Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-11-14
Southern Representation


Isn't it about time for the north TO consider
more definitely and practically the problem pre-
scented by the solid south?
In every presidential election 1872 electoral
votes, nearly half the number to elect, are
predetermined. No matter who the candidate,
no matter what the issue, this block will be de-
liyered to the democratic ticket The great re-
gion OF twelve states to which these votes are
assigned is impervious to all appeals, all issues.
1t is not debatable ground. Outside of it the tide
of opinion is free Great issues are presented to
the electorate, debated, and finally judged Here,
east north and west there is the process of free
government government by public opinion. In
the solid south there is no opinion. In 1865 the
election OF 1916 was determined, as far as the
south is concerned, and will be the election Of
1920 and every election until conditions have been
radically changed
We are not concerned to blame the southern
for this automatic partisanism. They have rea.
sons which seem conclusive to them for it. But
it is clear that If the policies and government
Of the United States are to be directed by fair
discussion and free judgment, IT, in short, the
United States is to be a republic in reality and
not republic in the Mexican sense, we must con-
slider what it means to have perfectly dead
weight OF l32 electoral votes cast unto the scale
OF decision at every national election.
We ought to consider also that this block is
out Of all proportion to its voting strength. These
l32 votes do not represent free judgment on the
issues of the campaign, but, what Is more, they
do not represent the same ratio to votes cast at
the same election as an equivalent number from
the north.
For example. Alabama casts twelve votes in
the electoral college. Its population in 1915 was
2,30i,2 7. In the election Of 1912 its total vote
was 1882
Minnesota casts the same number Of votes in
the electoral college as Alabama. Its population
in 1915 was 2,24676l. In the election Of 1912 its
total vote was 334,2lo.
The Alabama population Of 100000 contained,
according to the census Nof 1910 over 100000
negroes. That is the chief reason why the popu-
lar vote Of Alabama is one-third that of Min
nesota,
The situation in short is this: The negro does
not vote in the solid south, but his strength Is
voted regularly for the democratic candidate in
the electoral college.
Thus we have in the south not only voter
whose judgment is foreclosed, but also voter
who carries something like three times as much
weight In the electoral college as the voter in
the north whose judgment Is not predetermined.
This preposterous wrong against government
by free opinion ought not to be tolerated. We
are not arguing the justice or expcdency OF CIV
ing the colored man the vote, or the wisdom Of
permitting provision Of the national constitution
to be neither repealed nor respected.
But we do contend that if the negro vote is not
cast at the polls it should not be cast by the
southern whites in the electoral college.
Representation in both the electoral college
and in the national congress should represent free
judgment and be in fair ratio to the voting popu-
lation The southern representation is vicious
anomaly which has no place in real democracy