The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-21
GOVERNMENT BY nINoRITIEs

It is the general belief among the
American people that in our political
sffa irs majorities rule, and that therefore
every voter has a voice in choosing repre-
ssntatives to legislative bodies, and thus,
indirectly. in the making of laws. II has
long been suspected, however, by a few
persons with constitutional habit of
looking into things, that this theory of
popular govern ment, or government by
the majority. is not practically realized
in the United States. That is why there
is today such an organization as the
American Proportional Representation
league, whose membership embraces
many excellent. able and influential men.
irrespective Of party, who are rapidly
pushing this reform to the front. They
claim that. with the Australian ballot,
which most of the states have already
adopted. proportional representation
would 80 caange our present political
methods as to reduce corruption to the
minimum and make Us in reality, what
we now are only in name-a self-govern-
ing people.
An article on this subject appeared in
the Chicago Times-HeraId of Septe IN Der
7th, from the pen OF Henry W.McFarlane,
which should be widely read and care
fully studied. The writer is a railroad
man, and not politician in the common.
place aces tat1on of the term; but he
thinks clearly and writes with ability.
The article mentioned contains statistical
facts of deep sigpifcance. Mr.. McFar-
lane clearly shows by official figures that
In elections for representatives. to law
10
council, there is no guarantee that the
votes of the majority shall prevail, but,
on the contrary, that the votes of the
minority actually overrule the majority.
Two striking illustrations are drawn
from the congressional elections in 1892
and 1894. In 1892 the total vote cast foi
representatives. IN congress was 1909,
203. of which the Republican party cast
5,031, $50, the Democracy $3.50, l4S, the
Populists 1,046, 1872, the Prohibitionists
244. 726. and scattering 49, 577. The
Democrats with only 5. $40. las votes elect
ed 213 congressman, while 1852, 055 citi-
xens voted against those candidates and
elected only 143 representatives.
But the political machine works both
ways. In 1894, 5,46i, 202 Republicans
elected 2I5 members of congress, while
1926. 1888 voters who cast their ballots for
other candidates elected only l1l-or less
by % than one-half the number elected
by the minority. This is popular gov
eminent with vengeance.
Statistics of various states show similar
results. For example, in Nebraska in
1894, 95.24l votes elected FIVE congress-
men, while l0l, $50 votes cast for other
tive. In Missouri 23l. 693 voters elected
ten Of the fifteen congressman. while
their opponents, who nun bered 265, 1872,
had to be content with five. Election re-
turns from twelve other states show
almost as striking examples of minority
victories. But California is the record
breaker, as usual, for here ITO. $40 sup
porters of one ticket. last year, elected
six congressman, while 152 403 voters-a
majority of 40,0O0-elected just one,
James 6. Mcguire. We may remark en-
PEASANT that Notwithstanding the great
difference in the nun Der of congressman
returned in this instance. IN FONT of
ability the division is about equal.
By practically the same system mem
bers OF state legislatures. county boards
and muncipal councils are elected. No
wonder that with svch system of
minority rule and majority disfrannhise-
ment there is political rottenness and
legislative imbscilty throughout the
land. Advocates of proportional repre-
sentation claim that the new system
would do away with the gerrymander ras-
cality in politics and enable every voter
to exercise the franchise without throw
ing away" mis- vote.