The San Saba weekly news. (San Saba, Tex.) 18??-1???, 1891-12-18

The method OF appointment by the states Of
electors OF president and viceprcsidenr a
recently attracted renewed interest by r. ason
OF a departure by the state OF Michigan from
the method which has become uniform IN ala
states Prior 10 1888 these methods have been
used by the different states and even by the
same state In some the choice was made by
the legislature. in others electors were chosen
by districts hnt move g ncra ly oy the voters
Of the whole s+a upuu general ticket. The
movement towards the acceptlOu OF the last
named method had an early beginning and
went steadily forward among the states until
in lS2 there remained but single state,
south Carolina that had not adopted 70.
That state, until the ciNu war con-
tlnued TO choose its electors by
vote Of the legislature but after The war
chnuged its method and contormed 70 tho
pracucc of the other states. For nearly sixty
ears an the states. save one, have appointed
their electors by a popular vote upon "A gem
etul ticket, and for nearly thirty years tins
method was universal Afrcr IL tuil test OF
other methods without important division or
dissent Ia any state ana WITHOUT any PURPOSE
OF PARTY advantage. as we believe, but solely
desirable ard that general election in terri
turiui divisions not subject 20 change was
most consistent with the popular character Of
our iustltu; ions, best preserved the equality
OF the voters ana perfectly removed the
choice of president from the bducful Influence
OF the ''gerymandcr, the practice Of al the
states was brought into harmony. That this
concurrence should now be broken IS, tuiuk,
an unfortunate and even 81 threatening cpl
sOdc and one that may well sulsist whether
the states that still give their approval 10 the
old ones, prevailing method ought not 10 Sc
cure by constitutional amendment. Practice
which has had the approval cf all
recent Michigan legislation provides for
choosing what are popularity known as the
congressional electors Tor presidcut by con-
grcsslOna districts and the two senatorial
electors by districts created Tor that purpose.
This legislation wus Of course accompanied
10y a new congressional upporiionment aud
the two states being the electoral vote OF the
state under the influence of the ''gcrryman-
der. These gcrryluandcrs for congressional
purposes are n most eases buttressed by "A
..crrymluder OF the leg slatiye districts. thus
making il impossible for major
ity OF the legal voters OF the state
TO correct the apTorii0nmcnt and cgualizc the
c0nure sloual districts, o minority rule Is
established that only political couvulsilu can
overthrow. ! have recently been advised that
IN one county 81 n certain state three districts
for the election OF members 0f the lr-lsl ture
are constituted as follows: one has 1000 pop
uiation. one D.. Oh and one l4uN; while IN an
other county de atchcd, uou-C0uUguous sec
tlCns have been uulted 20 make a legislative
district These methods have already found
eHective application 20 the choice Of sen
ato-s q d representatives in congress
and now an evil state OF affairs
has been male In applying thom 10 the choice
hy the states of electors ul prf sident and vice
president. II this accomplished we should
have three great dep irimcnts Of government
in the gTu-p Of gCrryWandcr. the itgi 'lutivc,
executive and the iGdiciury indirectly through
tlc power OF appointment.