The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1891-03-06
JUST As isAD AS THE smor GUN.

The state Of Connecticut, In three presi-
DENTAL elections out Of the last four. has
given the votes Of her sis electors to the
democratic eandIdaies--onee for Tildcn
and t&iee for Grover Cleveland. During
the sane span Of sixteen years she has, In
most Of the congressional elections, chosen
the democratic candidates IN three out OF
her four dstfleis. Why, then, one may
periincnsly ask, has II happened that DUR
ing the same time, since 1876. she has not
chosen single democratic United States
Senator, and has ehcaen but two since the
republican party wac organized IN 1882
Why. also, has II happened that except
once, since 1876. all the state officers have
been republicans. although usually in a
minority OF the votcsi The answer 10
these questions introduces q system so
fantastic. 30 out OF Joint with every Just
theory oi popular seli-goyernment, so
atrociouslY unjust n lie practical working
tina, one hardly knows whether tc condemn
most SHARPLY the republican audaei,y
which perpetrates Il or the democratic
cowardiee which has thus far endured Il.
Ein the old days the Connecticut town
was the primal unit OF representation.
/ This idea. rooted deeply In the history. ira
ditIons and hahltudcs OF Puritan Connect.
ieut, was grated Into the present State
Constitution when our ancestors drew II
up In the convention Of 1913. They gave
each town the representation in the lower
house Of the legislature which II had before
and TO each new town one representative.
BY later amendment this provision equal
izing the towns 10 the legislature has not
been substantially changed. But the sen
ate, which that convention left popular
body elected by the vote Of the whole
state. was by amendment IN fsss changed
30 as TO be. like the house, aierrltorial"
and "sown" body rather than reprsents-
tive and popular one. The 'iown Idea.
was thus made prominent and domlnsnt
In both hodses.
The system was not 90 strictly unfair
IN The early pari of the century, when the
towns were much more nearly equal than
they are nov In population and wealth.
The uniairness has come about With the
growth OF the commercial cities. Ia 1878
there were ba. i've eisles 10 Connecticut,
containing little less than 10 per cent Ct
the total population Of the state. Now
the twelve elites Of conneetIcut contain
nearly one half ot connecsieut's popuia-
ton. Yet sheie representation as towns
remains almost exactly what II was seven
y Years ago. They have but twenty
representatives out 81 the asa In the iegis-
lssivr lower house. These twelve cIiies
gave At the last election = democratic
plurality Of about 5000 votes. which bad
TO waste ltself Oh less than tenth part OF
the Legislature.
A candidate for state Office must have
a clear majority over all. the election
otherwise going TO the nisreprcsentaiiv
legislature.
Not once since the republican party was
organized have the democrats had iesis
ia.ive governor. The republicans have had
legislative governors In 1878 (Andrews.)
10 1884 (liarrIson.) In 1885 bloomsbury !
Ia 1883 (Bulkeley,) and they claim one this
year. although their candidate. Merwin, Il
$3.50 behind Morris. 1851 behind clear
majority over all. and Morris. on the face
OF The returns, has 40 votes over all. Il was
practically also by the legislature tha, Mar
shall Jewell was pu. In over James z
English In 1871. Along with the state
officer goes also all the appoIniing power
and patronage.
As 10 United States Senators. the DEM
oCra,s have had but two by Legislative
choice since 1855. although they have had
majorlties on pluralI,iea Tor their state tlcke,
IN twelve ataie elections cut Of the last
nineteen.
The republicans have also complete
check on democratic governor. VIXEN the
party is 50 fortunate as to elect one. In
deed, democratic legislature In the state.
no matter what the popular vote is, has
come to be looked upon as q genuine phe.
nomenon.
Some of.he anomalies in representation arr
amazing The town Of New Haven, in 1883,
cast I7,sa7 votes. II chose twb representa-.
tiyes. The little farm town Of Union cast II,
votes. II has also two representatives. II
that election voter in Union cast q bali,
which was the equivalent Of about $50 votes il
New Haven. The latter town has tax lis
Of $50. s36; Union has tax LIST OF sia6
s4s. Each has two members Of the iegisls
ture. This Is the relation OF taxation 20 rep
resentaiion in Connecticut. In the election c
ISSs-seiected here on account Of the fulness {
the yote-sixty fmalI towns, with total vot
Of II, 1851, sent 76 representatives. Q
about .hree-tenths Of the lower house. Til
town Of Hartford. with Ia,33t votes, sent tive
and New Haven, with r7.Sz7 votes. sent ais
two. The twelve Connec,icut cities, with u
o33 votes, sent "a representatives. and tn
four rural counties, with $1,000 votes, sen
Ioo representatives. The twelve cities ha
more than double the population Of the iou
counties. yet sent to the lower house only abo
wo- ninths Of the number sent by ihose cou
ties. Ten Of these cities had tax lists amour
ing to sI76, ,3oo.eo7, and ten small tow
sending the same number Of Representative
had total tax list Of So, ,o6o. .6oo. The TOW
Of New Haven always sends 3 democrat
senator who represents about $4,000 vote
Tolland county sends usually two republics
senators who represent about $500 votes.
I The figures cited may be supplemented
a few others which were compiled few da
ago by PrcfHuberr A Newton, the we'll know
mathematician Of Yale College. His tabl
show that the 1874 democrats in the sta
legislature now represent towns and dislric
which cast last November Ios,S<o votes, VIII
I4E republican members who last Wednesd
elected Senator platt trepreset only 73,r44 vot'
The change from this system can come
gally in only two ways. One IS BY constit
! tional amendment, which requires = majorl
! vote in the lower house Of one legislature
! two-thirds vote in both houses Ut the sessi
Of the next legislature two years alter. an
i finally, qualification By the people. The
A..