The record-union., 1891-05-03
Special to the SUNDAY UNION.
JudgeShipS.

~ @A'''NA ~ IL " LII w ACii-S'A~
bered that some months ago scheme of
the Democratic National Committee was
disclosed in these dispatches, whereby
the Legislature Of Michigan was to pass a
bill providing for the election of Presi-
dental Electors by Congressional Dis
tricts, instead of by the State at large.
This bill has passed both houses, and will
become law. Eleven electors are to be
chosen by the ten Congressional Districts
and two from the State at large, one from
eastern Michigan and one from the west
ern portion, commonly called ''the Pc
ninsula." This, together with the gerry
mander now pending, is calculated to
give the Democrats eight out of the thir-
teen Congressional Districts.
In the last Congressional election the
Democrats carried eight districts, but
this, Of course, vas an exceptional year.
The Democrats make a conservative
claim of eight districts under the bills
pending, and this seems Ia be conceded
by the Michigan Republicans in this
city, with whom your correspondent has
talked. They say that the apportionment
bill, now pending in the Michigan Legis-
lature, and which is sure to pass, will
give the Democrats this number of Rep
rGSGntdtlVGS IN Congress.
The effect of this gerrymander and
the passage of the bill changing the mode
Of choosing Presidential electors cannot
fail to interest the whole country, as it
will have a very important bearing on
the result in 1892. If the Democratic
hopes are realized in 1892, eight of Michi-
gan's votes will go to the Democratic
candidate. This will make u change of
sixteen votes from the last Presidential
oloafin1 which will rnarlT flD
Republican gain Of twelve votes from the
new States Of Washington, Idaho, Mon
tana. Wyoming and the two Dakotas.
This scheme of changing the mode of
choosing electors was conceived by Don
Dickinson and Timothy Tarsney, who
preached the scheme TO Calvin Brice,
Chairman of the Democratic National
Committee, in this way: eve Demo
crats) are in control of the Legislatures in
the following Republican States, and
doubtful States viz: New York, Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. By
gerrymandering these States we can
secure majority Of the congressional
delegation from each, and then by passing
bill providing for the election of electors
by Congressional districts we can make
q clear gain of so many votes in surely
Republican States, while in the doubtful
States of New York and Indiana, we can
be sure Of having our full share"
They figured out sure thing for the
Democrats, and chuckIed because the
Republicans would not be in position to
retaliate, for they were not in control of
Legislatures except in their solidly Re-
publican States, and there they would
not want to change.
Dickinson and Tarsney. insisted that
the Democrats ought not to let this op-
DOrtunity pass, for, argued they, lit may
may not happen again for long time to
come that we will be in a situation to
carry out this plan"
1t is said that Brice was perfectly will
ing to carry the plan out as far as Michi-
gan was concerned, but he was doubtful
about the policy of making it a general
thing, and argued that such movement
would look very bad in the eyes of the
country.
Dickinson and Tarsney insisted that
this plan of choosing electors had pre-
vailed in several States of the Union in
the early years of our Government, and
that the rights of the State under the
National Constitution to choose its own
electors in its own way could not be
doubted, and that for many years it was
the custom of State Legislatures to APP
point electors for the whole State. Dick
InSOn and Iarsney grew eloquent, and
declared that their plan was more dem
OcratiC" than the one now in vogue.
Brice admitted that the right of the
EcIdl6 10 IO lllS COuIIl nOI De GOu Dlit.
said he, "a spontaneous movement of
this kind in half a dozen Republican and
doubtful States, now controlled by the
Democrats cannot fail to bring down the
wrath of the whole country on our heads
They will cry that it is a national gerry
mander, and in the face of the new
Farmers Alliance movement it would be
dangerous thing to do"
Brice then went on to say that thew had
better leave well enough alone. We've
got 'em, as sure as you live. The Nc
kinley bill is all we want. We will beat
'em badly enough, if we don't make any
big mistakes between now and Presi-
dental election"
Dickinson and Tarsney went away dis
gusted with Brice, and called him a
rainbow chaser" They then consulted
other leading Democrats, but they We're
disappointed to find that the rainbow
chaser's sentiments We're reflected by
other Democrats. But Dickinson, as is
well known, is politician of the agrees
sive kind, and Tarsney is Irish, so they
resolved TO carry the plan out in Michi-
gan, and they have done so. 1t remains
to be seen whether it will be the means of
electing a Democratic President. 1t will
surely provoke the wrath of all honest
minded people, and may prove boomer
ang to the Bourbons.
THE SITUATION IN NEW YORK.
WASHIN GTON, May 2.-RepreSentatiye
Wallace of Brooklyn said to-day that the
Republicans were getting political affairs
in New York in very good shape for
them. He had no doubt that they would
carry the Legislature this fall.
Speaking of the Democratic position. he
said: Governor Hill has got himself in
deep hole. He would not let the Demo-
cratic Senators act on the Canal Inyesti-
cation bill, and SO hung UP number of
important measures, the Legislature ad-
journing without action on them. 1t was
said that he would call the Legislature
together again at once, but in this con-
nection he has placed himself in an en-
barassing situation. In fact, he seems to
have over-reached himself in all direc-
tons in his anxiety to keep control of
affairs.
Under the Constitution of the State a
special session of the Legislature can act
only on those measures named in the
call. There is factional difference as to
some of the important measures that are
proposed. If Governor Hill names these
IN his call he will thus offend the other
faction.
He is embarrassed also by the two
offices he is holding. He has never ac-
eepted the Senatorship or said word on
the subject. II he can name a man for
Governor whom he can control, he will
go into the Senate, but if ii is necessary
TO preserve HIPS sl1nrapaaov Hill b;,,o-