The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-09-20
THE VOTE, PAST AND PRESENT
It's Transition From The Coercive to The Intel
leCtual Form
'Ham
HE ORIGIN of the cumu-
lative vote, or ELECTORAL
system. is difficult to de-
by Ham

HSNESO system. is difficult to de-
l&Ny termine. Traces of elab-
crate systems may be found in the
shreds of history-or legends
pertaining to the early Greek re-
publics. But the alpha of the fun
damental idea of selection dates
back to the first days of creation.
This is apparent in tribal histories.
In the cave-man epoch the selec-
ton of a leader was based upon
physical strength. The man pos
sessed of the greatest strength was
the natural leader. Weaker men
followed him not because they
wished but because they feared to
incur the displeasure that would
follow insurgency. The leader of
this small tribal group of limited
membership maintained his infu-
ence only as long as his physical
proves endured. AS a family or
tribe increased, and their radius of
action spread, it became necessary
to provide more leaders. In time
jealousy and ambition entered into
the scheme of events. Human
mentality was developing it's pow
ers. The leaders who had nothing
but brute strength were eliminated
by those possessed of both physical
courage and growing intelligence.
Under the leadership of this type
of man the world progressed.
There were retrograde movements
but humanity invariably emerged
from the debris stronger in ideals
than ever before.
The true electoral system has its
basis in the epoch described. Men
were selected for leadership be-
cause of physical and mental SUI
periority. Even the physically de-
formed leaders of the middle ages
were fighters. The man who could
use his mental powers to stimulate
idealism and who had the fighting
spirit to attract warriors was sure
of leadership. And history shows
that the idealism needed little but
selfishness to commend itself to
popular fancy. During this phase
of the evolution of the electoral
system suffrage was the perquisite
of a single class formed of the
great mobiles and landowners. The
soldiers being strictly mercenary
sold their swords to the highest
bidder.
Soon human intelligence realized
that mankind was developing. The
old theory that some must be mas
tiers while others must always re-
main slaves was about to be tested
Men who depended upon mentality
alone discovered that the human
brain was fertile and that seed
sown therein would bring forth a
harvest of intelligence. So man
kind commenced to educate itself.
With education came the discovery
that all men were alike; that the
Creator had fashioned his children
in a single mould and never intend,
ed them to be slaves; that men
were born equal in His sight and
that their failure to gain equality
in the sight of other men was the
fault of mans own selfishness. Sc
man acquired his knowledge OF
life's purpose. The next step was
to secure vOice-an equal voice.
in his welfare. This determination
produced the first democratic party
originally a purely COMMUNAL
endeavor. When community ano
class interests developed beyond 9
limited sphere and expansion be.
came necessary, the struggle fol-
national characterization began
Class and community interests
combined and formed a centra
body. which, through its voting
power, shaped the destinies of tn,
nation. As national interests be
came more diversified, and as thu