The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-08-30
PROPORTIONAL
REPRESENTATION
VOTING SYSTEM
Voters Will Do Well to Give This
Effective Voting Plan Their
Careful Consideration

\ The "Hare System" of electin
representatives has been adopted i
many cities of the democratic worl
to remain in force until a bette
plan (if such a thing were possible
is devised. Civic and labor organ
izations are beginning to study AM
discuss proportioned representation
!. Prof. John L. Conger of Kno,
College, Galesburg, Illinois, former
ly Mayor of that city, made a shor
talk to the Everett Trades Coun
Gil on Wednesday evening of last
week. Professor Conger is rep
resenting the American Proper
tional Representation League in g
state campaign in Washington this
summer, anticipating the voting OF
. constitutional convention by the
people of Washington at the No
vember elections.
Among other things, he explained
that this system of electing repre-
sentative bodies has been used with
great success in a number of elec-
tions, notably for certain city coun-
oils in the Transvaal, New Zealand
and British Columbia, for the
councils of Ashtabula (Ohio), Boul-
der (Colorado), and Kalamazoo
lMichigan), and for the assembly
Of Tasmania and the senate of
South Africa. 1t was incorporated
in the Home Rule Act of 1914 for
the senate and part of the commons
Of Ireland. Its use for the men,
bers Of the British house of COM
mons elected from the universities
is prescribed in the Reform Act
which became law on February 6,
1918. Between July, 1917, and May,
1918, its adoption for a large part
Of the membership of the commons
was under consideration of parlia-
ment, among its supporters being
ex-Prime Ministers Asquith LIB
eraD and Balfour (Conservative),
Lord Robert Cecil minister of
Rlockade), and Lord Bryce.
The advantages of the system,
which go far deeper than the mere
proportional assignment of the seats
to the several parties, can be fully
grasped only after the method of
voting and the method of count
ing are clearly understood.
A mock election returns was then
tabulated and the votes transferred,
all of which demonstrated the SIM
plicity of this method of voting. No
primaries are required. Under the
the Hare system the method of
and counting the ballots of
the election itself brings together
the votes of the like-minded voters
far more effectively than pri-
mary election can do it--so as not
only to elect the right member of
each party's candidates, but to elect
the Strongest Candidates of each
party, group, or sufficient number
Of voters, whether organized or not.
are nominated by petit
lion, the number of names required
On petition being usually from
about one-half of per cent to about
? per cent of the voters of the dis
.rict. In Oregon the proposal is
$50 voters, less than l per cent. No
yoter is entitled to sign more than
me petition.
The following advantages of the
lew system, which is commonly
allied the Hare system, may be
/. The Hare system of effective
'oting" makes primary elections un-
necessary.
2. 1t gives the voters real free
ON, when the candidates they want
re not nominated by any party, to
dominate them independently. The
agal freedom they now have is in
most cases not real freedom, for |,
o nominate a rival to the regular
arty candidate now usually amounts
My to putting up candidate to
hrow votes away on. But the pref
rental feature of the Hare ballot
makes it possible to nominate an
dditional candidate and to vote for
i'm without sacrificing the prefer
ed regular candidate in case the
dependent fails to be elected. l
forsover. it offers to voters who
refer to vote for strong and trust
'orthy persons, without regard to
arty lines, an opportunity of elect o
,g such person provided only he e
cts the "quota" of votes. y
8. The Hare system-for the rea- p
ons just given-brings out as can Il
idates strong men and women who a
light not be nominated by any Il
pguIar Marty hut whom MANY vof a