Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-12-18

All this IL good. Dut now hhhii We GA usN .ito
lack of interest and effort ia behalf OF TINS
army OF brave young men who In our lana
commerce are being sacriilced every year ny
the continued use OF antiquated ana DANGEROUS
appliancesg A law requiring OF every railroad
engaged in interstate commerce equipment
each year of given percent OF us lre,gn' g. s
used, would very soon ana very greatly rvuuco
the present fearful death rate among raiiroah
employees.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS
The method OF appointment by the states U
electors of President and Vice-President has
recently attracted renewed interest by reason
of a departure by the State OF Michigan from
the method which had become uniform In al
the states Prior to 1882, various methods bad
been used by the different states ana even ia
the same state. In some the choice was made
chosen by districts. but more generally by the
voters OF the whole state upon general tlcK-
ct. The movement toward the adoption OF the
last named method had an early beginning
and went steadily forward among the states.
until In ls:S, there remained but single state.
South Carolina that had not adopted II. That
by n vote Of the Legislature, but after the war
changed its method and conformed 10 the
practice OF the other states. For nearly sixty
years all the states save one have appointed
their electors by popular vote upon gen.
eral ticket, and for nearly thirty years this
After a full test OF other methods, without
important division or dissent In any state. ana
without any purpose OF party advantage, as
we must believe. but solely upon the consider
atoms that uniformity was desirable and that
IA general election in territorial districts not
subject to change was most consistent with the
popular character OF our institutions, best
preserved the equality OF the voters and per-
the baneful influence OF the "gerrymander."
the practice of all the states was brought into
harmony. That this concurrence should now
be broken is. think, an unfortunate and even
"A threatening episode, and in that may well
suggest whether the states that still give their
approval to the old and prevailing method
ought not to secure, by constitutional
amendment PRACTICE which ca, mas h il
islation provides for choosing what are popu-
larly known as the congressional electors for
President by congressional districts, and the
two senatorial electors by districts created for
that purpose. This legislation was, of course.
accompanied by new congressional appor-
toral vote of the state under the influence or
the 'gerrymander."
These gerrymanders for congressional pur-
poses are in most cases buttressed by gerry
mander of the legislative districts, thus max
ing il impossible for a majority OF the legal
voters of the state TO correct the apportion-
ment and equalize the congressional districts.
A minority rule has been established that only
u political convulsion can overthrow. have
recently been advised that in one county OF
certain state three districts for the election OF
members Of the Legislature are constituted as
iollo"s' Dhe mas o,'ocV popuiHlIon' one 1917
| and one 10000, while in another county. de-
tached, non-contiguous sections have BEEN
united to make legislative district. These
| ethods have already found effective applica-
| ton TO the choice of Senators and representa-
| tives in Congress. and now an evil start has
| been made in the direction ofapplying them TO
| the choice by the states OF electors OF Presi-
| dent and Nice-Presdent. II this is accom-
| plshed we shall then have the three great de.
| the "gerrymander," the legislative and eXecu-
tive directly and the judiciary Indirectly
| through the power OF appointment.
An election implies body Of electors having
| prescribed qualifications, each one Of whom
! has equal value and Influence in determin-
| ing the result. SO when the Constitution pro.
vdes that each state shall appoint" (elecU
| I'm such manner as the Legislature thereof
| may direct number OF electors" etc. an un-
| restricted power was not given to the Legisla-
| lures in the selection OF methods 10 be used.
"a republican form of government" is guaran-
| teed 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 states, OF electors must
sential features OF such government are tbs
right of the people To choose their own officer,
and the nearest practicable equality Of value
in the SURFACES given IN determining that
IL will not be claimed that the power given to
| the Legislature would support a 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
not conformable to republican institutions. IL
| is not my purpose here TO discuss the question
whether a choice ~ the Legislature or by the
voters of equal single districts il n choice by
the state but only TO recommend such regula-
tion of this matter by constitutional amend
ment as will secure uniformity and prevent
that diseraceful partisan iugglery 10 which
such liberty of choice, if it exists, offers
temptation.
Nothing now IS more important than to pro-
vide 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 the House of Representatives. or indirectly,
choice Senators electors
President. Respect for public officers and
obedience to law will not cease to be the char
acteristics of our people until our elections
cease to declare the will of the majorities
fairly ascertained, without fraud, suppression
| clare wherein our chief national danger lies
| should say, without hesitation. in the over
| throw of majority control by the suppression
| or perversion OF the popular suffrage That
| there is a real danger here all must agree,
| but the energies OF shose who see it have
been cheerfuly expended in trying 10 fix re-
| sponsiblity upon the opposite party, rather
than in efforts to make such practices impos-
| sihle by either party.
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 in
| fuence in the election of electors OF President
| and members of Congress? All the states
| have. acting freely and separately, determined
| that the choice OF electors by general ticket
| is the safest method and it would seem there
could be no objection TO n constitutional
! amendment making that method permanent
| If a Legislature chosen in one year upon purely
local questions should, pending a presidential
contest, meet. rescind the law for a choice up
| on a general ticket, ana 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
| 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 selection
| afaffx as
| 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 willingness TO confer as TO
| remedies and to put into force such measures
! rs will most effectually preserve the right OF
| the people TO free and equal representation
| While the policies of the general govern.
| ment upon the tariff, upon the restoration OF
our merchant marine, upon river and harbor
| improvements and other such matters of grave
anu general concern are liable to be turned
| this way or that by the results OF congression-
| al elections and administrative policies some
| times involving issues that tend to peace or
war. to be turned this way or that by the re-