The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-04
THE MICHIGAN WRONG.

When the las. legislature of Michigan
passed law providing for the choice Of
presidential electors by districis-t.elve
OF them by congressional districts AMI two
by districts dividing the state on line run
ming through the center north and south
Il exercised an Undouotei technical right
gwen j. by the constitution. Daring the
first quarter Of the present century many
states chose electors by popular vote in
the districts precisely after she Michigan
plan. In other states, in :luding NewYork,
the legislature chose al the electors.
New York follow ed this practice as
late as is2s. when she changed 20 the plan
OF election by popular vote in the districts,
observing il only IN the election OF ISIS.
South Carolina maintained election By the
legislature IS late a. 1850. and Maryland
maintained election by popular vote IN
the districts as late IS 1sS2- But after the
election Of 1852 all the states except South
Ca-olins adopted the present plan OF
choosing 81 the electors on one ticket py
the vote Of the whole state.
There is nothing in the constitution 70
prevent 81 the other states of the Union
from following the example of Michigan
There IS nothing IN the constitution 20
prevent the legislature Of any state from
reverting TO another old method and sp-
pointing outright by legislative act al. the
states electors for the presidential elsc-
ton. The only bar 10 arbitrary and parti-
49, 81 Sa -s,f-s
p-oval likely 10 be aroused which NIGH:
prove fatal IN the national election TO the
party which should De guilty OF IL The
criticism made by Republicans upon The
Michigan law IS net ihas it is unconstiiu-
tional for eaca state has the cons.itu-
tional RICH; 10 appoint Is presidential
electors in any way il may choose, but
that the change was made simply 70 en-
able the Democratic party 70 secure few
electors from Republican s.s,e whose
votes Nigh. IN : close con.es: be decisive
Of The result. Michigan has never failed
70 give It's electoral vote 70 the Republican
candidates since the party was formed.
The Republicans fairly claim that for
the Democrats 10 take such s state in
which they had gained Academia, ascea-
dency BY utterly dishonora5le means was
constitutional victory obtained BY
shameful outrage OF al moral response
hility on the part Of the victo-s
In lss0 the Democrats obtained control
Of the lower house OF the Michigan Iegisla-
tare. In The Senate four members elected
by the Patrons Q: Industry held the bal
aace Of power. Three Of them ger
orally voted with The Republicans,
but when the Republican state
convention met and few Republican SEN
stors attended i without securing pairs,
the Democrats Ioand themselves with s
majority Of :he remaining senators. and
on some srumped-up charges ami without
reference 20 the usual committees. hastily
unses;sd enough Republican members 70
give Them majority. With this major
itv, gained by CDie-haHd means, Ihev
eerryman3e-ed the STATE aad then passed
the district presidential electoral LAW.
The Michigan l2w was Infamous II Us
intent an3 purpose; il Vas enacted, how
ever, b technically legal means snd the
result IS technically legal n ISIS Nichi-
gan gave a Republican plurality 81 q. S4S
snd fourteen electors. votes % Harrison.
~ ;Ae serry-nan3e- - the Democrats and
the district electoral law he vii probably
! he deprived O. Sx o. eight q them nsxt
November. New Jersey vii rot probably
s;ve one-hA,t IS large 4 peru,cras:c plc-
ra.i.y next fall IS Michigsn's Republican
plurality NIL he: oGg IAe sold electoral
vote q New jersey VIII - gwen % the
Democratic candidate. while L the Mich:-
gan pan vas app.iei 70 he STATE and 8
ta;r avpo-.ionneGt was made. i could give
hA.E .. Is electoral vote 70 Harrison.
Tie Philadelphia P-sss -eci.ss these
facts sni makes this fo-cible comment
upon the gross injustice the Democrats ~
the most unfair means have indicted On
/ The people q Michigan and the rest q the
country:
Maea 10 proposition Vas male ia, ooa
c-css me - GE3s1sac.s rHwer - G.viss "a
STATES ,2to eo1g-s>>lca~l districts, The pay-t-
{ e-s:s 1eca-2ce1 tie proposition s. 81 unlawful
.-vS>.s1 - ;se T-sA-s .. he >.Stss Aa5 Ys. :;
- IS psss ,,-s;lc legislature, n wAleA = rs
+ .c--sy Vas ca-A asI ~ : Shameless t-.ck los.
+ rsssSs 81 electoral lSw = Michigan Va 3. 81 T.
.s-ts7es Wss2 tha rssets q every o51s- s.x.e ia
- e-s- ;.12 81 president e tce.a vs. %
. ot>s- Ss-S@Ct against E1e ne-2oc-as.c oz-rv.
.1-s --e>SAG c.Scto-a. IA. tya&c@. IS Il : ..
+ tae sg-,s - tazt pNrsy. ouSAG - lzE1szos
: eys-y .atss}lSeat caSs = tas uzy4c1 - csss -.
. vc-e CAST she Democrat ca'.s .5ases