The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-10-01

VIC eohicitHce Is knO"n We snail then be
able, lntelligently TO readjust our financial
legislation to any new conditions
THE GERRYMANDER.
In my last annual message to congress 7
sald that | must yet entertain the hope that
IL Is possible to secure a calm patriotic
consideration of such constitutional or
statutory changes as may be necessary to
secure the choice of the officers of the gov
eminent to the people by fair apportion-
mentS and tree elections. | believe that it
would be possible to constitute a commits
sion, non partisan IN its membership and
composed OF patriotic, wise and impartial
men TO which the consideration of the
question OF the evils connected with our
election systems and methods might be
committed with good prospect of secur-
ING unanlmity III some plan tor removing
or mitigating those evils. The cOnstitu-
l0n would permit the selection of the COM
mission to be vested in the supreme court
IL mat method would give the best guar
anty OF lmpartlallty. This commission
should be charged with the duty of inaWr-
ing INTO the whole subject of the law OF
elections as related to the choice of officers
or the national government, with view
10 securing to every elector a free and IN
m0iested exercise Of the suffrage and as
near an approach to an equality of value
IN each ballot cast as IS attainable. The
demand that the limitations or suffrage
shall be found in the law and only there Is
d just demand. and no just man should re-
sent or resist II. 1t seems to me that an
appeal To our people 10 consider the ques-
uon OF readjustng our legislation upon
absolutely 1alr non-partlsan lines might
lind some effective response
UNFAIR ELECTION METHODS
Many times | have had occasion to say
that laws and election methods designed
10 give unfair advantage to the party max
ing them would some time be used to per
petuate IN power faction of party
against the VIII Of the majority of a people
" this we seem to nave an illustration in
the recent state election in Alabama.
There was no Republican ticket in the
held. The contest was between white
Democrats. The kolb party say they were
refused the representation guaranteed 10y
law upon the election boards; and when
the courts by mandamus attempted to
right this wrong. ali appeal that could not
be heard until after the election made the
wits Intellectual. Ballot boxes were
thrown out tor alleged Irregularities or
destroyed, and 1t is asserted on behalf of
one half, at least, of the white voters of
Alabama, that the officers to whom certi-
hcates have been given were not honestly
elected. There is no security for personal
or political rights. The power of the
states over the question of the qualifca-
ton OF electors Is ample to protect them
against tHt udUgtI VI III ignorant or ue-
PRAYED suffrage. and the demand that every
man found to be qualified under the law
shall be made secure in the right to cast
free ballot and to have that ballot honestly
counted cannot be abated. Our Old Re-
publican battle cry. "a free ballot and a
fair count comes back TO us, not only
from Alabama but from other states ana
men who differ with us widely in opinion
have come TO see that parties and political
debate are but mcckery, II. when the de
bate Is ended. Judgment Of honest ajOr-
ties is to be reversed by ballot box frauds
and tally sheet manipulaloDS in the inter
est OF the party or party faction in power
These new political movements in the
states and the action of some of the state
courts against unfair apportionment laws
encourage the hope that the arbitrary and
partisan election laws and practices which
have prevailed may be corrected by the
states. the law made equal ana non partI-
san and the elections free and honest
The kepubllcan party would rejoice at
such solution, as healthy and patriotic
local sentiment Is the best assurance OF
tree and honest elections. | shall again
urge upon congress that provision be made
Tor the appointment or a non-partlSan com
mission to consider the subject of appOr-
tiOnmentS and elections in their relation
to the choice of a federal officer.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
ne civil service SA stem HAS Dtpn pX-
tended and the law enforced with vIgor
and impartlality. There has been no
partisan juggling with the law in any of
the departments or bureaus as had before
happened, but appointments to the clasSl-
tied service have been made impartlallv
from the eligible lists. The system now IN
force in all the departments has tor the first
time placed promotions strictly upon the
basis of merit. as aScrrtained by Il daily
record and the efficiency OF the force is
thereby greatly Increased.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Approval was heartily given by the con
ventlon to all whose agencies which con
tribute to the education Of the children of
the land, and meets my hearty approval,
as does also the declaration as to the
liberty of thought and conscience and
OF church and state. The safety
of the republic Is In Intelligent citizenship.
and the increased interest manifested in
the states in education, the Ch9erfulneSS
with which the necessary taxes are paid
by all classes and the renewed interest
manifested by the children IN the national
flag are hopeful indications that the com
ing generation Will direct public affairs
with increased prudence and patriotism.
Our interest IN free public schools open 10
all children OF suitable age Is supreme and
our care for them viii be jealous and con
slant. The public school system however
W q d
right of the parent, after contributing to
the public school fund, to choose other
agencies for his children.
FEDERAL AID TO SCHOOLS.
| favor aid by the general government
to the public schools, with a special view
to the necessities of some of the Southern
states. But it Is gratifying TO notice that
many of these states are. with commend
able liberallty, developing their school
systems and increasing their school
revenues to the great advantage OF the
children of both races.
WORK FOR THE FARMERS.
The considerable attention of the farmers
of the whole country is invited TO the work
done through the state and Agricultural
departments in the interest OF agriculture.
Our pork products had for ten years been
nearly excluded b. the great continental
nations of Europe. All efforts to secure
the removal of those restrictions had failed,
but the wise legislation OF the Fifty-tlrSt
congress. providing for the inspection and
official certlricafIon OF our meats and Civ
ing to the president power To forbid the
into this country OF selected
products of such countries As should con-
tlnue TO refuse our inspected meats en-
abed us 10 open all the markets OF Europe
to our products. The result has been not
only to sustain prices by providing new
markets for our surplus. but to add %
cents per hundred pounds TO the market
value of the inspected meats. nder the
agreements. special tavor> nave
been secured for agricultural products,
and our exports of such products have