Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-10
a constitutional amendment, a practice
which has had the approval OF all.

tricts, and the two Senatorial electors
by districts created for that purpose.
This legislation was, of course, accom-
panied by q new Congressional appor-
tionment and the two statutes bring
the electoral vote of the State under the
influence of the 'gerrymander." These
gerrymanders for Congressional pur-
poses are I'm most cases buttressed by a
gerrymander OF the legislative district,
thus making it impossible for q major
ity Of the legal voters OF the State to
correct the apportionment and equaliZe
the Congressional districts. A minority
rule is established that only political
CONFUSION can overthrow. l have re-
Gently been advised that in one county
Of certain State three districts for the
election of members of the Legislature
are constituted as follows: One has 65,-
600 population, one $4,000 and one TO-
600; while In another county, detached,
non-eOntiguous selections have been
united TO make a legislative district.
These methods have already found
effective application to the choice OF
Senators and Representatives In Con-
gress, and in one State the move has
been carried in the direction OF apply
ing them to the choice Of electors for
President and Vice President.
If this is accomplished we shall then
have the three greatdepartments OF the
government in the grasp Of the GERRY
mander," the legislative and executive
directly and the judiciary indirectly,
through the power of appointment. An
election IMPLIES body of electors hav-
ing prescribed Qualifc ations, each one
of whom has an equal value and influ-
ence in determining the result. So
when the constitution provides that
Each State shall appoint (elect) In
such manner as the Legislature thereof
may direct, a number of electors" ETC.,
an unrestricted power was not given the
Legislatures in the selection OF the
methods to be used. "a Repub-
iican form Of government" is
guaranteed by the constitution to
each State, and the power
given by the same instrument to legis-
latures of the State to prescribe meth
DDS for choice by State OF Electors must
be exercised under that limitation. The
essential features of such Of a govern
ment are the rights Of the people TO
choose their own officers, and the near
est practicable equality Of value in the
SURFACES given in determining that
choice. 1t will not be claimed that the
power given to the legislature would
support law providing that the per-
sons receiving the smallest vote should
be the electors, or law that all electors
should be chosen by 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 re-
publican institutions. 1t is not my pur-
pose here TO discuss the question
whether choice by the Legislature or
by the voters of equal single districts is
a choice by the State, but only TO recon-.
mend such regulation of this matter by
constitutional amendment as will secure
uniformity and prevent that disgraceful
partisan jugglery to which such lib
erty Of chance, il IL exists, offers a
temptation.
Nothing Just now is more important
than to provide every guarantee for alb
solutely fair and free choice by an equal
suffrage within the representative
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 Representa-
tive as i'm the choice of Senators and
Electors Of President.
Respect for public officers and obedi-
ence TO law will not cease TO be the char
acteriStics OF our people until our cleo
tons cease to decide the will OF the
majOrities fairly ascertained without
fraud, suppression, or jerrymander. If
I were called upon TO declare wherein
our chief National danger lies, should
saw without hesitation in the
overthrow OF majority control by
suppression or perversion OF the
popular suffrage. That there is
real danger here, all must agree, but
the energies OF those who see it have
been chiefly expended in trying 10 fix
responsibility upon the opposite party,
rather than In efforts to make such
practices impossible by either party. Is
il not possible now to adjourn that in
terminable and inconcluSive debate
while we take, by consent, one step In
the direction of reform by eliminating
the gerrymander, which has been de-
nounced by all parties as an influence
in the selection OF electors of President
and members OF Congress? All the
STATES have, acting freely and
separately, determined that the
choice OF electors by a
general ticket is the wisest and safest
method, and it would seem there could
be no objection TO a constitutional
amendment making that method perma-
nent. III Legislature chosen In one
year upon purely local questions should,
pending a Presidential contest, meet,
rescind the law for choice upon gen.
eral ticket and provide for the choice OF
electors by the Legislature, and this
trick should determine the result, ii is
not too much to say that the public
peace might be seriously and widely en-
dangered. l have alluded to the ger
rymander" as affecting the methods Of
selecting electors Of President by Con-
gressional districts, but the primary in
tent and effect OF this form OF
POLITICAL ROBBERY
have relation 10 the selection OF men,
bers of the House of Representatives.
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 "a TO remedies,
and to put into force such measures as
will effectually preserve the right OF the
people to free and equal representation.
An attempt was made in the last Con-
nress to bring to bear the constitutional
powers OF the general government for
the correction Of frauds against the
suffrage. 1t is important to know wheth-