Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-12-18

All this is good: but how shall we ex1 use the
lack of interest and effort in behalf OF this
army or brave young men who In our land
commerce are being sacrificed every year by
the continued use OF antiquated and dangerous
appliancesr A law requiring of every railroad
engaged In Interstate commerce equipment
each year OF given percent OF its freight cars
with automatic couplers and air brakes, 20 DO
used, would very soon and very greatly reduce
the present fearful death rate among railroad
employees.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.
The method of appointment by the states .
electors Of President and Vice-Presdent has
recently attracted renewed interest by reason
of departure by the State of Michigan from
the method which had become uniform In all
the states. Prior TO 1882, various methods had
been used by the different states and even in
the same state. In some the choice was made
by the Legislature; in others electors were
chosen by districts, but more generally by the
voters of the whole state upon general tick
ct. The movement toward the adoption of the
last named method had an early beginning
and went steadily forward among the states
until In 1892 there remained but single state,
South Carolina, that had not adopted IL. That
state, until the civil war, continued TO choose
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 n popular vote upon a gem
eral ticket, and for nearly thirty years this
After full test OF other methods, without
important division or dissent in any state, and
without any purpose of party advantage, as
we must believe. but solely upon the consider
atoms that uniformity was desirable and that
u general election in territorial districts not
subject TO change was most consistent with the
popular character of our institutions, best
preserved the equality of the voters and per-
fectly removed the choice Of President from
the baneful influence Of the "gerrymander"
the practice of all the states was brought into
harmony. That this concurrence should now
be broken Is, think, an unfortunate and even
threatening episode, and in that may well
suggest whether the states that still give their
approval to the old and prevailing method
ought not 10 secure, by constitutional
the approval Of all. The recent Michigan leg
islation provides for choosing what are popii-
larry known as the congressional electors for
President by congressional districts, and the
two senatorial electors by districts created for
that purpose. This legislation was, OF course,
accompanied by new congressional appor-
tionment, and the two statutes bring the cleo
toral vote of the state under the influence OF
the "gerrymander."
These gerrymanders for congressional pur-
poses are in most cases buttressed by gerry
mander of the legislative districts, thus max
ing IL impossible for a majority Of the legal
voters of the state to correct the apportiOn-
ment and equalize the congressional districts.
minority rule has been established that only
political CONFUSION can overthrow. 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 population, one 1900
and one 1000, while in another county. de-
tached, nOn-contiguous sections have BEEN
united 10 make legislative district These
methods have already found effective applica-
ton TO the choice of Senators and representa-
tives in Congress, and now an evil start has
been made in the direction ofapplying them to
the choice by the states of electors OF Presi-
dent and Vice-President. 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
tl.aH tfts4a.N
has an equal value and iIfiuence in determine
ing the result. SO when the Constitution pro-
yides that each state shall appoint elect
Tin such manner as the Legislature thereof
may direct, number OF electors" etc, an I'M
restricted power was not given to the Legisla.
lures in the selection OF methods 20 be used.
"A republican form of government Is guaran-
teed by the Constitution to each state and the
power given by the same instrument % the
Legislatures Of the states to prescribe methods
for the choice, by the states, OF electors must
be exercised under that limitation. The es-
sential features of such a government are tbs
right OF the people 70 choose their own officer,
and the nearest practicable equality Of value
in the suhrages given In determining that
choice.
1t will not be claimed that the power given to
the Legislature would support law providing
that the persons receiving the smallest vote
should be the electors. OF. law that all the
electors should be chosen by the voters of
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. IL
Is not my purpose here TO discuss the question
whether a choice ~ the Legislature or by the
voters OF equal single districts is a choice by
the state. but only to recommend such regula-
ton OF this matter by constitutional amend
ment as will secure uniformity and prevent
that disgraceful partisan iugglery to which
such a liberty OF choice, II 1t exists, offers
temptation.
Nothing now Is more important than to pro-
vide every guaranty 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 Senators and electors OF
President. Respect 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 the majorities
or gerrymander. IL i were called upon to de-
clare wherein our chief national danger lies
should say, without hesitation. in the over
throw of majority control by the suppression
or perversion of the popular suffrage. That
there Is a real danger here all must agree,
bat the energies Of those who see 1t have
been cheerfully expended in trying to fix re-
sponsibility upon the opposite party, rather
than in efforts to make such practices impos-
Is it not possible now to adjourn that inter-
minable and inconclusive debate while We
take, by consent one step in the direction OF
reform by eliminating the gerrymander winch
has been denounced by all parties as an in
huence in the election Of electors of President
and members or COngreSsI All the states
have. acting freely and separately, determined
that the choice of electors by n general ticket
is the safest method and il would seem there
could be no objection TO constitutional
amendment making that method permanent.
If Legislature chosen in one year upon purely
local questions should, pending a presidential
contest, meet, rescind the law for choice up
on a general ticket, and provide for the choice
Of electors by the Legislature, and this trick
should determine the result, il Is not too much
10 say that the public peace might be seriously
and widely endangered.
/ have alluded to the "gcrPymander" as
affecting the method of selecting electors OF
President by congressional districts, but the
primary intent and effect of this form OF
political robbery have relation to the selection
Of members of the House OF Representatives.
The power of Congress Is ample to deal with
this threatening and intolerable abuse. The
unfailing test of sincerity in election reform
will be found in n willingness to confer as TO
remedies and to put into force such measures
as will most etfectually preserve the right OF
the people TO free and equal representation.
While the policies of the general govern.
ment upon the tariff, upon the restoration OF
our merchant marine, upon river and harDor
improvements and other such matters OF grave
and general concern are liable TO be turned
this way or that by the results OF eongression-
al elections and administrative policies, some
times Involving issues that tend to peace or
war; TO be turned this way or that by the re-
suits OF presidential election. there is right
full interest in all the states and in every
congressional district that will not be
deceived or silenced by the auda-
cJora rratanoo that the ouesfion Of