The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-12-19

arid lands will be tenants at will of the water
companies Tho United States should part
with its ownership OF the water sources and
the sites for reservoirs, whether to the states
and territories or 10 individuals or corporations
only upon conditions that will insure to the
settlers their proper water supply upon equal
and reasonable terms.
The legislation OF congress for the repression
OF polygamy has after years OF resistance on
the part Of the Mormons at last brought them
TO the conclusion that resistance Is unproflta
BILE and unavailng. The power OF congress over
this subject should not be surrendered until we
have satisfactory evidence that the people OF
the state to be created would exercise the ex-
elusive power OF tho state over this sub
iect in the same way. The question is not
whether these people now obey the laws Of con
gross against polygamy, but rather would they
make, enforce and maintain such laws thsm'
selves If absolutely free to regulate the subject.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
II the establishment of the department OF ag.
ricuture was regarded by anyone us me-s
concession to the unenlightened demand of
worthy class OF people, that impression has
suits already attained. Its home influence has
been very great in disseminating agricultural
and horticultural information; in stimulating
and directing further diversihcation OF crops;
in detecting and eradicnting diseases of do
mestic animals; and, more than all in the close
and informal contact which IL has established
and maintains with the farmers and stock rails.
ors OF the whole country. Every request for in.
formation has had prompt attention and every
suggestion merited consideration.
The inspection by this department of cattle
and pork products intended for shipment
which have attended our efforts to secure the re.
moval of the restrictions maintained by Euro.
pean governments. For ten years protests and
petitions upon this subject from the packers
and stock raisers OF the United States have
been directed against these restrictions which
50 seriously limited our markets and curtailed
the profits of the farm. 1t is o source OF gen
eral congratulation that success has ut last
been attained.
The grain crop of this year was the largest in
our history, 10 per cent greater than that OF
lasS year, and yet the new markets thGt have
been opened and the larger demand resulting
from short crops in Europe have sustained
prices to such an extent that Che enormous
surplus OF meats and breadstuifs will be mar.
keted at good prices. bringing relief and pros
perity to an industry that was much depressed.
The value of the grain crop OF the United States
is estimated by the secretary to be this year
S5OO,O.0,O00 more than last; Of meat, Sl5000O,O00
more, and of all products of the farm, SIOO,OOO,.
100 more
THE CIVIL sLRvIcE.
The report of the civil service commission
should receive the careful attention Of the op.
ponents, as well as the friends oil this reform
The commission invites personal inspection
by senators and representatives OF its records
and methods and every fair critic will feel that
such examination should precede judg
ment of condemnation, either OF the system or
its administration. 1t is not claimed that
| either is perfect but ] believe that the law
| is being executed with impartiality and that
the system is incomparaOly better and fairer
than that Of appointments upon favor. l have
during the year extended the classified service
to include superintendents, teachers, matrors
and physicians in the Indian service.
PROTECTION FOR RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.
l have twice before urgently called the atten.
tion of congress TO the necessity of legislation
for the protection OF the lives Of railroad EN-.
ployos but nothing has yet been done During
the year ended June 80. 1890, 800 brakemen were
killed and ,SA manned while engaged in coup.
| ling cars. The total number OF railroad EN-.
ployes killed during the year was 2i5l. and the
number injured - 800. This is cruel and
largely a needless sacrifice. The government
is spending nearly sLOOO.OOJ annually to save
SllDwrcCkpu
| steam vessel is rigidly inspected and
required to adopt the most approved safety
| appliances All this is goods but how shall we
excuse the lack of interest and effort in behalf
OF his army OF brave young men who in our
| land commerce are being sacrificed every year
by the continued use of antiquated and danger.
GUS appliances. A law requiring of every rail.
road the equipment OF its freight cars with uu-
| tomato couplers and air brakes would very soon
| and greatly reduce the recent fearful death
rate among railroad employees.
The method of appointment by the states OF
electors OF president and vice president has re-
Gently attracted renewed interest by reason Of
| u departure by the state of Michigan from the
method which had been uniform in all the
| states. Prior to 1889 various methods had been
| used by the different states and even by the
same state. After full test OF other methods,
| without important division or dissent in any
| state and without any purpose OF iparty advan-
tage, as we must believe but solely upon the con-
| sideratlons that uniformity was desirable the
practice of all the states was brought into har.
| mony. That this concurrence should now be
| broken is think an unfortunate and even
| threatening episode ana one tnat may well SuR-
gest whether the states that still give their ap.
proval TO the old and prevailing method ought
not TO secure, by constitutional amendment,
| a practice which has had the approval of all.
The recent Michigan legislation provides for
| choosing the congressional electors for presi-
dent by congressional districts, and the two
senatorial electors by districts created for that
| purpose. This legislation was OF course, ac-
| companied by new congressional apportion-
ment and the statutes bring the electoral vote
| of the state under the influence of the gerry
mander." These gerrymanders for con-
gressional purposes are, IN most cases,
iatiye districts, thus it making impossible for
majority of the Legislature OF the state TO
correct apportonment and equalize the CON
| greSsional districts. A minority rule is estab-
lshed that only political convulsion can over.
| throw have recently been advised that in
one county OF a certain state three districts for
the election of members of the legislature are
constituted as follows: one has 5000 popula-
| tion; one 1900 and one 1000; while in another
county detached, non. contiguous sections have
been united to make a Legislative district.
| These methods have already found effective ap
| plication to the choice of senators and repre-
| sentatives in congress- and now an evil start
has been made in the direction of applying
| them TO the choice by the states of electors Of
president and vice president: If this is accom-
| plished we shall then have the three great de.
| partments OF the government ia the grasp Of
| the "gerrymander'-the Legislative and eXecu
tive directly and the judiciary indirectly
| through the power of appointment.
| An election implies q body of electors having
prescribed qualifications each one of wnom has
result, So when the constitution providing
that leach state shall appoint" telect) lin such
manner as the lezisature may thereof direct, q
| number of electors" unrestricted power was
not given to the legislature in the selection Of
the methods TO be used "A republican form of
| government is guaranteed by the constitution
to each state, and power given by the same in
| strument to the legislatures OF the state to pre-
scribe methods for the choice by the state, Of
electors must be exercised under that limita-
tion. The essential features of such n govern
ment are the right of the people to choose their
| own officers and the nearest practicable cQunli-
ty OF value in the suiirages given in determining
that choice.
1t will not be claimed that the power given
| to the legislature would support law provid-
| ing that the persons receiving the smallest
the electors should be chosen by the voters OF
| q single congressional district. Tae state is 10
choose, and under the pretense of regulating
methods, the legislature can neither vest the
right of choice elsewhere nor adopt
m thods not conformable to republican
| institutions. 1t is not my purpose here
to discus the question whether choice by
the legislature or by the voters OF equal single
dstr cts ir Il choice by the state, but only to
recommend such regulation of this matter by
constitutional amendment as will secure uui-
formity and prevent that disgraceful partisan
iugglcry to which such liberty OF choice, II 1t
exists, Offers temptation. Nothing just now
is more important than to provide every guar
anty for the absolutely fair and free choice by
an equal suffrage, within the respective states,
OF all the officers of the national government
whether that suffrage Is applied directly, as
in the choice OF members of the house of
representatives, or indirectly as in the choice
of senator's and election of president. Respect
for public officers and obedience TO law will not
cease TO bo the characteristics OF our people
until our elections cease to declare the VIII of
majoriues fairly ascertained, without fraud.
suppress on or gerryu nndcr II were called
upon TO declare wherein our chief national dan.
ger lies should say without hesitation In the