New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-30
SELECTIONS From TIE MAIL.
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENtAlio->'
To The Editor of The Tribune ..,,,.,x.
Sir: The subject of unrepreseh'eu 49,, l
and proportional representation Is ho" M -.
important, for are about 10 nav
stitutional Convention and the suDJeo. ou7..' ~
fully discussed by the press Al Inc 'As'
election in this city Republicans cast S'''' WI
, his creat hoGv OF citizens is in the minority
r more than 70 coo. and 1t the loca eiecNoh nv
month they will be unable Of the thirty nleiioei
q, the LEGISLATURE to be chosen 70 eject Si''s''
representative; in fact they nave ho "io''
in the government under which they I'VE IMAM nv.
would have were they inhabitants Oh ''",'
course this is all wrong. Democracy shoui" o' '''
government of the people by inc WIZ P''
.oua,lv ranresented but we nave IL mere III
Ncv-York IL is the government OF the "hoic
people by mere majority OF the people eAci"S'''S
represented-a government OF privilege III lawn %
the numerical majority which alone possesses p'"0-
,icallv any voice in the State. Such Is the cohse
ouence of the manner in which the votes are III"
taken, 10 the complete disirancHiSe"is". VI NM
,ies Now is there no middle ground between az
Lowing ,ha smaller number 10 be equally powerful
with the greater and the other extreme OF piol'hs
ont the smaller number altogether
Habit and old association have reconched 'ho"-
sands of our most valued taxpayers 10 hee"i'S'
Injustice. and it is now high time to seek remedy.
In an equal democracy every and any section OF III
Cd ferest in governmental pOlIVS "Vu-u W
, majority of the electors would always nave d
majority of the representatives.. but also minority
of the electors should always have minority OF
the representatives. We have now government ol
inequality and privilege, ana there Is pa. VI Wv az
nnople whose fair and equal share of influence IN
The representation is withheld from them.
Not alone does the minority sufier. me pomcI9
of government do not in al! cases go 10 the Huti
cal majority, but often to majority OF the md
jorty who often but a minority OF I,e ro
Now this blotting out of the minority Is no
necessary or natural consequence OF freedoi anu
is diametricaly opposed TO the hrst prncipie u
democracy. 49,. ooor1
ing to Simon Sterne in his book on itepresSh'd
legislative bodies for these deal absolutely WIN
the powers of the whole people ana IN the s9l'!oh
of this problem have. SAYS John stuart MIL d
specific against almost all the ills of SoVeInineh'
which inherent 10 our, own sSs'sliL . ih,
fully add 10 our SYSTEM here in America as "eii
Proportional representation. OF course: l. pase,'
upon the principle that II certain polltice' unit
be II a State city or county. has a given number
OF representatives each proportionate part or the
voters in mat political unit should have one repre-
sentative That is. If a state with -FOUR congress
men has 100 90 each. 5000 voters should nave
one CONGRESSMAN and proportional representation
accomplshes this by wiping out the dlstfict hhss
and allowing the citizens TO vote as they please III
the State. ,,,
But your space will not allow me fuller details
at present | only ask that you VIII give 10 ire
waiting public more light upon this most important
question. and that you Will inform us wnat mas
been the outcome OF the efforts made in ONO In
the way of proportional representations; and that
The Tribune. able and progressive as IL -, VIII
help to lead us out OF this political wilderness,
this very slough of despoiism Of the unfttest
New-York Oct % 1896 J. {. PUMPELLY.