The advocate., 1891-12-16

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one from Kansas, which has two admins
tratlcn and FIVE opposition Represents
tives; one from Ohio, which has seven
administration and fourteen opposition
Representatives; one from South Da-
kota, which has two administration Rep
Eesentatives; one from Wisconsin, which
has one administration and eight Opposi-
ton Representatives. The sixteen Re
publican Senators from the Atlantic
states are twelve from New England, two
from Pennsylvania and one each from
New York and Delaware. From these
nine states there are forty one admins
tratiOn and forty eight opposition Rep
resentstives. The eight Pacific states
80 classified for convenience California,
Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,
Oregon, Washington and Wyoming, have
sixteen Republican Senators, and ten ad-
ministration Representatives to three op-
position. These eight states, have in the
aggregate, q population less by 1859
than has the state east of Kansas, some
times called "Poor old Missouri" More
than one-half Of the Republican Senators
hail from twelve states which have but
an aggregated population Of 9,O4O,736,
eight Of which states gave the Republi-
cans q majority Of the popular vote at
the last election.
Yet In face of the great fact that the
national administration is In such q
wonderful minority In the great Ameri-
can nation, the president, perhaps feel
ing somewhat like drowning man
catching at Straws," puts the following
matter in his message:
An attempt was made In the last Congress to
bring TO bear the constitutional powers of the
general government for the correction Of frauds
against the suffrage. It Is important to know
whether the opposition to such measures Is
really rested In particular features supposed TO
be Objectionable or includes any proposition to
give to the election laws Of the United States
adequacy to the correction Of grave and &C
knOwledged evils must yet entertain the hope
thatlt Is possible to secure calm, patriotic con-
sderatlOn of such constitutional or statutory
changes as may be necessary to secure the
choice Of the OfllcerS Of the government 10 the
people by fair appointments and free elections.
COMMISSION PROPOSED.
believe 1t would be possible TO constitute q
commission, nOn-partlsan In ItS membership,
and composed Of patriotic, wise and impartial
men, to whom o consideration Of the question
Of the evils connected with our election system
and methods might be committed with good
prospect Of securing unanlmlty in some plan for
removing or mitigating those evils. The cOnsti-
tuition would permit the selection Of the COM
mission to De vested in the supreme court, II
that method would give the best guaranty Of Inn
Partially.
This commission should be charged with the
duty Of lnqulring into the whole subject Of the
law Of elections as related to the choice Of off,
GERS OF the national government, with view to
securing to every electOr free and unmOlested
exercise Of the suffrage and as near an approach
to an equality Of value In each ballot cast as is
attainable.
While the politics Of the general government
upon the tariff, upon the restoration Of our mer-
chant marine, upon river and harbOr improve
ments, and other such matters of grave and gen.
eral concern are liable to be turned this way or
that by the results Of Congressional elections,
and administrative politics, sometimes involving
interests that tend to peace or war, to be turned
this way or that by the results Of presidential
election, there Is rightful interest In all the
states and In every Congressional district that
win not be deceived or sllenced by the audaclous
pratAnSa that the question OF the right OF any