The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-08-11

ceives the required quota, and so on.
Tho system 10 proportional represent
tation. Each voter Is represented.
Results Of Proportional Representation.
What is the full meaning Of this?
The establishment Of direct nomina-
tions, with large election districts and
the election Of several representatives
from a district. one vote to each voter,
means that the minority are ousted
from power. Gerrymander1ng Is term
mated, as also is the excessive use OF
campaign funds. Capital, as deter
mining factor in campaigns, Ia de-
throned The voters become the SOW
ereign power.
Situation in Oregon.
The situation in Oregon is positive
proof that proportional represen ton
must be installed before the elected
representatives will really represent
tho voters. Oregon possesses the ini-
tiative and referendum system and a
direct nominations law. and recen tly
legislature was elected, but there is
no great change in the character of the
men who are nominated and elected,
for one man election districts are still
used. Practically the only candidates
elected were those put up by the Re-
publican machine-an organization in
which practically the only money con-
tributed Is from the monopoly and pro-
tect1ve tarln interests. When the Ore
gon election districts are enlarged all
will be changed, as the following anly-
sis demonstrates:
seven or more representatives for the
state senate and lower house will be
elected In a district and each voter
Will cast one vote. Thu result will be
that the farmers organization in the
senate Will see to it that as many far
mer candidates are nominated as there
are farmers votes to elect them, and
the nominees will be the representative
farmers in Oregon; whereas next win
or the state capitol In the name of the
Grange The same will be true as to
wage earners and the business men. In
short. when seven or more candidates
can be elected from a district there
Will be decided change in the char
acter of the men elected. The real
leaders Will be sent to the legislature
ana to congress. Representative gov
eminent Will be restored. Away back
In early times in England when rep
resentative government was first es-
tablished the city governments and the
mouse of commons represented the bus
mess interests OF the several classes.
Inls Will again be the case when pro-
port1onal representation Is established.
Representative governmnt will again
boone progressive force. The reallv
great men of the country will become
the peoples representatives
objctors to Proportional Representa-
ton.
We have seen that proportional rep
resentatlon results in representative
government by the majority with rep
resentation by the various groups that
compose the minority. The only real
DIRECTORS to such a system Of govern
ment are those who themselves are
actually In the minority. In Oregon.
where the people can assert their
rights through the initiative system
they doubtless will soon wish to be
represented lin tho legislature, city
councils, and In congress. And
throughout the country when the ini-
tiative system is established. there will
quickly be put to vote the question Of
establishing large election districts so
that the re<l leaders in each Indus
trial group shall represent their people
In the national house OF representatives.
Organized labor and organized farm,
ers wish to be represented aid they
can be represented when Sc r>r or more
represen tatives are elected from a dis
trtct and each voter has but one vote,
Details.
Proportional representation is no
mere theory, for the system existed
when representative government was
first originated, as has been pointed
out, and in recent years it has been
established in Belgium and in five of
the Swiss cantons and two of the
Swiss cities, also In Japan. Some of
the results. in addition to restoring
majority rule under high class lead
ership, are as follows:
1t has banished gerrymanderine. vote
purchasing. intimidation ut the polls,
ballot box stuffing, Justification of cleo
ton returns, and all the other machine
rule methods.
1t has mitigated sectionalis1n and
racial differences.
Partisan bitterness is greatly lessen
ed.
The need for fusion of diverse inter-
ests Is terminated; as also Is the undue
power of the small groups In the one
man districts. They no longer hold q
balance Of power.
Furthermore, proportional represent
tation tends to unity society because
1T results In the repeal Of special priv
tlege laws and each faction CIR class
Is represented
Such being the case we should not
express surprise that the Japanese
should have adopted the system. Their
statesmen are selecting from the
Whitemans' civilization it's best and
| latest developments, including propor.
tional representation. In this they are
in advance of every one Of the sreat
European and American powers. Ma,
the United States be the next rrea,
tn Acf 1(o1>