The independent., 1904-01-21

a communication from JdHcS Oidi5,
of Peotone, H., can Experiment Sug-
gested,' D. 13), suggesting an expert
mental election ito determine the real
choice of populists for candidate for
president" and for the further pur-
pose of making test Of the Hare sys-
tenn of preferential voting. Comment
ing on Mr.. Craig's suggestion tnen,
The Independent thought it had not
the time to conduct such an election,
believing that 'the enrolment OF the
Old Guard of Populism is big enough
contract just now."
Upon more mature reflection, how
ever. The Independent Will reverse lts
decision of last week and Will, UP TO
the last mail Saturday, February 10,
1904 conduct such an election as Mr.
Craig suggests. and present the ballots
and the result at the ST. Louis meet
ing of the national committees, CD
ruary 22.
AS The Independent understands 1t,
Mr. Streeter does not claim autnof-
snip of the Cincinnati plan, further
than the scheme of division and sub
division by sevens. The manner OF
balIoting to be used in making nonii-
nations was not a part of his plan,
but mere detail to be supplied later.
Mr.. Streeter is an earnest Bible stu
dent and buided his plan OF orSahi-
zation upon the foundation laid BY the
twelve, as recorded in the 9th chapter
of Acts, when they
"Called the multitude of the dis
ciples unto them, and said, IL IS not
reason that we should leave the
word of God, and serve tables.
"Wherefore, brethren. look ye out
among you seven men of honest re-
port. full Of the Holy Ghost and WIS
dom. whom we may appoint over
this business
Mr. Streeter, therefore, has DIVIDED
the United States into seven diVlsions,
each containing approximately the
same number of inhabitants between
ren and eleven millions. For each OIL
these a Division Organizer is elected
nv sthe multitude" Each Division,
in turn. is sub divided into seven sub
divisions of approximately equal pop
ulation, and this subdivision is ear
ried on in like manner-havlng re-
gard of course, to congressional us
tricts. and counties-making the oiec-
tion precinct finally the unit. here
where the voting strength Will allow
the seven arrangement could stlil DE
followed.
Remembering that
"The word of God increased; and
the number Of the disciples multi
nlied in Jerusalem greatly; and a
great company of the priests were
obedient to the faith,
MIR Streeter has great faith in the
efticacy of the mystic seven in deVel-
onine an organization, and he has
labored manfully to have the principe
applied by his party. He succeeded
in securing adoption of his plan al
Cincinnati in 1900, but it has been
practically a dead letter since. With
ont discussing the mystical character
of "seven." it is fact that there is
vein of il running through the whole
substratum of our language. Even III
Mother Goose
"As was going to ST. Ives
met seven wives.
Each wife had seven sacks,
Each sack had seven cats,
Each cat had seven kits
Kits. cats, sacks and wives:
How many were going TO 81. Ives.
But given the streeter divisions ans
subdivisions; and given substan
italy complete enrolment OF all wh'
are willing 10 stand mp and be counted
for populism. there still remain som'
details to he worked out as 20 th'
method of hnIlotlng, Believing In mn
iorlty rule. The independent sees muel
10 depreeate In a plurality nomlna
tion. whether made by direct vote ol
In delegate convention, Even ma
jority In convention Is often seeure'
by mere plurality candidate heeaus'
of anxiety 10 "get into the band VA
Enn." The Hare system OF pfeteFen
tial voting settles the question Wit
L. tN. mas 8ts4g