The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-12-17

quirtng OF every railroad engaged In interstate
commerce the equiT ment each year OF given
per cent. OF Its freight cars with automatic
very greatly reduce the present fearful death
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 departure by the state OF Miehigan from
the states. Prior TO 1892 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 movement toward the adoption OF tho
last named method bad an early be
ginning and went steadily tea forward aiua among
q single state, South Carolina, that had
not adopted it, That state, until the civil war.
continued to choose its electors by vote OF
the legislature. but after the war changed Its
method and conformed to the practice OF the
other states. For nearly sixty years all the
states save one have appointed their electors
by o popular vote upon general ticket, aho
for nearly thirty years this method was uni
yersal. After a full test OF other methods, with.
out important division or dissent in any state,
and without any purpose Of party advantage,
we must believe, but solely upon the con-
siderations that uniformity was desirable
and that neral election In territorial disi-
sions not subject to change was most consist
ent with the popular character Of our institu-
lions. best preserved the equality OF the voters,
and perfectly removed the choice OF president
from the bancful 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 we'll 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.
sional districts, and the two senatorial electors
by districts created for that purpose. This leg
islation was, OF course, accompanied by 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 eases buttresscd 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 q political CONFUSION can
overthrow have recently been advised that
in one county OF certain state three districts
for the election OF members OF the legisi ature
are constituted as follows: One has $500 pop
ulation: one 1900. and one 10000; while In an.
other county detached non contiguous sections
have been united to make Legislative district.
These met ods have already found effective
application to the choice OF senators and repre-.
sentatives in congress. and now an evil start
them to the choice by the states OF electors OF
president and vice preside MT. 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 body OF electors having
prescribed gu litications. each one Of whom
has an equal value and influence in determin-
ing the result. So when the constitution pro.
vides that leach state shall appoint" telecp,
n pplnt ~ I'm 1nryigl Int fhnr anf
may direct, a number OF electors, etc." an
unrestricted power was not given to the legis.
latures in the selection OF the methods to be
used "A republican form OF government" is
guaranteed by the constitution TO each state
ana 1ne Seen by tine same
the choice by the state OF electors must be ex.
ercsed under that limitation. 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
SURFACES given in determining that choice. It
will not be claimed that the power given to the
legislature would support o law providing that
the persons receiving the smallest vote should
be the electors or law that allows that the
electors should be chosen by the voters OF u
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.
The Gerrymander Must Go.
| tion whether q choice by the Legislature or by
| the voters Of equal single districts is a choice
| by the state, but only to recommend such rega.
| lations OF this matter by constitutional amend.
ment which will secure uniformity and prevent
| that disgraceful partisan jugglery to which
such liberty OF choice, II it exists. offers
temptation. Nothing just now Is more impor
tant than 10 provide every guaranty for the
absolutely fair and free choice BY an equal SUI.
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 cease to declare the will OF majorities
/ fairy 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 s o. sne
| here all must agree. but the energies OF those
who see II have been chiefly expended In try.
Ing to fix responsibility upon the opposite
tees impossible by either party.
Is IL 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 cerrymander which has
| been denounced by all parties, as an influence
| in the selection OF electors OF president and
| members OF congress:
| Frauds Against the 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
rcction OF frauds against the suffrage. It ism
| portant to know whether the opposition to such
measures Ii 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 acknow iedged evils must
yet entertain the hope that it is possible to Sc
cure calm patriotic consideration OF such
constitutional or statutory changes as may be
necessary to secure the choice OF the officers oi
| the government to the people by fair appor
| tionments and free elections.
| have alluded to the gerrymander as AFFECT
ing the method Of selecting electors OF presi.
| 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 ns to rem
edies and to put into force such measures as
will most efrectually preserve the right OF PEG
pie to free and equal representation
A Conmission Needed.
believe 1t would be possible to constitute q
commission, non partisan In its managershiI
and composed OF patriotic wise aud impartial
men, TO whom consideration OF the question
and methods might be committed with q good
prospect of securing unanimiIy in some plar
for removing or mitigating these evils. The
constitution would permit the selection OF the
commits sion to be vested in the supreme
court, IL that method would give thu
best guaranty OF impartiality. This commits
sion should be charged .with the duty O
inquiring into the Whole subject Of the law O.
elections as related to the choice OF officers Of
the national government with y view to secur
ing to every elector q free and unmolested ex
ercise Of the suffrage and as near an approach
20 an equality Of value in each ballot cast as II
attainab.e. While the policies OF the genera
i N1.A ps~
tion OF our merchant marine upon river and
harbor improvements and other such matter.