The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-12-17

soS80Sy I0koV0O 70 GOUC0t1O00A una 00llD0S0y0b
pic work and will obviously DO the better for
the change. The heads Of tho several execu-
I've Departments have sbeen directed 70 %.
tsb Ia. at once IN enneient record ::
the clerks within the CLASSIFIED service With Q
Vie! to placing promotions therein upon tho
basis Of merit. I am confident that such .
Of those Interested, WIN powerfully stimulate
tho work Of tho departments and will be 20.
cepted by all Is placing the troublesome matter
ea S ss Is.
Ice commission De. made adequate TO the in
creased work Of the next fiscal year.
Safety Appliances for Railways.
I have twice before urgently called the atten-
for tho protection Of the lives Of railroad en-.
ployes, but nothing has yet been done. During
the year ending June 80, 1890. so brakemen
coupling cars. Tho total number Of railroad
he Number injured 1850 III: i. cruel md
spending To save
the lives Of shipwrecked seamen; every
quired TO- adopt the most approved
shall! We excuse their lack of interest and ct.
fort In behalf Of this army Of brave young men
who In our land of commerce are being sacri.
qussed sna use Pax
quiring Of every railroad engaged in Interstate
commerce the equiv ment each year Of . given
a o, its With
very greatly reduce the present fearful death
rate among railroad employees.
Presidential Electors.
The method OF appointment by the states OF
1na has
OF departure by the state Of Michigan from
the method which had become uniform in all
the states. Prior to 1889 various methods had
cod hV~ tksA et4+~ -
the same state. In some the choice was made
by the legislature, in others electors wero
chosen BY districts, but more generally by tho
The toward the adopsion Of she
ginning and went steadily forward among
the states, until in 1889 there remained but
not adopted it. That state until The civil wsr.
continued to choose its electors BY Q vote of
the legislature. but after the war changed its
other states. For nearly sixty years all the
states save one have appointed their electors
oy popular vote upon q general ticket, and
versal. After full test Of other methods, with.
out important division or dissent in any state,
ana without any purpose OF party advantage
as must 6lt solely upon the con
ana that general election in territorial divi.
sfons not subject to change was most consist
ent with the popular character OF our institu.
and perfectly Of 'p peesident
from the baneful influence of the gerry
mander. the practice of all the states was
e brought into harmony That this concurrence
tunate and even threatening episode, and one
that may we'll suggest whether states that still
give their approval to the old and prevailing
method ought not to secure. by q constitutional
amendment. practice which has the approval
Of all
The recent Michigan legislation provides for
choosing what are popularity known as the con-
gressional electors for president by congress.
sfonal districts, and the two senatorial electors
by districts created for that purpose. This log.
lslation was OF course accompanied by a new
congressional appOrtionment and the two stat
utes bring the electoral vote Of the state under
the influence Of the ''gerrymander." These
gerrymanders for congressional purposes are
the legislative districts, thus making it tmpos
sible for majority Of the legal voters of the
state to correct the apportionment and equalize
established that only political CONFUSION can
overthrow.
An election implies body OF electors having
prescribed gu lidcations, each one of whom
ing the result. So when the constitution pro
vldes that leach state shall appoint" (elect)
in such manner as the legislature thereof
unrestricted power was not given to the legis.
latures in the selection OF the methods to bf
used. "A republican form Of government il
sua by the constitution to each state
the states, to escr,be methods 70,
the choice by the state Of electors must be ex
features of such government are the right OF
the people to choose their own officers and the
nearest practicable equality Of value in the
sufirages given in determining that choice Il
will not be claimed that the power given to thu
legislature would support . law providing thai
the persons receiving the smallest vote should
De the electors or a law that allows that the
electors should be chosen by the voters of
sing.e congressional district. The state is t
choose. and under the pretense of regulating
methods the legislature can neither vest thu
right OF choice elsewhere nor adopt method.
not conformable to republican institutions
The Gerrymsnder Must Go.
1t Is not my purpose here to discuss the cues
ton whether choice by the legislature or b,
the voters Of equal single districts is choice
oy the state, but only to recommend such regu
latlons OF this matter by constitutional amend
ment which will secure uniformity and prevent
tne5 to which
temptation. Nothing just now Is more fmpor
tant than to provide every guaranty for the
absolutely fair and free choice by an equal sui
frage within the respective states Of all thu
officers Of the national governments, whether
that suffrage is applied directly, as in the
choice OF members OF the house OF represents
lives or Indirectly, as in the choice of senators
and electors Of president. Respect for public
officers and obedience to law will not cease to
be the characteristics OF our people until oul
elections cease to declare the will OF maiorities
or gerrymander.
Our Chief National Danger.
- were called upon to declare wherein oul
chief national danger lies, should>say without
troll BY the suppression or supervision 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 try
Stu <A4
party, rather than in efforts TO make such prac
tfces impossible by either party.
Is 1t not possible now TO adjourn that inter
minable and tncOnclusive debate while we take
Gy consent. one step in the direction I 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-:
Frauds Against the Suffrage.
An attempt was made in the last con.
gress TO bring to bear the constitutional pow.
ers OF the general government for the cor.
rectfon of frauds against the suffrage 1t isim
portant to know whether the opposition to such
measures is really vested in particular features
supposed to be Objectionable or includes any
United States powers adequate to the correc
ton OF grave and acknowledged evils. must
yet entertain the hope that it is possible to SO
cure calm. patriotic consideration of such
necessary to secure the choice Of the officers OF
the government to the people by fair appor.
tlOnmentS ana free elections.
have alluded to the gcrrymander as affect
ing the method Of selecting electors OF presi-
dent by congressional districts, but the pri-
mary intent and effect of this form of political
robbery have relation to the selection OF MEM
bers Of the house OF representatives. The
power OF congress is ample to deal with this
threatening and intoerable abuse. The un.
failing test OF sincerity in election reform will
be found in q willingness to confer rs to rem.
cdies and to put into force such measures as
will most efectually preserve the right Of PEG.
pie to free and equal representation.
A Commtssion Needed.
believe it would be possible to constitute .
commission, non partisan in its managership
and composed Of patriotic, wise aud impartial
men, to whom consideration Of the question
OF the evils connected with our election system
and methods might be committed with q good
prospect Of securing unanimity in some plan
for removing or mitigating these evils. The
constitution would permit the selection OF the
commt ssiOn to be vested in the supreme
court, II that method would give the
best guaranty of impartiality. This commits
sion should be charged with the duty of
1nQuiring into the whoe subject Of the law of
elections as related to the choice OF onlcers OF
the national government with view to secur.
ing to every elector a free and unmolested cx-
crosse of the suffrage and as near an approach
to an equality of value in each ballot cast as Is
attainable. While the policies of the general
government upon the tariff, upon the restora-
tion Of our merchant marine. upon river and
harbor improvements and other such matters
Of grave and general concern are liable