The Advocate and news., 1898-03-30
W. H. 7. wAKEFtBLD.

In your issue OF March 3 you quote
from Cottonwood Falls Reveille an item In
favor of elections by majority, instead OF
the present antiquated plan OF electing by
q plurality, which, as a rule, Is o minority
OF the total vote cast. The ReVellle aug
gests a second election between the two
highest names at first election, which ~
the French plan, but there Is more eM-
cellent method now IN use IN some or tne
Swiss Cantons, In Tasmania, and IN many
cities and counties OF England. II rs called
tho preferential ballot or Hare-9idge
system OF voting, and Is the best method
of proportional representation and is also
sure death to party bosses Of the LELAND
type and 10 the political machines. BY
the present system the average per cent.
OF effective ballots ls but "a per 100, while
by tho preferential ballot the average "
W Surely It Is q good thing and great
step I'm advance In the science OF govern
ment to more than double the number OK
voters represented in the government.
Our present habit OF fusion ls only q
clumsy and ineffective method OF prevent
lng control OF the State by the minority
plurality OF voters. II Is called the prefer
entail ballot because II gives each voter
chance to express his preference, amOng
all the candidates. Instead OF making an
X mark opposite the names OF one ticket or
set OF candidates only he writes the figure
/ to the names OF his first choice, hgure
TO second choice, figure to- third choice
and 80 ON IOT flCH LlCkGA UT SGT VI
dates on the ballot. Congressman would OIL
be elected at large--as one now is, ana
Senators and Representatives IN DISTRICTS
OF six 10 ten, instead Of by single districts.
The total number effective mot spOileul
ballots cast Is divided by the number OF
candidates TO be elected, rejecting any re-
mainder, which gives the electoral quota
or number required TO elect one candidate.
A spindle or other file ~ prepared for each
candidate, and as the ballots are drawn
from the box the names upon u marked
as frst choice are called and the ballot
placed on his Ale. When candidate 10
found TO have received an electoral quota
OF frat choice ballots no Is declared elected
and his ballots sealed up and removed
from the count. Where more than two
tickets are run this rarely happens. When
all receiving an electoral quota OF ftrst
choice ballots are declared elected, IL any
such, the name having the lowest number
OF first choice ballots Is eliminated from the
count and the ballots cast for him are die-
trlbuted to their second choices, or, X
he is already elected, or cannot be elected,
to third choice, and 80 on until the naH0eb
become effective in electing o candidate.
This Is continued until only the number OF
candidates to be elected Is left, VINO are
then declared elected.
In the election OF State officers, where but
one candidate for each office can be electeO1
the same method Is pursued. lf any have
q majority Of total vote they are declared
elected but as this has not happened IVA
Kansas since 1888 and is not likely 20 soon
happen again, distribution Of ballots 70
second choice will be necessary. Candl-
dates having the lowest number OF tlrst
choice ballots are eliminated and thelr
ballots transferred to second choice 80 as
| to produce majority.
By this method each political party Will
be represented In the Legislature In exact
proportion To It's strength at the polls ana
| all the advantages OF fusion secured With
out fusion, for the parties nearest tor
| gether In principles would make each Other
second choice. Experience has demon
strated that incompetent or morally 0D-
| jectionable candidates receive practically
no second choice votes, hence are always
beaten, which cOmpels each party 70 put
up only its best men.
Under our present system maJ0rity--
often tWO.thIrds-Of voters waste their
ballots on defeated candidates, hence eve
not represented, but the preferential Dallok
enables S5 to 81 per cent. to vote for elected
candidates and be represented. NO vol2e
are wasted on useless maJorties, and men
! living on different sides Of county or dis-
/ trIct fines who think alike can unite their
| ballots to voice their sentiments In legis-
| latiOn, which they cannot now DO.
| This reform gives power TO the people
/ and takes II from the bosses and satraps
/ OF monopoly. IL Is the greatest OF all re-
| forms. TOR II makes government as honest
az, and truly representative OF, the people,
and enables the people to speedily secure
/ any other reform desired.
| Why should not the special session EAv@
! the people Of Kansas the preferential Dai-
| lot? II woud Justify not only the special
session. but POpullsm itself, N
| Mound City, Kas.