Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-12-18

fectly removed the choics OF Presi
dent from the banssul inhusncs OF the
"gerrymanler" the practice OF all the Stata
was brought into harmony. That THIS con
currence should now bs broks1 IL. think,
an unfortunate and even threatening ept
sode, and one that may we'll suggest whether
the States that still give their approval to
the old and prevailing methot ought
not to secure, by a constitutional smsnd.
ment. a practices which has ha the approval
of all. The recent Michigan legisls
tion provides for choosing what are popu
larly known as the Congressional e!ector 70;
President by Congressional districts and the
two Senatorial electors by districts created
for that purpose. This legislation was, o.,
course, accompanied by new Congressional
apportionment. and thu two statues bring
the electoral vote Of the State under the iu'
fuence Of the "gerrymander.'
These gerrymanders for Congressional pur.
poses are in most cases burtrsSsed by gerry
mander OF the legislative districts, thus max
ing it impossible for a majority OF tbs legal
voters OF the State TO correct ths apportion-
ment and equaliss the Congressional dis
tricts. A minority rule Is established that
only a political CONFUSION eau overthrow.
have recently been advised that in one county
OF a certain Stats thres districts for the elec.
tion Of members OF the Legislature are con.
stituted as follows: One has 1000 po2uia-
tion: one, 1000, and one, 1000; while in
another county. detacasi. noucontiguous
sections have been united 10 make legisla
tive district.
These methods have already found effective
application TO the choice OF Senators and Rep
reseutativss In Congress, and nov an evil
start has been ma % in the direction OF apply
ing them TO the choics by the States Of slec-
tors Of President ami Vice-President. Ii
this is accomplished, W. shall then have the
three great departments Of the Government
10 the grasp Of the 'gerrymauder," the leg
islative and Executive directly AMI the
Judiciary indirectly through tho power OF
appointment.
An election implies DO iy Of electors hay
ing prescribed qualifications, each one OF
whom has an equal vAlus and influences in
determining the result. SO when the Con-
stitution provides that leach State shall
appoint elect 'iu such manner a. the
Legislature thereof may direct, number OF
electors" etc, an unrestricted power was
not given 20 the Legislatures in the selectlor
of the methods to be usel. a Republican
form OF Government" is guaranteed By the
Constitution TO eac1 state. AMI tins
power given by the same instrument to
the Legislatures of the Stats 70 prescribe
methods for the choice, by the State, OF
electors must be exercised under that llmi-
tation. 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 GAINED that the power given
to the Legislature would support law pro-
yiding that tAe persons receiving the small
est vote should be the electors, or law that
ali the electors should be chosen oy tbs
voters of q single Congress!onal district.
The State il TO choose and under the pro-
tense of regulating methods, tue Legislature
tln neither vest the rigGt Of choice
elsewhere nor adopt methods not con-
formabe to Republican institutions. lt IL
not my purDose here 10 discuss the question
whether choice by ths legislature or by the
voters of equal single districts ij choice by
the State. but only u recon nsnt such reg
ulation of this matter by constitutional
amen imeut as will secure uniformity and
prevent that disyraceful partisan Juygiery
TO which such a liberty OF choice II u exists,
offers a temptation.
Nothing lust now IS more important than
to provide avery guaranty for the absolutely
fair and free choice by an equal suffrage,
within the respective States, OF all the OIL
GERS Of the National Government, whether
that suffrage is applet directly, as in the
choice OF Members of the House OF HepreSen-
tatives, or indirectly, as in the choice OF
Senator's and electors Of President. Re-
spect for public officers and obedience
TO law will not cease to be the char
acteristics of our people until our elections
cease to declare the will Of majorities fairly
without fraud. suppression or
IL were called upon TO de
clare wherein our chief National danger lies
| should saw. without hesitation, in the over
throw OF majority control by the suppression
OF peryersion of the popular suffrage. That
there is real danger here all must agree.
but the energies OF those who see IL have
been chiefly expended in trying 10 fix re-
sponsibility upon the opposite party, rather
than In efforts TO make such praaticeS im.
possible by either party.
Is it not possible how to adjourn that in
tsrmnable and inconclusive debate while We
take by consent, one step in the direction
OF reform by eliminating the gerrymander,
which has been denounced by all parties, as
an influences in the selection OF electors of
President and members OF Congressg All the
States have acting free.y ami ssparaseiy,de-
termiued that the choice Of electors by gen.
AMI it would seem there could be no objec-
ton to constitutional amen imeut making
that method permanent. IL legislature
chosen in ono year upon purely local queS-
tions should. pending ths Presidential Gu
test. meet, rescin1 the law for choice upon
a general ticket. aud prOyi Tor the cdolce
of electors by the Legislature, aui this trick
should determine the result IL Is not too
much to say that the public peace might oe
seriously aud widely endangered.
Ihave alluded t. the "gerrym tndsr" as al
fecting the method OF selecting electors ot
President by Congressional districts. but the
primary intent and effect OF this form OF poi'ticc
cal robbery have relation TO the selectlon OF
members Of the House Of Representative. Inc
power OF Congress is ample TO deal with this
threatening and intolerable abuse Inc unn, un'
falling test Of sincerity In election reform WIN
be found in a willingness 10 confer as 10 rem
edies and TO put into force such measures as
will most effectually preserve the right OF me
people 10 free and equal representation
An attempt was msis in the last Congress
to bring to bear the constitutional powers o.
the General Government for the correction OF
frauds against the sufrIgs II Is impOrtani
TO know whether tho Opposition 20 sucO
measures is really restel in particular fea-
lures suppose T. be Objectionable or includes
any proposition 10 give TO the election laws
of the United States adequacy 10 the correc,
must yet entertain the hope that IL Is posi-
bic TO secure calm patriotic consideration
of such constitutional or statutory changes
as may be necessary 20 secure the choice OF
the officers Of the Government 10 the people
by fair apportionments aud free elections.
] believe It would BE- possible TO constitute
q commission. non-p0rtisau in lis member
ship and composed OF patriotic wise and i'm
partial men, 10 whom a consideration OF the
question of the evils connected with our
election system and methods might be com
mitted with a good prospect OF securing unan-
unity In some plan for removing or mitigat-
ing those evils, The Constitution would per
NIT the selection of the Commission to be
vested in the Supreme Court, II that method
would be the best guaranty of impartiality.
This commission should be charged with the
duty Of inquiring into the whole subject of the
law of elections as related 10 the choice OF ON
GERS of the National Government, with view
to securing 10 every eiectOr free and unmO-
Tested exercise of the suffrage and rs near an
Rp proach TO an equality Of value i'm each ballot
cast as is attainable
While the politics or the General Govern.
ment upon the tariff. upon the restoration OF
our merchant marine. upon river and harDor
Improvements. aDd other such matters or
grave ana general concern are liable TO 10
turned this way or that by the results of Con-
yresslonal elections and administrative poll
,ies. sometimes involving issues that tend 10
peace or war. 20 be turned this way or that by
he results OF Presidential election, there ~
rightfu interest in all the States and IN
every Congressional district that will not be
deceived or silenced by the audacious pretense
hat the question of the right of any body of
egdl voters IN any State or In any Congress
'ional district 10 give their sufirages freely
lpon these general questions is matter only
II local concern or control. The demand that