New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-30
THE MICHIGAN PLAN URGED.
rAvoRING THE CHOICE OF PREsIDEN-
rIAL ELECTORS By DISTRICTS.
assEMBLYMAN AINswoRTH WILL INTRODUCE A
BILL TO DIVIDE NEw-YORK's VOTE BE-
TWEEN THE TWO GREAT PARTIES
THE CONGRESSIONAL RE-
APPORTlONMENT.
InY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIRI.NEl

E.I
Albany. Jan. 29.-Sha the Presidential electors
n, the state of New-York be elected by Congress
districts hereafter, following the Michigan plan?
This question has been answered In the afirma-
tive. so far as Assemblyman Answorth Is con-
cerned. He is preparing a bill for submission
10 the Legislature to carry out this plan OF Sc
,scting the members Of the electoral delegation
OF the state. Now. as is we'll known. the Presi-
dential electors Of the State are elected in
body from the entire State. Any political party
which may carry the State elects the entire body
OF thirty-six electors. 1t is not obliged to divide
with any other political party, although its chief
onponent may possess nearly as many voters as
Il possesses. Mr. Answorth believes that the
putting up of this great stake Of thirty-six cleo
tord votes has a tendency to produce vast
amount of corruption at elections in the big
democratic cities of the State. In these cities
fhe Democratic leaders make every effort to roll
IN big vote to offset the Republican vote which
comes down to the Harlem River from the in
terror of the State. Moreover, gigantic election
frauds are committed in behalf Of the Demo
cratic party at every Presidential election in
New-York and Brooklyn. There is a deliberate
Justification of the election returns in many elec
tion districts 1t will be remembered that one
wear in Patrick DIVERS Assembly district there
was one election district which distinguished
itself upon the face of the returns by giving
every one of its votes TO the Democratic party.
Some afHdavits were made after election. how
ever. by Republicans. Populists and Socialists.
who declared that they had voted in that district.
Mr. Ainsworth says that all this fraud at Presi-
DENTAL elections would be stopped IL the electors
were chosen from the Congress districts. His
bill will provide for the election of one eector
from each of the thirtyfour Congress districts Of
the State and Of two electors-at-large. This Will
enable both the Republican and the Democratic
parties in the state OF New-York TO secure repre-
sentation in the Electoral College. If Presiden-
tal electors had been elected under TINS system In
1892 the Democratic party would have had twen-
ty-four electors and the Republican party twelve.
II will be necessary. the Republican leaders
think in order to bring about fair election of
Presidential electors under the proposed new
system, TO have the Congress districts reappor-
toned fortnight ago Assemblyman Alfred X.
Conkling introduced a resolution calling upon the
Judiciary Committee to make report by Febfu-
ary To the legal authority OF the Legislature
70 make an apportionment of the Congress as
tricts. Assemblyman GARDENER, the CHAIRMAN OF
the judiciary Committee. said to-day upon 'his
topic:
l find that Ohio has frequently reapportioned her
Congress districts between the various PeIyous ,so
heard Of other instances We therefore have prece
onSress or dstrets and shall SO report to the AS
sembly on Friday
Probably the Legislature will first pass Con
action by passing Mr.. Ainswo.hs bill. Some Re-
publicans may oppose the latter. on the ground
that New-York is a Republican state ana
should cast every one of its thrty-six electoral
votes for the Republican candidate for Presi-
dent in 1896, and not permit the Democrauc ic
party TO capture few OF the electors. In 1880
A. Il. Hepburn, then an Assemblyman from ST.
Lawrence County introduced a bin in the Legis-
lature providing for the election of Presidential
Electors by Congress districts. and passed the
measure through the Assembly, but the bill was
defeated in the Senate owing to orders which
came from Roscoe Conkling. then the Repuo,
iican leader in the State. Mr.. Conklng argued
that the Republican party should endeavor to
win either the thirty-six votes OF the state or
none. Further. as politician. ne thought 'ne
Republicans would lose half their influence in
National conventions II they should thus sur
render. as 1t were half of their electors IN ad-
vance 10 their political enemies. Mr.. Conklings
advice was then followed. and 1t is quite possible
that the leading Republican politicians OF the
state will look unfavorably upon Mr.. Ainsworths
scheme believing with Mr.. Conk.ing that they
would thus shear the State Of much OF the po-
rtcaI power 1t now welds In National Repub-
lean conventions.