The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-26
state Representation.

We publish today a second letter OF
Prof Commons of the State university on
the subject OF legislative reform, in which
he further advocates his proposition for
proportional representation. at least as to
the election Of senators. We commend 1t
TO our readers as well worth their careful
consideration. In this letter Prof. Conf
MONS broadly asserts that the chief merit
of his scheme is that it discontinues dis
trict. or local. representation aud puts in
its place state representation. He places
this even higher than the object of de-
stroying the Rerrymander, and his chief
argument for il IL that il would tend TO
put better class of men into the legisla-
ture If this point could be established il
would indeed be a weighty reason for the
change, but can it2 What sort of change
could we expect in the men nominated2
For whatever system of election you may
have the character of the Legislature must
depend very largely on the nominations
wherever party government exists. Ii
legislators are elected on general ticket
they must be nominated by a state con-
vention. Would not that give the lobby
an opportunity 20 concentrate its forces
on the nominating body, whereas row
the nominating bodies are so widely dis
persed that the lobby reaches but few Of
them, and must take its chances on getting
control OF the member after he is elected.
Prof. Commons thinks that they would
be "abler and more representative men.
the leaders of politics and political thought
throughout the state" Why? Such
men could be elected now il they desired
the Office. Their neighbors know their
qualifications and would nominate and
elect them. As a matter of fact the
"leaders of politics aud political thought
now name the candidates as a usual thing.
A state convention could not so easily
select such men as could the local con-
ventions. The reader can test this for
himself What do you know about the
political leaders, or indeed about the de-
sifable material for legislators. in Jay, or
Noble, or Pike, or Franklin, or in any
other county in the state beside the one
you live in? III a state convention NOM
mates candidates for either branch OF the
legislature il will have to take them from
different parts of the state, and how are
the members of state convention to know
who to select more than you do? OBJ
viously one of two things would result
either the selection OF such candidates
would fall into the hands of few men,
or the representatives of the counties in
convention would name their men and
wa see no reason why either of these
could be considered an improvement on
the old syetem. We understand Prof.
| CoMMoNs' idea to be that men would prob
/ ably be selected who have attained some
1 reputation throughout the state for their
/ ability, but such men have usually at
| tsined such reputation through displays
of such ability in professional BUSINESS
lines, and therefore have so remunerative
occupations that they cannot be induced
TO leave them for the work of legislation.
Unless some greater inducement could be
1 offered we hardly think that mere nomi'
nation by a state convention. and election
on general ticket. would cause a change
( in their sentiments on this subject.
We hold strongly to the belief that il
legislative districts could be brought to