Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-12-17
MORE OF THE MESSAGE.
Election Reforms Discussed.
The presidents message contains the fol-
lowing sActionst
ELECTION REFORMS.

| Inc presidents message contains the tol-
| lowing sectionsi
ELECTION REFORMS.
Nothing just now is more important than
to provide 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 representatives, or indirectly as
| in the choice of senators and electors of
/ president. Respect for public officers and
J obedience to the law will not cease to be
/ the characteristics of our people until our
, elections cease to declare the will of MAORI
! ties fairly ascertalned without fraud, sup
, preston or gerrymander.
If were called upon to declare wherein
! our chief national danger lies l should say
I without hesitation, in the overthrow of ma
/ Jorlty control by tine suppression or perVer-
sion of the popular suffrage. That there is a
real danger here all must agree. But the en-
| orgies of those who see it have been chiefly
| expended in trying to fix responsibility upon
| the opposite party, rather than in efforts to
/ make such practices impossible by either
party.
Is 1t not possible now to adjourn that in
| terminable 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 influence In the election of electors of
/ president ana members of congress!
All the states have, acting freely and sepa-
rateIy, determined that the choice of electors
] by general ticket is the wisest and safest
method. and 1t would seem there could be
no objection to a constitutional amendment
making that method permanent. If a legis-
latuTe chosen IN one year upon purely local
questions should pending presidential con-
test, meet and rescind the law for a choice
upon general ticket and provide for the
choice of electors by the legislature, and this
trick should determine the result, it is not
too much to say that the public peace might
be seriously and widely endangered.
DANGERS OF TIE GERRYSIASDER.
have alluded to the ''Gerrymander'' 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 selec-
lion of members of the house of representa-
tlves. 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 a wiling
ness to confer as to remedies and to put into
force such measures as Will most efiectually
preserve the right of the people 20 free and
equal representation.
An attempt was made last congress to
bring to bear the constitutional powers Of
the general government for the correction
of frauds against the suffrage. 1t is impor-
tant to know whether the opposition to such
measures is really rested in particular fea-
lures, supposed TO be objectionable, or IN
cludes any proposition to give to the election
laws of the United States adequacy to the
correction of grave and acknowledged
evils. i must Yet entertain the nope that II
| is possible 10 secure calm, patriotic consid-
Grafton of such constitutional or statutory
changes as may be necessary to secure the
choice of the officers of the government to
the people by fair appOrtiOnment and free
elections.
I believe it would be possible to constitute
a commission, non partisan IN its member
ship, and composed of patriotic, wise and
impartial men, to whom a consideration of
the questions of the evils connected with our
election system and methods might be COM
mltted with good prospect of securing
unanimity IN some plan for removing or
/ mitigating those evils. The constitution
| would permit the selection of the commission
10 be vested in the supreme court if that
method would give the best guaranty of i'm
paEkiality.
This commission should be charged with
| the duty of inqulring into the subject of the
/ law of elections as related to the choice of
officers OF the national government, with
/ view to securing to every elector a free and
unmOlested exercise of the suffrage and as
near an approach to an equality of value in
each ballot cast as is attainable.
THE QUESTION: OF SUFFRAGE.
While the policies of the general govern
ment upon the tariff, upon the restoration of
| our merchant marine, upon the river and
harbor Improvements and other such matters
of grave and general concern are liable to
be turned this way or that by the results of
congressional elections and ministrative pol
ieies, sometimes involving issues that tend to
peace or war, TO be turned this way or that
| by the results of presidential election, there
IS q rightful interest IN all the states and in
every congressional district that will not be
deceived or silenced by the audacious pre-
| tense that the question of the right of any
| body of legal voters In any state or in any
congressional district to give their SURFACES
| freely upon these general questions is a mat
| ter only of local concern or control. The
demand that the limitations of suffrage shall
be found in the law, and only there. is a just
demand and no Just man should resent or
resist 1t. My appeal is, and must continue
| to be, for a consultation that shall proceed
with candor, cRlmness and patience upon
the lines of justice and humanity, not by
prejudice and cruelty"
To the consideration of these very grave
questions invite not only the attention of
congress, but that of all patriotic citizens
We must not entertain the delusion that our
people have ceased to regard a free ballot
and equal representation as the price of their
allegiance to laws and to civil magistrates.
have been greatly rejoiced to notice many
evidences of the increased IN lfcation of our
people and OF revived national spirit. The
vista that now opens to US is wider and more
glorious than ever before. Qualification and
amazement struggle for supremacy We
contemplate the population, wealth and
moral strength of our country. A trust, mo-
mentous in Its influence upon our people
and upon the world, is for brief time COM
mitted to US, and we must not be faIthless to
its first condition-the defense of the free
and equal influence of the people in the
choice of public officers and IN the control of
public affairs