The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-05-20

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so long as our present elective machine
is permitted to run on. 1t only serves
to facilitate the operations of 1.-THE
Machine"-so called-of the profess
sional politicians. 1t is in fact wonder
fully adapted for that purpose The
people certainly ought to be convinced
that it is impossible for them to beat
two machines" They might beat the
one that rules them now had they any
thing to do it with. But to think OF
doing it with our present electoral
"rig," which only serves to make the
other more powerful, is perfectly ridic-
ulous. And all the trouble with our
pnreset rig is, it compels us first to get
a majority; and then it divides US into
small districts, which prevents voters
of like views from uniting to secure a
majority. Could anything be more
absurd or delusive? Thus hampered,
thousands are defeated in detail-in
their respective districts.-,for want Of
said majority, while those who do
secure majority, only ratify the nom
nations of the "ring." "Try, try
again. is very good motto in many
cases, but in this instance, try new
machine, has a more inspiring sound.
II each eightieth Of the voters in
California could to a certainty elect
one of our eighty assemblymen, how
much power would our bosses and
other powers have? The quota
would be about 900 votes for each
a,semblyman and it would require the
actual ballots of three thousand bosses
to elect single one. To get half the
Legislature they would have to corrupt
half of all the voters in the state
which would be impossible. AS It is
now, the great powers in politics have
an easier thing than that of corrupting
half of the voters they have only to
make use of the peoples machine
which compels all of them to vote the
party ticket, or else "get beaten"
Instead of the whole state in our dis.
trict, suppose We have several large
districts. San Francisco has twenty
assemblymen, the quota for each being
about twenty five hundred votes. II
we had proportional representation in
stead of the old machine, it would take
$500 genuine boss votes to get one
boss candidate into the legislature from
this city. Every other body of voters
numbering $500 could. if they so de-
sired, nominate and elect an 'indepen-
dent' man. Fraudulent registrations,
ballnt box stufing, repeating and pur-
chased votes could not prevent the
honest voters from securing their just
share of representatives. Corporations
would have to buy votes instead of
maiorities; they now need only to buy
enough to create majority in major
lty of the districts. Stop this, and
their power will vanish.
When we get our new machine, our
best men can come to the front without
having to spend small fortune to get
there; nor will they, after being elect
ed, be in fear Of any power behind
the throne" in their party, as they are
now, nor will they neglect the peoples
interests for fear of injuring their
party-for the people, and not party.
will be their sole reliance for future
favors.
When congressman are to be elected
the quota for each can be made up from
all parts of thu state, if necessary
How was Congressman Charles A.
Summer, of this city, beaten for sec.
ond term? Did the people beat him !?
No. They wanted him and would have
elected him had not the district lines
prevented them from cooperating to
do so. But his party convention re
fused to renominate him because-we
may infer-he might injure the party
by continuing to show in congress, how
little it would cost TO have a govern
ment postal telegraph. What good
does it do us to elect true man occa-
sionally if party managers can put him
on the retired list the moment he be-
gins to do good work, or before he can
finish our business. Away with the
congressional districts and let the voters
district themselves as thoy see fit. No
compulsory districts are needed. Down
with the slave pens-let US be FREE.
But the beneficial action of proper
tional representation may begin before
a party is numerous enough to be en-
titled to elect a congressman. Before
it is so entitled it may be numerous
enough to elect dozen representatives
to the state legislature. The fact that
this is impossible now prevents tbous-
ands who approve the principles of a
new party from joining it-merely to
throw 'away their votes"-and this
again may prevent it from ever getting
representation in congress; in fact,
may cause its death, or else paralyze it
as in the case of the greenback party.
Such a system is, to say the least, q
monster stumbling block in the paih nj