Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-12-17
DANGERS OF THE GERRyMANDER.
System of Redistricting Threatening the
Governments Foundation.


Governments Foundation.
An election implies body of electors having
prescribed qua lihcations, each one of whom has
an equal value and influence in determining
tho result. So when The constitution provides
that leach state shall appoint elect sin such
manner as the legislature thereof may direct.
number of electors" etc., an unrestricted
power was not given 10 the legislatures in the
selection of the methods to be used "A repub-
Hcan form of government is guaranteed by the
constitution to each state, and the power given
by the same instrument to the legislatures of
the states TO prescribe methods for the choice by
the state of electors must be exercised under
that limitation. The essential features Of such
a government are the right of the people to
choose their own officers and the nearest prac-
ticable equality of value in the SURFACES given
in determining that choice.
1t Will not be claimed that the power given to
the legislature would support law providing
that the persons receiving the smallest vote
should be the electors, or law that all the
electors should be chosen by the voters OF
single congressional district. The state Is to
choose, and, under the pretense of regulating
methods, the legislature can neither vest the
right of choice elsewhere nor adopt methods
contormable TO republican institutions. 1t is
not my purpose here to discuss the question
whether a choice by the Legislature or by the
voters of equal single districts is n choice by
the state, but only to recommend such regula-
ton of this matter by constitutional amend
ment as will secure uniformity and prevent
that disgraceful partisan jugglery to which
such liberty of choice, If it exists, offers
temptation.
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 nation
al government whether that suffrage is applied
directly, as in the choice of members of the
House of Representatives, or indirectly, as in
the choice of senator's and electors of President.
Respect for public officers and obedience to law
will not cease to be the characteristics of our
people until our elections cease to declare the
will of majorities fairly ascertained, without
fraud, suppression or gerrymander. If were
called upon to declare wherein our chief ma
tional danger lies, should say, without heSita-
ton, IN the overthrow of ma jority control by
the suppression or perversion of the popular
suffrage. That there is real danger here all
must agree but the energies of those who see it
have been chiefly expended In trying to fix re-
sponsibility upon the opposite party, rather
than IN efforts to make such practices impossl-
BILE by either party.
Is ii not possible now to ad ourn that inter-
minable 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 selection of electors of President and
members of Congress? All the states have. act
ing freely and separately, determined that the
choice of electors by general ticket is the
Wisest and safest method and it would seem
there could be no objection to a constitutional
amendment making that method permanent. If
q legislature chosen in one year upon purely
local questions should pending presidential
contest, meet, reScind the law for Il choice
upon general ticket, and provide for the
choice Of electors by the legislature and this
trick should determine the result it is not too
much to say that the public peace might be
seriously and widely endangered.
have alluded to the "gerrymander" as affect
ing the method of selecting electors of Presi-
dent by congressional districts, but the primary
intent and effect of this form of political rob-
berry have relation to the selection of members
of the House of Representatives. The power of
Congress is ample to deal with this threatening
and intolerable abuse The unfailing test Of
sincerity in election reform will be found in a
willingness to confer as to remedies and to put
into force such measures as will most effectually
preserve the right of the people to free and
equal representation.