The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-12-17


rate among railroad employees.
Presidential Electors.
The method Of appointment by the states Of
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 all
the states. Prior to 1882 various methods had
the same state. In some the choice was made
by the legislature, in others electors were
chosen by districts, but more generally by the
The The movement 70 @ % toward ward % The adoption i n % OF the
ginning and went steadily forward Tor s among
a single state, South Carolina, that had
not adopted it. That state until the civil war.
continued to choose its electors by vote Of
method and conformed to the practice OF the
other states. For nearly sixty years all the
states save one have appointed their electors
for nearly thirty years this method was uni.
versal. After q full test Of other methods, With.
out important division or dissent in any state,
as we must believe but solely upon the con-
siderations that uniformity was desirable
and that a general election in territorial divi.
ent with the popular character Of our instftu-
tions. best preserved the equality Of the voters,
from m ri the baneful influence Of the gerry.
mander." the practice Of all the states was
brought into harmony. That this concurrence
should now be broken is, think, an unfor-
tunate and even threatening episode, and one
that may well suggest whether states that still
give their approval to the old and prevailing
method ought not to secure. by constitutional
amendment, u practice which has the approval
Of all
The recent Michigan legislation provides for
choosing what are popularity known as the con.
gressional electors for president by congress.
sional districts, and the two senatorial electors
by districts created for that purpose. This leg
islation was, Of course, accompanied by q new
congressional apportionment and the two stat
utes bring the electoral vote Of the state under
the influence Of the "gerrymander." These
gerrymanders for congressional purposes are
in most cases buttressed by gerrymander Of
the legislative districts, thus making it impos.
sible for majority OF the legal voters of the
state to correct the apportionment and equalize
the congressional districts. A minority rule is
established that only political convulsior can
overthrow. have recently be en- advised that
in one county of a certain state three districts
for the election Of members Of the legis ature
are constituted as follows: One has g., OOD pop.
uation; one Is 900, and one 10, 100; while in an.
other county, detached non contiguous sections
have been united to make legislative district.
These methods have already found effective
application to the choice of senators and repre-
sentatives in congress, and now an evil start
has been ade in the direction OF applying
them to the choice by the states Of electors Of
president and vice president II this Is accom-.
plished we shall then have the three great de:
partments Of the government in the grasp Of
the ''gerrymander," the legislative and execu.
tive directly and the judiciary indirectly.
through the power OF appointment.
An election implies a body of electors having
prescribed gu lihcations. each one Of whom
has an equal value and influence in determin-
ing the result. So when the constitution pro-
vides that each state shall appoint" (elect),
lin such manner as the legislature thereof
may direct, number of electors etc." an
unrestricted power was not given to the legis-
used "A republican form Of government" Is
guaranteed by the constitution TO each state,
and the power given by the same
the states, to p escr1be methods for
the choice by the state OF electors. must be ex.
ercised under that limitation. The essential
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 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 allows that the
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.
Tho Gerrymander Must Go.
1t is not my purpose here to discuss the Ques.
tion whether a choice by the Legislature nr by
the voters OF equal single districts Is - choice @
lations OF this matter by constitutional amend.
ment which will secure uniformity and prevent
snes ne Of e to
temptation. Nothing just now Is more fmpor-
tant than 10 provide every guaranty for the
absolutely fair and free choice by an equal suf-
frage within the respective states OF all the
officers of the national governments, whether
that suffrage is applied directly, as in the
choice Of members OF the house OF representa-
tives, or indirectly. as in the choice OF senators
and electors Of president. Respect for public
officers and obedience to law will not cease to
be the characteristics Of our people until our
elections declare maiOritfeS
fairly ascertained, without fraud, suppression
or gerrymander.
Our Chief National Danger.
i'll were called upon to declare wherein our
chief national danger lies, should say, without
hesitation, in the overthrow OF majority con-
troll by the suppression or supervision 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 try.
ing to fix responsibility upon the opposite
party, rather than in efforts to make such prac-
tices impossible by either party.
Is 1t not possible now to adjourn that inter-
minable and incOnclusive debate while we take,
by consent. one step in the direction I reform
by eliminating the gerrymander which has
been denounced by all parties as an influence
in the selection Of electors OF president and
members Of congress?
Frauds Against tho Suffrage.
An attempt was made in the last con.
gress to bring to bear the constitutional pow
ers OF the general government for the cor
rection OF frauds against the suffrage. 1t isim.
portant to know whether the opposition to such
measures is really vested in particular features
supposed to be Objectionable or includes any
proposition to give to the election laws Of the
United States powers adequate to the correc-
tion OF grave and acknowie iedged evils. must
yet entertain the hope that it Is possible to se
cure q calm patriotic consideration Of such
constitutional or statutory changes as may be
necessary to secure the choice of the officers Of
the government to the people by fair appor-
tionments and free elections.
have ALLUDED to the gerrymander as anece
ing the method Of selecting electors OF prest-
dent by congressional districts. but the pri-
mary intent and effect OF this form Of political
robbery have relation to the selection OF mem
bers Of the house OF representatives. The
power OF congress Is ample to deal with this
threatening and intolerable abuse. The un.
failing test Of sincerity In election reform will
be found in willingness to confer as to rem
edies and to put into force such measures az
will most effectually preserve the right OF peo-
pie to free and equal representation.
A Commission Needed.
believe it would be possible to constitute
commission, non. partisan In It's managershiP
and composed of patriotic. wise and impartial
men, to whom q consideration OF the question
Of the evils connected with our election system
and methods might be committed with good
for removing or initiating these evils The
s1n to be vessd in the
sion should be charged with the duty Of
lnQulrlnR lntO tne WnOic subject OI tue III" O1
elections as related to the choice OF officers OF
the national government with view to secur.
ing to every elector a free and unmolested ex-
ercIse of the suffrage and as near an approach
70 an equality Of value in each ballot cast as is
attanable. While the policies Of the general
govern ment upon the tariff. upon the restora-
tion Of our merchant marine. upon river and
harbor improvements and other such matters
of grave and general concern are liable
to be turned this way or that by the results
OF congressional elections and administrative
policies sometimes involving issues that tend
to peace or war, to be turned this way or that
by the results Of a presidential election, there
is rightful interest in all the states and in
every congressional district that will not be
deceived or silenced by the audacious pre-:
tense that the question Of the right Of
any body OF legal voters in any state
or in any congressional district to give
| their sufIrages force upon these general
questions IS q matter Of only local con.
Germ or control. The demand that the limita-
tion Of suffrage should be found in the law and
only there Is q just demand and no just man
should resent or resist it. My appeal is and
must continue to be, for consultation that
shall proceed with candor. calmness and
patience upon the lines Of justice and human
ity, not Of prejudice and cruelty" To the con-
sideration Of these very grave questions in
vite not only the attention Of congress, but
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