Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-11-05

Inv htiuuclllhld 4 ross Is WOTTleu
over what it styles "the Infamous
scheme" of the Democrats to "BIichi-
gandize" Ohio. To "Michigandize" a
state, means, in the Press vocabulary, to
change the method of choosing Presi-
dental electors from the state at large
to congressional districts. The legisla-
ture of Michigan, last winter, made this
change, hence the name. II Is perfectly
legal and eminently proper for each
state to choose Presidential electors in
its own way, and it would puzzle any
state to adopt a method Of doing this that
has not been tried in times past in Massa.
chusetts. Presidential electors in that
state have been elected by districts, have
been chosen by the legislature, and, if
we mistake not, have been appointed by
the governor. What is there infamous
in their selection by congressional
districts? Even from the lowest
party standpoint there can be in
this innovation no infamy at all
comparable to the erection by the Reed
Congress of sparsely inhabited terri
tories into states for the undisguised
purpose of fixing the United States
Senate in the interest Of the fat-frycrs,
complicated as it was by the theft of the
two senators from Montana and the re-
fusal to consider the claims of New
Mexico for admission to statehood.
Viewed on this basis alone, the Demo-
Gratis will have much better right to
"Alichigandize" Ohio, if they carry the
legislature, than the Republicans had to
pack the United States Senate in this
high-handed fashion. But, considered
on its merits, why Is it not Just as
crediiable to choose Presidential cleo
tors by districts as to choose members
Of Congress by districts? The extension
of the Michigan system to all the states
would, under fair system of apportion-
ment, manifestly bring much nearer
approximation to the election Of our
chief executives by the popular vote
than does The existing system of cleo.
ton by states. 1t would Furthermore
materially lessen the preponderating in
fluence of large and doubtful states,
an influence that has grown so control
ing as to enable those states to dictate
candidates to both parties in every cam
paign. Every one knows how this is
and recognizes the evil of subordinatinp
as sometimes happens, fitness to locality
Daniel Webster, if he were living to-day
could not come within thousand miles
Of Presidential nomination if he
hailed from Massachusetts and had
David b. Hill, for competitor.
But the coolest thing, the Press says
is the following;
The design OF the Democrats in these
nMichigandizing" schemes is self-evdent
| They wish to secure enough electoral votes
by the Michigan plan. which, when added
70 the votes Of the solid South, win give
them majority in the college, no matter
what the popular vote may be. 1t /.
simply another illustration of the in
famous methods TO which the Democrat,
| party is ready to resort in order to gair
power
With a minority President in the
White House chosen under the mos
palpably unfair operation of our exist
ing system, this is indeed refreshingly
cool. The popular vote for CLEVELAND
in 1883 was 5,53s,233; for Harrison
5,44o,2l6; Cleveland's plurality, 9S,0l7
Under the ideal electoral system con
tempated b. the founders Of our re-
public it goes without saying that Nh
Cleveland should have secured II plu
rality of electoral votes But, instead
Of this, Mr., Harrison, though receiving
nearly 100000 votes less than Mr.. Glove
land, captured a33 electoral votes TO Mr.
Cleveland's 1863. 1t would be difficult
under the most vicious abuse Of gerry.
Wandering, to parallel the injustice Of
this exhibit.