The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-10
FRAUDS UPON THE SUFFRAGE.
IEhs Michigan 6crrymander-Unifor
Law to Insure Honest Vote,


e delecfors Tor president and vice president has
il ecently attracted renewed interest BY reason of
1 &sdeparture by the state OF Michigan from the
: methods which had become uniform in all the
1eates prior to 1852 Various methods had been
4 ssed by the different states and even by the
same state in the mode OF choosing the electors
1MN the legislature In others, electors were
= chosen by the districts, but more generally by
The vote Of the whole state upon a general
6cket The movement towards the adoption of
ne last named method had an early beginning
nd went steadily forward among the states IN
y In 1S32, there remained but single state
&nth Carolina-that had not adopted IL. That
Il 0te, until the civil war, continued 10 choose
~ electors by vote OF the legislature, but alter
Pc war changed its method and con-
Emed to the practice OF the other states.
nearly sixty years all the states
ppular vote upon a general ticket, aud for
9ariy thirty years this method was universal
AFTER iuli test of other methods without any
purpose OF party advantage, as we must believe,
ecs solely upon the considerations that uni
fmiy was desirable aud that = general cleo
Zoo in territorial divisions not subject to
Nnange was most consistent with the popular
faafacter OF institutions which best proved the
= quality OF the voters and effectualiy removed
- choice oil president from the banefui infiu-
: eces OF the 'gerrymander," the prac-
tN of all the states was brought
9 DO harmony. That this concurrence
should now be broken is, think unfortunate
= nay well suggest whether the states that still
tiye their approval 10 the old and prevailing
sreshod ought not to secure, by constitutional
= mendment. q practice which has had the
> approval OF all. The method of the Michigan
: hgslation provides for choosing what are pop
Aarly known as the congressional electors Tor
: fssident by congressional districts aud the two
enstorial electors by districts created for that
= purpose The legislation was, of course, accom-
: 1anled by q new congressional app0rtionmeat,
: md the two statutes bring the electoral
a a tai In f1f
he "gerrymander" These gerrymaBders for
4 congressional purposes were in most eases but
Ayressed by gerrymander OF the legislative dis
! ficts thus making il impossible for q majority
o. the legislative voters OF the state 10 correct
ahe apportionment and equalize the congress
gonai districts. minority rule is established
NAT only political CONFUSION can overthrow.
~ have recently been advised that in one county
9 acertain state three districts for the election
y members of the legislature constituted AS
hloHe: One has 1900 population, one 1900
nd one 10000, while in another county detached.
1on-contigGous sections have been united
make a legislative district Thee methods
gave already found effective application TO the
snoice OF senators and representatives in con-
iiess anu now an evil start has been made in
se direction OF applying them 20 the choice by
ne States OF the electors Of president and vice
eesident 1t this is accomplished we shall
j then have three great departments of the gov
ahinent In the hands OF the gerrymauder-the
asslaiiye and executive direstiy and the judi
GaIy indirectly through appointment An
eechon implies any body OF electors having
described qualifications, each one of which
sss an equal value aud influence in determn-
ns the result. so when the constitution pro-
Hues that leach state shall appoint leiectl in
nch manner the Legislature thereof may
Gfect number OF electors, ETC., unrestricted
power wis not given 10 the legislatures in the
.ection of the methods 10 b. used.
republican form of government is
34asranseed by the constitution to each
a@ The power given by the same
tnstrumeni 20 the legislatures of the states 10
pissefabe the methods OF the choice by the state
q electors must b. extended under that Iinita-
Won. The essential features of such a govern
msh' are the righ, OF the people 70 choose their
osn officers and the nearest practicable equal
~ value in the sutirages given in deiermin-
ing that choice
twill not be claimed that the power given 20
nc legislature would support them IA providing
Isi ne persons receiving tile smallest vote
saoua De the electors, or OF n law that al cleo
"es should be chosen by the voters OF = single
Ssagfssslonal district. Under the pretense
!. regulating .he methods the legislature
s. - - neither Invest the right OF choice
Il = s sere nor siopt methods not conformsble
Institutions. It is not my pur-
- here TO discuss the question whether a
suce oy the legislature or by the voters OF
LA LA single districts is choice by the state,
a..oniy 10 recommend SuCh regulation OF this
sasssr oy constitutional amendment which viii
,fVs.sale uniformity and prevent that dissrsceiu!
9Esssan lnggiery 10 which such q liberty of
2ssSles II II exists. offers temptation.
= w'osseihg lost now : more important than 10
= r "a every guaranty Tor the absolutely fair
4 ~ nee choice by En equai suffrage OF the
FL npectse states oi all tSe officers OF
- SSsge applied directly, as In the
=. s &C. o. members OF the House at Representa-
~ So VI indirectly, Is III the choiCeof members
ss 80 sehste snd electors o. the president Re
4 ~ ~ ioT public officers and obedience 70 law
= -. - noa cease 10 b. The characteristics OF our
SSt :, Until onr elections cease 20 declare the
49, zoe mS!oriues fairly Ssoertained without
Vt the suppression % the gerry
4 a. were called upon TO dc,
nIkss.-s wherein our chief national
Zsssess ne, snon.d ssy without hesitation II
IL overthrow 81 the majority aud control by
tes..apFrsssio1 or peryersion OF the popular
srs.sse Ihat there - real danger here sd
~ sgIee, oot the energies 81 those who see
.ase been chiefly expended in trying 10 fix
AsaSspVnSib!bty uu the opposite party rather
~ - n efforts 10 make such practices impossl-
by either marty
ss.ins,hot possible now 20 adjourn that inter
So ans loc0ucNsive debate while We tske
i 4 sVnaseHt one step Ia the direction of reform
, ~ uaah&tlug the ccrrymApdcr. which has
, 60 ehoaucel oy al parties as an influence
49, .eiecton % electors OF president and mem
= 49, cofgFeSsg All the states have Oeen act
n tA.,.eey and separate y. determined that the
Ia sia safest method. aud IL would seem
t-.sso srs could DC 10 objection 10 a conStltn-
ssaent, mSA'ns '"S' A'''''N -
= h. esislasn-e chosen in one year upon purely
M VueStiens should. pend ng residual. meet
= 49, o choice upon a general ticket and pro-
Ira e Tue choice of electors tx the leg stature,
9s{ns.ns .rlcS ShoUd GeteTtniue the result, us
lSSes,,r Hishi De endangered. l have alluded 20
- ;h ~. aaef as affecting the method Of select
Inn e SECTORS If the president by eoagres-
- aistriets, bat the primary intent and ei-
sIis iefIa OF political robbery VIII lave