The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-22
THE GERRYMANDER
By sAvOYARD

by the practice of dishonest methods. But both parties are guilty of the sin of the gerrymander, and the only way to extir- pate the evil is to choose congressman by general ticket with minority representa- ton according to the votes cast by the ma jority. In the election of their state legislatures one-tenth of the voters of Rhode Island and Connecticut may choose pronounced majority of both houses. And it is possible for one-third of the people to elect the President of the United
 States under our system. If a ticket receives 100 majority in New York at a presidential election the entire electoral vote of that state Is cast for that ticket, thus annihilating the minority in a. polit- cal sense.
 It would be all right for the party carry ing the state to choose the two electors at large; but the district electors should be apportioned between the parties accord ing to the vote each one polls. If that plan were adopted in all the states we would never again have a minority Presi., cent, at least every President chosen would have a plurality if there were more than two tickets in the field
 The government of England is far more responsive to public opinion than ours. When the people of the United Kingdom, speak, parliament needs; but with us the people are impotent to change the policy of an administration. Only last year rhe country repudiated by an immense major ity the republican party, but the Taft ad- ministration treated their verdict with ut ter contempt. It did not change or mod fly in the slightest degree a single poi- icy Is that government of the people for the people, and by the people? Nay verify!
 It was proposed by some of the fathers that the President should choose his cab inet from the majority side of the House of Representatives, who should retain their seats and their votes In that body. In- deed, 1t is the British system practically Had that idea prevailed 1t would matter little if the President were chosen for life or good behavior His cabinet would be represenETA ETA OETAO ETA wv the governing body and fresh from the people.
 But our President need not heed public opinion unless it suits his whim. and no President ever responded to the people when their verdict was adverse to his lpolcies. Grant did not. Hayes did not Arthur did not, Ben Harrison did not, Cleveland did not in 1894 and Taft has not. And Mckinley and Roosevelt would not have done so had the people cnoSen congresses adverse to them in 1S9S 1902 and 1906. Hence the question: Have w- la representative republican government? is pertinent, and the answer if truthful is in the negative.
 But it would help wonderfully If we should destroy the gerrymander by gen. eral ticket and minority representation in the election of congressman and in the choosing of presidential electors other than the electors at large.
 Some excellent folk believe that it is given to the elect to do evil that good may result, to SOW tares and reap wheat They contribute to poodle funds with which to debauch the electorate and they approve the gerrymander if it's advan- tages rebound to their party They vim dicate Lady Macbeth:
 |"Wouldst not play false.
 And yet wouldst wrongly win"