The Washington times., 1917-04-09
ELECTORAL REFORM
URGED IN ENGLAND
Proportional Representation
Question Stirs Debate
Among Leaders.

LONDON, April 9.-The question OF
proportional representation in Parlia-
ment is stirring a notable discussion.
Speakers at 4 conference on electoral
reform have recommended q system
on which former Premier Asquith and
a large body OF public opinion favor
undelayed action. Mr.. Lloyd-George
appears to be inclined to ignore the
demand.
H G. Wells, the author, in. q letter
to the Times, insists that the system
recommended can alone make parlia-
mentary government anything better
than a caricature Of national thought
and offset the party politicians or
ganizations, what are known In
America as political machines.
Viscount Grey, the ex-foreign min
lister, Joins in the discussion from his
northern retirement. In q vigorous
letter to the Times he says:
"I cannot refrain from expressing
the earnest hope that IL the govern
.ment introduce a reform bill which
does not safeguard by insuring an
equal share In parliamentary repre-
sentation. every elector who believes
that a wise government Of the United
Kingdom and safe guardianship OF
the empire depend upon the establish
ment of q good House Of CoSimons
will organize stout resistance to its
passage by Parliament.
Points To United states.
"No man can lay claim to the name
of statesman who is not aware that q
wide uniform franchise. coupled with
majority representation attended by
no constitutional check or safeguard
has invariably led to disaster.
'Tn the United States majority rep
resentation led nifty years ago to civil
war. More recently, through the rule
of the caucus, IL led to government
Of the people by rascals for the rich,
with the result that over large areas
of the United States the people have
deliberately abolished representative
government and have substituted a
rule Of the man in the street through
a system known as the initiative, ref
erendum. and recall
In the United Kingdom our present
system Of majority representation en-
ab,ed a powerful minister to overthrow
the constitution by depriving the House
OF Lords of the power of veto and then
Withholding from the people. their right
TO express a view Of his Irish policy
and thereby drive the country into the
very jaws Of civil war
Wants Complete Democracy.
ut Is now proposed that we consent
10 a reform bill which viii aggravatt
the tendency to throw the whole SOW
ereiEnty Of the empire into the hand:
OF a democracy which will deliberately
transfer to one class the political power
which belongs to another. We want q
lust and complete democracy. not de-
mocracy privileged and incomplete.
proportional representation is COM
plete democracy. 1t gives representa-
ton to substantial minorities In proper
ton to their strength. secures fair and
equal representation for all and the rule
of the majority. Unlike our present
system It gives freedom of choice to
the elector by enabling him to vote
against the nominee Of the caucus with
out throwing away his vote.
Unlike our present system, 1t opens
the doors Of the House OF Commons to
men Of high character with national and
not party ideals. and enables them to
retain their seats against the opposition
caucus. Proportional representation
thus provides complete democracy with
its own Just and natural safeguards for
the preservation of liberty against the
evils and dangers Of enslaving tyranny.