The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-12-21
HAS ADHERENTS
MOVE TO ESTABLISH PROPORTIONAL
REPRESENTATION.

A bill for the establishment of proper
tional representation in Minnesota will be
introduced in the legislature. Proportional
representation is a reform that has been
considerably agitated during the last few
years, and has adherents among all parties.
They claim that the present system of elect
Ing representatives. whether congressman.
members of the legislature or aldermen, is
a disregard of a mathematical principle,
and does not result in representative gov
eminent. The adherents of this principle
further contend that it has passed the theO-
retical stage by it's remarkable success in
Belgium, Norway, Argentina and Brazil.
The system has been tried in more COM
plete form and with the greatest success in
Tasmania.
An example of the absurdity Of the pres
ent method of eecting representatives is
pointed to In the election Of 1892 for con-
greSSmen. The total vote was Il, 032, 203, of
which the Republicans poled 5,O31,36O, the
Democrats. 5,67O,148 the Populists, 1,046,392,
the Prohibitionists, A4, 726 scattering, 1851.
The result of this poll was that the Re-
publicans elected 131, the Democrats, 213,
and the Populsts Il congressman. The Re
pubcans with 4L9 per cent of the total vote
secured 1868 per cent of the representatives,
the Democrats with 47.2 per cent of the total
vote received 1913 per cent of the represen-
'tatives, the 81 per cent Of the Populists OBJ
tanned 3.4 per cent of the representatives
secured nothing.
The promoters Of the measure maintain
that a system that works in such way
must be bad, and believe that a system has
been devised which will allow Of a fair rep
representation of the various parties. The
system that is proposed would do this to
within fraction.
The system would provide for the estab-
fishing Of districts in such a manner that
congressman, legislators and aldermen and
such other offices as might be applied to the
system, that each voter would have between
five and 10 men OF each party to consider.
In possible contest the following would
show the working of the system. The Re-
publican candidates are the following, with
number of votes received: A, Is; B, 80; C,
IS; D, 6S; E, 20; Democrats, F, IS: G, ID: H,
Is; l. 10; J. q; Populists. K, 10; L, 8; NJ, 81;
N, II; o, 8.
The Republican total is 2s7; the Demo-
cratic, Ito; the Populist, so.
The grand total Of votes cast is 447. To
secure the quota this number is divided by
five, which represents the number Of candi-
dates. This results in 49, To then find the
representation the party totals is divided
by this figure. 1t will then be found that
the Republicans receive 5000; Demo-
Gratis. 1.2l-S9; Populists, 5o-S9. The Repub-
l1canS have elected three; Democrats, one :
Populists, one, which will be fair repre-
sentation of the votes Of the different par
Tres. ne party having the largest traction
elects man.
The promoters Of the measure claim that
the primary results of the system Is the
nomination of honest men for office. In
municipal matters a man against whose hon.
esty there, Is any whisper does not stand
much of chance where he is to be voted
upon together with four or more Others
1t is a comparatively easy matter for an
INSCRIPTIONS man, who has once secured
nomination. to break through to office by
undetermined means. 1t is claimed, how
ever. that If In municipal elections district
had been so enlarged that five or more al
dermen were voted upon, instead of one,
municipal refOrmers would have been more
successful in their efforts in various parts
Of the country.
The system proposed for Minnesota should
not be COMPOUNDED with that tried in Illinois
There. in the case of five candidates. a man
had the privilegt of casting his Ave votes
to one man. or split them up In any way
ne might chose A few voters, set upon
electing a certain man. could thereby ov 81
come the more conscientious voters.
The promoters of this system are not
going to try and secure the adoption Of the
measure by appealing to party. They claim
that 1t has nothing to do with any political
principle that has been agitated, but tends
for purity along general lines. and will find
it's supporters among politicians Of various
faiths. They hold that a Democrat or Re-
publican will support an inferior man of
their party, as against superior man Of