The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-12-19
Con.t,tutional Amendment Suggested.

. The method OF appointment by the States OF
Electors OF President and Vice President has
recently attracted renewed interest by reason
OF departure by the state OF Michigan from
the method which had become uniform In all
the States. Prior 10 1882 various methods had
been used by the different states, and even by
the same state. After fyill test OF other
methods. without important division or dis
sent In any State aud without any purpose OF
party advantage. as We must believe the prac-
tice OF all the states was brought into harmony.
That this concurrence should now by broken IL,
i think. an unfortunate aud even thi eatening
@ isode, AMI one that may we'll suggeat whether
The states that still give their approval TO the
old and prevailing methods ought not TO secure
by n constitutional amendment practice
which has had the approval OF all. The recent
Michigan legisIation provides for choosing
what are popularity known as the congressional
Electors Tor President by Congressional dis
tricts, and the two senatorial Electors by dis
tricts created for that purpose This legisla-
tion was OF course. accompanied by new
Congressional apportionment. and the two
statutes bring the electoral vote of the State
under the influence OF the gerryiDander.
These gorrymanders for Congressional pur-
poses re In most cases Uuttre. scd by n gerry
mander OF the legislative dat tets. thu making
II imposs ible for amhjority OF Z | gal voters
OF tue State To correct the apportionment and
20 equalize the Congressional repress nta.
tion Of all the Of tricts A minority
rule IL established that only polite
convulsion can overthrow. 4 have recently
been advised that In one county OF certain
State three districts for tho election OF mem
beers OF the Legislature are constituted as fol-
lows One has ,0lO population, one 1900,
and one 1000. while In another county dot ach-
ed non-conuguous sections have been united To
make Legislative district. These
methods have already found enec-
tive application 70 the choice q SEN
an evil start has boon made I'm the direction OF
applying ID IN TO the choice by the states Of
Electors OF President and Vice President. II
this ID accomplished we shall then have three
great depar tIneuts OF the Government In the
grasp OF the -eerrymander the legislative and
the executive directly and the judiciary indi-
rcctly through the power OF apo ntm.nt.
An election implies n body OF electors elect
ors having prescribed quallhcations-each OF
whom has an 90 nal status and influence in do
termining the result SO when the Constitu-
tion provides that each State shall appoint
lclectl In such manner as tho Legislature thereof
may dir CT, number Of electors. etc. an unre-
stric. cd rover was not given TO ho Legislatures
I'm the selection OF the mo hods 10 be usol. "A re-
publican form OF government" IL guaranteed by
the constitution 10 each state, and the power
given by the same instrument 20 the logi slatures
OF tho states TO prescribe methods for the choice
by the state, 81 electors, must be exercised un-
der that limitation The tsaential features OF
such "A government arc the right OF the people
10 choose their own officers and the nearest
practicable equality OF value in the suffrages
given In determining that choice.
Nothing lust now IL more Important than Co
provide every guarantee for the absolutely fair
and free choice by an equal suffrage, with the
respective 5 ates, OF all the officers OF the Ma
tional Government, whether that suffrage 10 APP
piled directly, as In the choice Of members OF
the House OF Representatives. or Indirectly,
as In the choice OF Senators and electors OF
President. Respect for public officers and obe-
dencc 60 the law will not cease To be tho char
acteristics OF our people until our elections
cease 10 declare the will OF maoriiies fairly AS
certained without fraud, suppression, or gerry
mRnder
All the states have acting freely and spar
atcly. determined that the choice OF elections -
n general ticket Ia thu wisest and IA lost method
and IL would seem there could be no objection
TO constitutional amendment making that
method permanent II legislature chosen
Ia one year upon purely local questions
should pending Presidential ntcst, rekcind
the Ia for n choice upon general ticket aud
provide for the choice OF electors by the Leffs-
latu and this trick should determine the re-
suit, II a. not too much e. say that the public
gered.