St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-06
THE MICHIGAN PLAN.

In the discussion of the Michigan
plan of choosing electors, as the district
system is coming to be known, it is
quite generally conceded that there
should be uniformity in this matter in
the states. Otherwise the accidents of
popular elections would afford partisans
opportunities for unfair advantages.
For instance, had the Democratic ma
jOrity in the last Ohio legislature
adopted the district plan, and had it re-
manned in operation during the coming
presidential election, the Democrats
might have obtained fourteen or fifteen
OF the twentyone district electors, while
the Republicans may have-2 900 major
ity in the popular vote. 1t is not as
sumed that the Democrats had any in
tention of pursuing this course if it had
been practicable, but it affords an Illus
tration of what is possible under the
present optional provisions of the con-
stitution. The Republicans, recalling the
desperate eXpedients of their own party
In several instances to secure needed
electoral votes. profess to be apprehen-
sive that the Democratic majority in
the New York legislature will exercise
the power in its bands to choose the
presidential electors. That would be
following numerous early precedents,
but would. under the present circum-
stances, be indefensible The need of
uniformity as the rule is hardly contro-
Verted, but there is difference of opinion
as to the best method. The recommen-
dation of the president that the constl-
tuition be amended so as to require cleo
ton by general ticket does not meet
much favor. No action is likely to be
had upon it in congress. The Michigan
plan comes nearer the need of the situa-
ton, but ii not insisted upon as the per-
feet method. 1t finds some suggestion
In the scheme adopted by the Republic
an national convention in 1880, after
long and fierce contest, for the election
OF delegates to the nominating conyen-
ton. 1t has been followed since as the
settled policy of the party. If the prin-
clple is good in the one case, why not in
the other? But the Michigan Demo-
Gratis have done the country good service
In raising the question in way to elicit
general attention, and lead to the adop-
tlono of some method more equitable than
the present. There is very little in the
charge that the Democrats in Michigan
have taken an unwarranted advantage
OF the Republicans. They had fair
prospect of again carrying the state and
securing the entire electoral vote. They
simply made an equal division, as thew
believed. Some who denounce their
action are not aware that the distri ct
system has ever been in use. A Repub-
lican congressman from Michigan even
went so far as to pronounce it unco nsti.
tutlonal III spirit AS late as 1924
1t was in use in Name, Massa-
chusetts, Kentucky and Tennes-
see. In 1928 New York chose
one elector in each district, and these
chose two at large. The same year
Maryland and Tennessee chose all of
their electors in this way. 1t was prob
ably abandoned to secure uniformity.
Yet it Is palpably more equitable and
unobjectionable method than that now
in use. Could there be non-partisap
and fair apportionments, it would leave
little to be desired. 1t would free the
elections in the large contested states
mainly from the temptation to use the
DUDLEY "blocks of FIVE" methods. or
concentrate Doodle arguments, as only
one district could be affected by anv
effort. The subject may become promi.
hent in congress this session.