Graham guardian., 1895-08-30
The Issues of the Day.
him.

\
the political issues of the day, that
it might be thought useless by some
TO say more on the subject, but
when we take INTO consideration
the fact that very many citizens
have not cared to inform them
selves on political questions, and
consequently remain nutrial, a
word calculated TO awaken a lively
interest in such things may not be
amiss.
In a government like ours, and
with progressive people, new
issues frequently develop and
while we remain true to the old,
we should keep ourselves posted
on new issues as they arise, and
not be slow to adopt them, when
we are satisfied that they are for
the good of the people.
There are three issues or plankS
that / would like to see brought to
the front and adopted in the plat
form at the next National Demo
cratid convention, and l would
like to see them spiked down so
firmly that the whole people may
know what they mean.
The first is, the free and unlimit-
ed coinage of gold and silver at the
ratio Of l6 to l, and if needs be,
against the protest Of all other
nations. The second is an amend
ment to the constitution Of the
United States, so that Senators
shall be elected by direct vote of
the citizens of the district instead
of by the Legislature. And so that
the President and the Vice-PreS-
ident shall be elected by direct
vote of the people, instead of by
electors.
Good Democrats feel proud OF
the corner stone of the Government
of the United States, which is "a
Government by the people and for
the people," but it is so only in
word, when we come to the cleo
tion of Senators and Presidents
Under the present system the will
of the people may be set aside and
still keep within constitutional
bounds. This once occurred when
the Democratic candidate for Presi-
dent received one hundred thous
and majority Of the popular vote
and yet the nominee of the Repub
llcan party declared elected. TIC
show how this may be done it is
only necessary to refer to the work
ings of the Electoral College sys
TEN.
New York for instance has 81
electoral votes. Each party selects
35 electors which are voted for by
the people. Suppose the Republi
can electors get one thousand ma
jority, they gain 35 votes. Now
take Georgia with SIX electois
suppose the Democratic elector,
are elected by majority of ten
thousand, they get six votes. Thus
it will be seen that the Republican
nominee for President and Vice
President have secured 35 votes il
the electoral college with on,
thousand majority of the populai
vote. And Georgia gets only si2
votes with majority of ten thous
and.
This question was agitated il
Congress years ago, but the attemp
was failure. | believe the Dem
ocratic party should now grasp tn,
horns of the delimma and say
down with the electoral college
and let the people say who they
want for President. And further
admit all of the Territories into the
Union, and give us all a chance.
was born under the Stars anC
Strips-am seventy three years
old, and because | have been pio
neer all my life, have not had q
chance to vote for President OF
the United States. The Sd plank
is woman suffrage. With silver
restored so that the dollar Of the
Daddies VII be in free circulation
and the President, Vice President
and Senators elected by a direct
vote of all citizens, including The
female as well as the male, then
will an era of prosperity dawn or
the people, that will fill all hearts
with Il spirit of peace and good
will. The people will be drawn
nearer together, and our officers
instead Of securing their election
by money, whiskey or fraud, viii
be elected by an intelligent constit
uancy. The Office will seek the
man and not the man the Office, ant
then they Will perform the dutie:
Of their Office for the public good
and not only for the money there
is in it.
THATCHER ARIz. August 2Sth 1895
r. A. ALFRED,