The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-10-13
ELECTION OF 1884,
, CUMULATIVE BALLOT CANDIDATES


While by the above figures the candi-
date having the highest number OF votes
was per cent above the vote quota. ne
was n per cent below the voter quota
kuniakea. with A. per cent OF vote quota
ana ~ per cent OF voter quota. was the
lowest elected candidate. and Klemme
would have been elected In his stead with
only = per cent OF voter quota on the
change Of three votes. But what knocks
tho cumulative ballot clean cold IL the
81 hibit on the vote for King. lie was n
man who actually had 20 per cent OF vo-
ter quota. being In excess OF the choice
received by three Of the elected candi-
dates. and Kiemme. with only % per
cent Of voter quota. had per cent more
tfan King In vote quota. In other words.
"a defeated candidate was the individual
choice Of more voters than three OF tho
elected candidates. and one candidate the
~ cice Of ~ individual voters obtained
through the Pumping process more votes
than one who was the individual choice
% GO voters.
| The wastefulness Of this process and
the ubiquitous consequences OF its general
adoption can be fully realized when one
considers that the above statistics are OF
an election where the factions were prac-
tiCaliy n unit on the main issue, and the
question which naturally presents itself
/ u. what will be the consequences when
lactive craftsmanship once more comes Into
1
INITIATIVE pumping and manipulating par
" nomination can by such methods as
are known only 70 the practical politician.
saddle on n community a Legislature that
would blow IN more money In single
session than the taxpayers could make
up IN ten years.
must explain the term quota as used
above. Six men were 10 be elected to the
Constitutional Convention. Dividing the
total number Of votes cast by six gives
the vote quota" dividing the number of
voters by six gives the "voter quota"
Further criticism OF this system would
be waste Of words. but note the simi-
Iiarity between the conditions referred to
IN the closing paragraph and the situa-
ton M we have n actually In prospect
today.
\ Z believe that Mt least s25.OoO will be
''blowed IN" by various elements on this
Island during the present campaign. an
average OF si.i00 for each man elected
land stlf the element which Mr.. w. o,
smith states was 10 secure representa-
tlcn through cumulative voting. may bC
az much mlsreprcsented under the pres
ent party system a. under cumulative
voting.
You quote Mr.. smith as saying. "As q
. the expediency OF removing II from tbs
hooks. I do not care to express an opin
ten" NO seriously thoughtful man coulc
. lcnR doubt the expediency OF removing sc
urreprcsontatlve system from TN
statutea. n II az wrong In principle as u
IL barren Of the results aimed al In prac
tlce.
let us see what proportional represcn
tation would do IN n situation such a.
Ia first
that registration for this Island is com
lpteted with, In round numbers. 5000 vot
, err on the rolls. There are six SENATOR
and twelve Representatives TO be elected
Proportional representation would SUB
stitute for the present system OF nomina
lion ana election. the following: Upoi
completion OF registration. the Registra
OF Voters would declare the quota o
votes necessary 90 elect each officer u
this case II would be one-slxth OF $40
voters. or 1000 for each Senator and one
twelfth Of the same number. or 500 10
Ietrh Representative. The law would pro
vide that n requires 20 per cent OF IN
ouota 10 nominate. that a petition signe'
Nv the requisite number OF voters WI
entltic the person petitioned To a place o.
Il the ballot. n would also provide tnat n
nerson can aign more than one peut0
n for the same once az any election.
IL would provide further that wheneve
a n petition contained signatures equal !
tho quota required at the ensuing eisc
tien. the person petitioned shall be de
rlarrd elected and the names or voter
signing such petition SHAH De witnurs ,".
f,cm tho voting lists for that election
since they have found representauo
~ rough their petition.
IN the present election this would ~ !,
that any one having becn peutionsu .
600 voters would be declared elec. =.
senator bv petition. In like manner an
one netitioned by go voters would De o'
ciared elected a. Representative. 49,,
In voting az the polls the same 49,
ballet A. need as IN the coming electo'
' the only difference being that " ls nm
cd numerically I. ?. J. y D, y. ..a,,o,
= preference OF the voter TOT '"e
- nsnnes on the ticket. .,..s
In counting the ballots they are piacs
an nies. there being ono hle TOT eee