The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-26
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

Seattle, Wash, Dec %. 1925.
To the Editor: In Sundays issue of De
cemoer Is | see you have an editorial in
which YOU question the desirab.lty of en-
hodying in the new city charter. as a
method for selecting the city council pro-
portional representation. Believing that
your motive is TO promote discussion. THAI
the people may De set right upon this ques-
ton. kindly ask you to publish the fol
lowing Let US first determine whether
your objections are in harmony with our
aVowed principles OF government II We
find such to De the case and that they are
well founded. We shall have 10 admit that
you are right and those advocating the
measure wrong. As | apprehend. our gov
eminent is founded upon the principles OF
a democracy or republic; form of govern
ment IN which the supreme power Is vest
"a In the people a whole, and is con-
ceBtrated and delegated as an eNpedient
by them 10 a part of their number as rep
rcsentattves Of the whole. Now advocat-
ing and supporting this form OF govern
meut. can we consistently object 70 a sys-
TEN OF selecting our representatives ny
which We can get a perfect or al least
nearly a perfect reflection Of the whole?
or, in other words. can We consistently o.
jet 10 the adopting OF a system that VIII
give is IN our city council more demo-
cratic or representative body. as you nave
conclusively demonstrated IN your editorial
that proportional representation would
give US?
As TO PARTY responsibility III no way can
I see that x would DE- made more or less
than under the prevailing system. We may
theoreti, ally expatate upon the responsi-
bity OF parties or their representatives, 10
the whole people. bat practically and actu-
ally they are reSpcUsb bic 10 their consul J.
rnts UAe people selecting or voting lot
theml and 10 them alone. Hol character
ize q as measure 10 give the minority
p rerr,-~er tat.uu. when. a. ycu Rave clear
~ shown. that il IS "A measure calculator
20 prevent the minority railing against the
WI ~ th4 majority In relation ~ me Us
trtbution NJ patronage. I s-e TO reason 10
fear such state OF affairs A. You seem
To think would exist but I am 4'atr S~F-
that the PARTY having the pl2Taiit} vote
ctili uut control the eut-re patronage
(Which appears 10 me 90 ne tsie ioln.i.i-
uon of YOUR fears in this iustan'ri. nor
should they, iu 'he absence ~ 'i'i ~-'-
vise reform Il should. tank i- "5s-I..'
uteI among the parties -u TIE same .i".."
that tar.r representation acafS ID t.'
whole rc3-escnt native body. Al as i"'f
such appointments would o, ult-r a.
majority of the peoples rtsFr-~iist>N
saoult agree upon, and mat, taken an
ths. fat that thyy 0.ece a 1li-.-iioi t.t.
tou az t1e Whole people. sao~-1 We stiti-
-..at TO recommend r n EretrFe"." 60
..5.etu-ats L. bee made by ans iits"i-'t
representation
IN reference e. tae multp.yins 9I i'ti.i-
cal parttss Ier as n-st decide NhAt rtIi~il-
,utes j political party As q apQ~aFs 60
NE. II consists OF number ot me people
coming together AMI formulating certain
principles and constituting certain F'-.-
Is wblt1 taey contend - for tar "~Si Pc
t~rests % the people. When sAflei. 70
nam Der q the people 20 uas, it a4ffss ''@
III
not for rhg best Interests Of the y hole i'e'-
Pile. they asst -uhle toget5e~ ana ioFfa i-
late such policy and principles a. thrt
think are best for thv people as " 7''
TIE disregard shown - the car1iHai r.
cleles uESa . atrh Our system 81 ~F.'rf
nsut rests. that IS. canal r.ents 60 aH. as
~r-c8sI privileges 20 nune. ls tn~ pr.1t~
f4efog ,n bringing ues parties tnio eA.s--
eHce-
- reference - se.vctlas eouAo4ine-1