St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-06
could not be properly included In this
summary.
MAY BE USEFUL.

choosing the presidential electors.
There is no attempt to question its per-
feet conformity to the constitution, and
reasonableness on general principles,
but it is insisted that it is the work OF
partisans, and therefore necessarily
bad. Had the Republicans in the
Michigan legislature voted for it, there
would be no partisanshlp in it of course.
But it was passed by the united vote OF
the Democrats and the farmers. 1t is
III line with the spirit of the reform
movement that would bring the Off
Gals nearer to the people. There
is no reason to assert that it
was designed in Michigan to aid
the Democrats or farmers move
ment, unless it is assumed that the Re-
publicaus have perpetual lease of the
state in national contests. That is the
arrogance of long possession. All the
recent electors have been close, and il
is fairly debatable state. Its legisla-
ture merits special commentator for
having initiated policy that will lead
IN time to a correction OF the manifest
defects i'll the electoral machinery.
Michigan will have the distinction of
being the first state that has ever given
the minority any chance for voice in
the election of the president. In the
early time the legislatures usually chose
the electors. This plan was not entirely
unknown until the war period. But no
state ever adopted the district system.
Vermont and New York were the last OF
the Northern states to abandon the leg
iSlatiye method.
Some of the states have at times
chosen their congressional delegation
by general state ticket. This method
would find support in the same quarter
as the combined choice of electors. The
principle is the same, and the difference
ill practical effect not materially vari-
ant. Yet there is no disposition to dis
pense with the district system in the
choice of congressman.
The Michigan act provides that each
congressional district shall choose one
elector. and the state two. For the lat
ter the state is bisected, each division
choosing one of the electors. 1t will
probably be the fact that one of these
sections will be Republican and the
other Democratic. giving one of the
electoral votes to each party. Of the
twelve congressman the best estimates
would give about half to either party,
II there are but two ia the field In
this case the vote of the state would
stand to {. The computations of the
Republicans give great possible i'm
portance to this division. They
find that the Southern states will
have 15S votes, and adding to
these the 70 votes of New York, New
Jersey, Indiana. Connecticut and Mon
tana. II the Democrats carry them all,
they will have 22S out of the IA elect
oral votes. or more than enough to
elect. Then they affect to believe that
they may carry either West Virginia or
Connecticut, each with six votes. Either
Of them would, by their tables, give
them one more than enough to elect.
But if Michigan takes off seven they are
left out in the cold. If they can take
Montana it would not be likely to offset
their loss in Michigan. Democrats are
not apt to concede them either New
York. Indiana. New Jersey or Connect
cut. On the issues of last year, they
expect TO carry all these states and a
half dozen others that the Republicans
have usually held, but. in case of IN
looked for disaster, the few votes in
Michigan might fill a dangerous gap.
a MAN before Judge JACKSON, at
Wheeling, w. Va, for violation of the
internal revenue laws, was asked if he
ever heard of the United States. ''Yes,
but only in an indirect way" was the
reply. He said he lived in Brayton
county, and thought the county court
made all the laws there. The Judge
fined him 800 and sentenced him to ten
months confinement and study of the
constitution of the United States. That
was judicial cruelty.
The arrivals of immigrants at New
York recently have equaled the largest
figures on record, and even at other
ports there have been unusual arrivals.
At Baltimore 3,267 steerage passengers
arrived in one day, although that has
not been point for much of this bust
ness. 1t is probable the flood mark of
about ten years ago will be reached.
SENATOR EDMUNDs has passed as a
''great constitutional lawyer" but the
singular statement is made that he has
Endorsed more bills which, when enact
ed, were decided void by the highest
court, than has any other American
statesman, living or dead. But perhaps
the court is off.
TITS gratifying to know that Mr.. De
PEW has seen 1.-The rainbow of financial
prosperity in the West" He, however,
has an eye out always for rainbows, and
some of them fail to show up much that
is tangible behind them. But the pros
pect in the West does begin to show
light colors.
IT WILL be of interest to class of
husbands to know that the courts are
holding that man cannot pay board to
his wife. Young fellows who want to
marry for home will feel encouraged.
A GERMAN preacher in this state is
credited with prediction that the end
of the world will come in 1891. He can
get any number of wagers with odds
that he has the date wrong.
1t HAS been decided by an Ohio court
that man cannot get divorce because
his wife smokes cigars. 1t was init
mated, however, that the opinion did
not cover cigarettes.
Mrs. JAMES &. BLAINE JR. is report
ed to find the air of South Dakota stoo
lovely for anything" 1t would be
churlish and ungrateful to refuse her a
divorce.
LIFE is brighter and the recent cool
ness about the weather can now be dis
sipated,as the boys have come home and
are trying to play ball.
RACHET,nRsC pINUEDUV1