Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-12-19
indirectly through the power of appoint.

An election implies body OF electors nav
ting prescribed qualifications. eich one OF
whom has an equal value and influence In
determining the result. So when the constl.
sutton provides that 'each state shall
appoint (elect) In such manner a.
the legislature thereof NAV direct,
number of electors" etc, an un-
restricted power was not given to the iegis-
,atures In the selection OF methods TO be
ased. A republican form OF government Is
guaranteed by the constitution to each state,
and the power given by the same instru-
ment to the legislatures OF the states 10 pre-
scribe method, for the choice BY thu state,
OF electors must be exercised under that
Limitation The essential features OF such
government are the right OF the people to
choose their own officers and the nearest
practicable equality Of value In the sufrages
given In determining that choice
1t will not be claimed that tho power given
90 the legislature would support law pro.
viding that the persons receiving the small.
est vote should he the electors OF q law that
all electors should be chosen by the voters
OF q single congressional district, and
under the prctcnse of regulating methods
the legislature can neither vest tho
right of choice elsewhere nor adopt
N ihods not conformablo to republic IN
otitutions IL Is not my purpose here
g discuss the question whether
cnoice ny tho ieSislutuVo VI W tho
voters OF equal single districts Is
q choice by the state, but only to recon-
mend such regulation OF this matter by con.
stitutional amendment as will secure uni
formity and prevent that disgraceful par.
tisan jugglery to which such llbcr:y OF
choice, II II exists, offers temptation.
Nothing just now Is more important than to
provide every guaranty for tho absolutely
fair and free choice by an equal suffrage
f1.a nj Of nj IN la,
of the national government whether that
suffrage is applied directly as In tho
choice of members OF the house OF rep.
resentatives, or indirectly rs in the CHOICE
OF senators and electors Of president Re.
spect for pnbllc officers and obedience to
law will not cease to be the characteristics
OF our people until our elections ccase 10
declare the will OF majorlties fairly ascer'
tanned. without fraud. suppression or gerry.
mander. II l were called upon to declare
wherein our CHIEF national danger lies
should say, without hesitation, In the over.
throw of majority control by the suppress.
sion or pcrversion Of the popular suffrage.
That there IL real danger here all must
agree. But the energies OF those who see ID
have been chiefly expended In trying to fix
responsibility upon the opposite party.
rather than in Efforts to make such pract !ces
impossible by either party.
Is Il not possible now to adjourn that in
terminable and inconclusive debate wifi
we take, by consent. one step In the dircc.
ton OF reform by eliminating the gcrrvman.
der which has been denounced by all parties
a. an influence In the election OF electors OF
president and members Of congress?
All the states have. acting freely and sep.
arateiy, determined that the choice OF elect
ors by general ticket Is the wiscst
and safest method. and 1t would seem
there coul be no objection to cOnstitu.
tional amendment making that method
permanent II a legislature chosen In one
year upon purely local QUESTIONS should,
pending presidential contest. meet, re-
scind the law for choice upon gener nj
eIcket. and provide for tn, ioice of elect.
ors by the legislature, and this trick should
deEermlne the result, 1t is not too much to
cay that the public peace might be seriously
and widely endangered.
have alluded 70 the "gerrymander" as
Affecting the method OF selecting electors OF
president by congressional districts, but tho
primary intent and effect OF this form Of
political robbery have relation to the selec.
tion OF members NJ the house OF reprcsen.
tatves. The power OF congress Is ample to
deal with this threatening and intolcrablo
abuse. The unfailing test Of sincerity in
election reform will be found in willing
ness to confer as to remedies and to nut Int o
force such measures as will most enectually
preserve the right Of the people to free and
equal representation.
An attempt was made In last congress to
bring to bear the constitutional power Of
the general government for the correction
of frauds against tho suffrage. It Is hnror.
tant to know whether the opposition to such
measures Is really vested In particular
features supposed to be objectionable or in .
cludes any proposition to give to the clc:-
ton laws of the United States adequacy to
che correction of grave and acknO wlcdgcd
evils must yet entertain the hop that it
10 possible to secure calm. patriotic con-
sideration of such constitutional or statu-
tory chang 3 rs NAV be necessary to secure
the choice of the officers OF the government
90 the people by fair apportiOnment and
free elections.
believe Il would be possible to constitute
commission. non partisan In Its member.
ship and composed of patriotic, wise and
impartial men, tn whom con liberation OF
the question Of the evils connected with our
election system md methods might be com.
mitted with good prospect Of securing nm.
animty In some plan for removing or mltl.
gatIn1 those evils. The constitutions would
permit the selection of the commission to
bevested In the supreme court II thnt method
would give the best guaranty Of impartial
ity.
This commission should be charged with
ene duty OF looking INTO tne SUBJECT OF the
law of elections as related to the choice OF
Officers of the national government with q
view to securing TO every clsctor free and
unmolested exercise of the suffrage and ~
near an approach to an equality Of value In
each ballot cast rs Is attainnble
While the policies OF the general govern
ment upon the tariff. upon the restoration
Of our merchant marine. upon the river and
harbor Improvem 'nts and other such mat.
tiers OF grave and general concern are liable
90 be turned this way or that by the results
OF congressional elections Rnd admlnlstra.
Give policies, sometimes Involving Issues
that tend to peace or war, to be turned this
way o. that by the results OF 4 presi-
dentIal election. there Is r,ghtful Interest
In all the states and in every congressional
district that will not be deceived or slleneed
by the audacious pretenss that the question
OF any body of legal voters In any state or in
any eongresslon Il district to- RIve their Suf.
frages iresly upon these general questions ID
asnlv 0f l0rai p0nRarn mr. O0nfr0l