The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-25
make as good d showing as possible at

the polls.
business h in the north b how many people
fact that 10000 people suffced. to settle
the question in Mississippi in 1900 as
against 100000, in Indiana has no
relevancy to the real question at issue,
except in so far as it is indicative Of
the measures which have been taken to
Of the male inhabitants Of voting age,
upon whom representation is main
tanned.
Mississippi would undoubtedly help
John Sharp Williams, the democratic
leader in. the house, if it's people in the
eighth H.. district s would 60 to the polls
He received l,433 votes two years ago
and was elected. Joseph e. Cannon 8
opponent on the same day received 49,
234 votes and was defeated.
South May Cast Big Vote.
While this is a matter wholly Of in
ternal concern, it would look better be-
fore the country to have bigger vote
returned from the south. It's leaders
are beginning to realize this, and it
would not be surprising if in certain
states they doubled or quadrupled the
vote cast in 1900. This is one reason
for expecting an increase in the coun-
try's total.
In the north, in spite of the apathy
of the campaign, it is very evident that
there will be a, large increase over
l90O's total vote. In New York there
was then no large real contest to bring
the people out; today there is battle
seemingly be an increase in the total
vote considerably greater than the ra-
ito of increase in population.
One of the chief uncertainties of the
present campaign comes from the fact
that there were SO many stay -at-homes
four years ago.. who will presumably
come out this time. Therein lies the
| opportunity for the surprise of which
Senator German spoke the other day.
Constitutional Provisions Wise,
No one can view this contrast be-
tween the votes north and south with
out realizing that the founders of the
constitution builded better than they
knew in providing that the states
should have a certain weight, based on
it's number Of senators and representa-
tives, and no more, in determining the
result. 80 ~
Had it been by popular vote, the
democratic majority as cast in Texas
the republican majorities Of that year
in Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New
York, Ohio, Wisconsin and California,
with more than $4,000 votes to spare.
Had the Texans, under popular sys-
tenn, brought out their full vote they
could alone have wiped out the repub-
lican majority in perhaps half the
north. -.
It is apparent, where. population is
divided between parties in one section,
and practically unanimous for party
in the other, that the latter would alb
solutely control things, were the ballots
to fall into a common hopper. Now,
Texas has the vote based upon it's pop
chusetts, and if it be cast unanimous
lY for Parker, it will help no more in
the electoral college in proportion to
population than would Indiana, if it
were carried by 1900 plurality. This
is an equaizing tendency. It is I'M
likely that popular vote for the presi-
dency will hereafter be seriously urged.
Springer Plan Vulnerable
A plan with which the late Representa-.
tive Springer's name was associated
for dividing the electoral vote Of each
state in proportion as it's popular vote
was cast for the different candidates
has many merits but is open to this
Wisconsin would divide its electoral
vote nearly equally between. the par
ties. The eutcomettwould be much as
that in the house Of representative to:
day, were there no gerrymander; but
for the fact that republican legisla:
lures have arranged the congressional
house of representatives would be to-
day exceedingly close, even with Roose.
velt's election undisputed. Mr.. Sprin.
gers plan would have the advantage
Of relieving the pressure on the doubt
full states, which would be- very de
sirable. Under it votes would be Just
as important in Massachusetts and Ohio