Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-21
MICHIGAN.
Effect Of the Supreme Courts Decision on
the Miner Law.

Euect OF the supreme Courts Decision on
the Miner Law.
Correspondence Of The Evening sta-
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, Oct. 90, 1892
The decision of the United States Supreme
Court, handed down Monday, sustaining the
Miner electoral law, was expected by about
nine-tenths Of the lawyers of the state who had
in any way studied the case. The law provides
for the election of presidential electors by dis
tricts instead of on general state ticket as
heretofore. giving either party only SO many
votes as they carry congressional districts,
with the entire state divided into two districts
for electors at large. 1t was a democratic
measure enacted by the last legisla ture and was
bitterly opposed by the republicans. who saw
in it dark and wicked scheme to divide the
Michigan electoral vote and ndermine the in
fuence Of the state in the counsels of the party
The validity of the law tested in the state
supreme court and was there sustained by a
unanimous decision of the five justices of the
supreme court, three Of whom are republicans
The appeal to the United States Supreme Court,
In fact any test of the law, was against the ad-
vice and best judgment Of the ablest ATTORNEYS
and clearest headed party managers but once
started In the contest the attorneys who rep
resented the republican side were determined
to carry 1t through, and they did. The appeal to
the highest tribunal especially was discouraged
by the party managers, they figured it would
be looked upon a owe to dscredit the learn
ing and wisdom of the court which the repub-
Leans had themselves elected, and not only
that. but II the decision went against them the
law would be given legal status which other
states might in time take advantage Of The
decision finally sustaining the law will not
affect the present situation. In making romi-
nations all parties have complied with the
Miner law and the election will now proceed by
districts instead Of the old way.
This decision emphasizes the fact that the re-
publicans in Michigan have been in mighty
hard luck for four years past In the legisla-
tive session of 1889, republican BY an over
whelming majority, q law was enacted BY
which it was hoped the republicans would gain
several seats in the state house Of representa-
tives. 1t was called the minority representation
law and provided that in legislative districts
entitled to more than one member the voters
could bunch their votes upon q number Of
candidates less than the number to which the
district was entitled. This law applied to the
cities of Saginaw and Detroit only In this
city. which was entitled to two members the re-
publicans could nominate one candidate and
by voting double for him could elect him. In
Detroit, entitled to seven members. they could
elect at least three and possibly four. In the
election Of 1899 the republicans observed the
provisions Of the law while the democrats
ignored 1t entirely, and after election. upon an
appeal to the supreme court, the law was en-
phatically sat down upon as unconstitutional,
unjust and partisan.
Then came the democratic landslide of 30.
The republicans lost the state house from attic
to cellar. The democrats had undisputed con-
troll OF the house by good working majority
and the senate was 30 close that two contested
seats would settle IL either way. The republican
judicial state convention was held in jackson in
February, and most Of the members of both
houses left Lansing to attend the convention
and participate In the subsequent festivities
The democrats took advantage Of the opportu-
nifty to cali up the two contested seats for set
Element. and before the few republican senators
remaining In town could realize what had hap
pened the democratic contestants were seated
The republicans after the adjournment eudeav-
ored TO remedy what had happened BY testing
the validity OF the law creating Dickinson
county, which bad passed by strictly partisan
vote, the two democratic senators voting for IL
The supreme court held that on the face Of the
returns the act wa valid and that the court
could not 60 behind the returns. II the court
had decided otherwise the other partisan en-
actments Of the Legislature would have gone
down with Dickinson county and the republi-
cans would have been spared great amount Of
worry and trouble.
new APPoRrIoNN1HT.
Once In control Of both houses the demo.
crats had things pretty nearly their own way,
although they were obliged occasionally TO
throw sop to the patrons Of industry menu
bers 70 ksep them n line. The Minor law W.
one Of the INST fruits Of the senatorial victory.
Then came the snactments reapportionine tke
STATE into congressional, legislative and ssn-
ssofiAi daseacss Tor more than quarter Of .