new 70 securing to every electof q free and
unmolested exercise of tbs suffrage and a.
near an approach to an equality Of value in
each ballot cast ~ Is attainable.
EHI QUESTION OF SUFFRAGE.
While the policies of toe general govern
mene upon the tarih. upon tho restoration of
our merchant marine, upon the river and
harbor Improvements and other such matters
OF grave and general concern arc liable to
% turned this way or that BY The results Of
Congressional elections and ministrative mol.
leaea, sometimes involving issues that tend to
peece or war, to b turned this way OF that
~ To results OF q presidential election. ehere
- Hghtful interest IN al the statss and in
every congressioaal district that viii not b
deceived or Silouced By tho audaciouS nm.