The sun., 1900-08-06
NOT ONERLOOKED


The Sunday Star is in error in its
reference to the position of the Sun in
the matter Of City Charter revision.
We were not discussing the question
of the constitutionality OF minority
representation, but accepting the
opinion Of Mr. Whteman as to the law
in the case pointed out what we regard
as very vital defect in the new organic
law of the State-the power of the
State Assembly to restrict suffrage in
municipal elections.
We are sure that the people without
reg;lrd to their politics did not so under
stand the new constitution when it was
promulgated, and have not so under
stood it since. Instead of providing for
restricted suffrage, it was understood to
have provided for more general suf-
frage; that every citizen who qualified
as Il voter was to he IL voter
upon I'LL ,-aeStions submitted to
the yo4e Of the people and for all
officers hereafter to be elected by the
people" Mr.. W'hitcman says this does
not apply % municipal elections. If his
version of the law is correct, the State
Assembly can disfranchise whom il
pleases, and commit the control of this
city to amy class VI people whom it
chooses to favor. believing this 10 be
opposed 70 the popular construction Of
the constitution. contrary to the popular
will IN the matter, and contrary, too. to
the version Of it us applied to the first
municipal election held under it, we
called attention to it as n defect in the
new constitution. II will he remember
ed thut voting IL the recent city election
was restricted to those citizens who had
registered for the State election Of 1898.
Mr. Whiteman says that was all wrong;
that registration is not required for
municipal elections. Under that de-
cision great many citizens who would
have voted at the last city election were
diseranchised by the official intelpreta-
tion and application of the law. Ii is
the power to do this that we complain
about
The Sunday Star is, we think, wrong
in its statement of the purpose of the
charter revisionists, when it credits
them with the desire ITO eliminate, u,
far as possible, all partisan influence
from the city government" In our view
of it, what is called minority rcpresen
tation" is an effort to preserve the parti
san influence of the minority in cit!
government Again the assumption
that the minority is not represented il
all legislative bodies is one of the rank
est Of partisan errors, and one that il
not cured by tricks of the law securin;
minority representation by compelin:
people to vote for. or not to vote fo
candidates for public Office. This plal
puts partisans in office, and causes ever.
Official body constituted under it t.
divide ON partisan lines, or upon tn
corrupt lines of partisan agreement fo
the ignoring and squclching of SOM
member who is too honest, or too hi,
q fool to be trusted by the partisan
partners. 1t is generally under>too
that our city commissions are non-parti
san because of minority representation
therein. 1t is also generally understoo
that the system of minority representa-
ton as there eXemplitied is miserabl
failure.
What is wanted in the new charte
for this city, is local self-governmen
determined by the will of the majority o
voters under the broadcast and mos
liberal construction of the State Cor
stitution. That will be proper govern
mrnt. The constitution of City Counc
upon the principal of representation nc
rording to population, the members t
be elected by majority vote of the ward
az they now are, would secure pract
cal minority representation; that is. a
parties would be representated by men