The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
GOVERNOR HILLS CONSPIRACY.

In 1880 the Democratic party tried to
steal the Maine legislature. and almost
succeeded, and today Governor Hill is try
ing to steal the legislature of New York,
with strong probabilities of success. Ac-
cording to the election returns. as made up
from the vote cast, the Republicans had
clear majority of two in the upper house
and majority of one in the lower house.
But the Democratic boards of supervisors
have already reversed the count in enough
districts to get majority of two in the as
sembly, and at the last reports had manu-
featured one in the senate, so that. unless
the courts interfere to correct the outrage.
the legislature of New York will be con-
trolled by fraudulent, manufactured ma
iority.
The purpose of Hill and his co-parceners
in this steal of a state is to obtain power
to gerrymander the state for members of
the legislature and congressman. When
the Democrats gained control of the Ohio
legislature in 1889 they gerrymandered the
state so that the Republicans elected only
seven of the twenty-one congressman in
1890, although they had majority of
10000 in the state. Indiana has been
treated in like manner by the Democrats,
a majority in the legislature and in the
congressional delegation being assured to
them, no matter what the Republican N a.
iority on the popular vote may be.
James s. GARRISON. in the New York
World. suggests that it is in the mind OF
Governor Hill Ito change the method of
choosing presidential electors in this state,
not after the Michigan plan Chat would
scarcely be advisable from a Democratic
point of view, but by the legislature di-
rect. There is nothing but public senti-
ment, however, to prevent any state from
adopting either of the old methods have
named Should the Democrats control
the New York legislature this winter, they
could pass law repeating the existing
statute and provide for the election of
presidential electors by the legislature
itself. Then Governor Flower could call
the legislature together in October and
have full set of Democratic presidential
electors manufactured to order. 1t would
be somewhat revolutionary, but still be
teaches us that David b. Hill is willing TO
go very close to the line in order to gain
partisan advantage"
President Harrison in his message saws
that sin one county Of a certain state
three districts for the election of members
of the legislature are constituted as fol-
lows: One has 5000 population, one
l5,ooo and one 1900, while in another
county detached, non-contiguous sections
have been united 10 make a legislative
district. These methods have already
found effective application 10 the choice
OF senators and representatives in con-
gress, and now an evil start has been
made in the direction Of applying them
TO the choice by the states of the electors
of president and vice president. If this
Is accomplished we shall then have three
great departments of the government IN
the hands of the gerrymander-the legis-
lative and executive directly and the iu-
dietary indirectly through appointment"
Governor Tillman, of South Carolina, in
a recent message 10 the legislature says:
Our state has been held up 70 seorn in the
national congress because OF what /. known as
athe black district" This geryymsnder, by
which district was formed composed almost
entirely OF black voters-a district the like Of
which was never seen before, and which should
never 10 seen agxin--csn have no excuse for
longer existence We have no reason 10 dread
,s,arn Of negro or Republican rule in South