Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-18
CHOOSING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS
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BY DISTRICTS.
In an article in the February number
OF the Forum Hon. E. ]. Phelps takes
issue with President Harrison concern
ing the plan of choosing presidential
electors by congressional districts-one
for each district and two for the state
at large. He urges very plausibly that
this plan as recently illustrated in
Michigan, is more logical, fairer and
better than the present mode OF choos-
ing them by states. Besides, it is in
strict keeping with the constitution,
which provides that each state "shall
appoint in such manner as the legisla-
ture thereof may direct, number of
electors equal to the number of sena-
tors and representatives to which the
state may be entitled in the congress-"
He finds an 'exact analogy between
congress and the electoral bodies" the
latter corresponding exactly to the
former in their representative capaci-
ties.
The constitution left the manner OF
choosing representatives and senators
to the states, just as it did the choosing
of presidential electors. For obvious
reasons, the states fell early into the
practice of choosing representatives by
districts, as the one best calculated to
voice the sentiments OF the people, not
only of the state, but of political subdi-
visions of it, and of localities. They
might have been chosen by the state
at large if the people so wished, ma
jority of all the votes cast determining
the political complexion of the con-
gressional delegation from the state;
but that was not the will of the people,
who appreciated the manifest unfair
ness of it. Under the district method
a state with a big Republican majority
may elect a few Democratic congress-
men, and vice versa, while under the
state plan the delegation would be all
Democrats or all Republicans.
That, in Mr.. Phelps opinion, is
where the plan of choosing electors is
greatly at fault. No better reason
exists for electing them than for
electing congressman from the
state at large. They, like the latter,
should be chosen by districts, so as to
more fairly represent the sentiments of
the people in all sections of the state.
The presidents objection to the
district plan of choosing electors is
that the legislature may gerrymander
the districts so as to create majorities
where they do not properly belong
The objection, says Mr.. Phelps,
amounts to no more than saying that
the district plan is liable in some cases
to abuse. But what human institution
is not? Perfection is not attainable,
neither is exemption from abuse. Be
sides, the objection is no stronger in
the case of electors than of congress
men whose districts may be and some
times are ridiculously gerrymandered.
Again, the gerrymander is game that
both parties may play, with the result
of offsetting each other and evening up
matters. If it has not become so
pernicious as to make it advisable to
elect members of congress by a general
ticket, why is there so much apprehen-
sion of danger in choosing electors that
way? The fear is based on an assump-
ton that legislatures will adopt, and
the people will tolerate corrupt and
dishonest methods. The assumption is
unworthy and highly uncomplimentary
to the people who ask for nothing but
fairness.