Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-02
DEAD HEROES VOTE
THROUGH Living
Novel Mcthod of Holding Elcc-
tons Is Suggested to
French Voters.
BALLOT DELAYED BY WAR
Situation Considerably Compli-
Gated by Enormous Deple-
ton Of the Electorate.
BALLOT DELAYED BY WAR
ny NABoTII iIEDIN

national soil is cleared of the enemy.
I'M u .iins to consult the popnlar will;
signed there has been much discus
sion Of the subject No heiini," con
customs customs nay been reached only pre-
urinary measures. such Us preparing
new register Of tn voters. have been
Two things may bc put down az
ceTtAin. however. No election will be
h-ld until after TIA" d.nobilization
which in turn means that. though a
new Parliament may have to pass on
me peace treaty. it will not bc elect ed
nnti! after the principal negotiations
present French regime viii nav.
nhiairse OF the peace arrangements. they
VIII tncn De presented to The newly
elected representatives OF the pcopla
ialts acconp!is.' or something al
WILL CONSULT PEOPLE
WITH RESPECT no VOTE
Il has been virtually decided tina,
VIII not be practicable 10 consult
v ne peo opi,e. until next spring 1t The
he Frenc tiss so,,, ~ Is considered ;ha;
under arms. as the british did They
,nns DC present, each one in his own
soidicr vote that will he aicisiv, IN
france. where AL able -bodi..a in.u mn
90 oor'F-eishi have heen called 20 ~,
.o hn9,hcr fact makes the situation
T npnI.Inc rhere are 50 many
PROVINCES containing onc-fourth o.,
me ,popuiation) that have been raw.
a ,sn, ey me enemy, the families sea- :
towns where not q singi" HON" ~.
MAINS intact Eloquent na The ruins
sri n ."n mus ean h , no,s Eul these dis
vn, ahytihins. they deserve a double
mani n,m oW i, ~ 10 be cast IA. govern
me FRENCH election situation il fur
,nermore complicated by the enormous
E rapot, OF Ihe electorate The
10 be well over 1000. 900 1,o,sn .,nersu
mere ar" entire cominures Where
.eh should the old men. 50 cri,, ntah
"a ne inSa IDS. the detectives II. ,ris;ej
20 vote Tor the RESI-?
PROPOSED no GIVE.
THE DEAD yoTt.
~ mas been proposed to civ. IN,
tmn,o vote, mat is 10 say. let me
"hn ,e h relatives Vote tor The nen
VINO nave died in battle
more practical scheme gnrnnoe.d
.er one INA, would give a certain NUN
FAMILY as ur This situation has
SfeRl ire'ncndous development To- -, !.
Hematu ior woman suffrage. which be
t rSr IN var had few. adh.rcnts in
me qualified i;i ';nrientary commlt;c.
'iaa f;c"iHmendcd vote. for women I'm
Ihu,'ielna! tierflCrs. but the advanced
women mist hnye fun and equal cleo,
torni rights ~ Hnce.
Al this compi'catcs the electoral
ing FACTOR is the agitation Tor a gem
ef;l electoral reform, which came 10
sudden halt with the war. The key
10 this projected change was the adop-
lion or the ''R r." or tho 'proportionai
representation system, which recent
~ has heen excepted by inc Swiss
voters. T1c same system is in vogU.
IN Belgium. Sweden. New Zealand etc
and IL means that each party gets "a
r,uTher of representatives elected In
direct proportion TO the number Of
votes cas-; in It's favor. In other words
II is measure to give the minoritics
a voice as vel! rs the maiorities For
an Hoc!a!st partE mas cast about
100000 votes for President and pre-
sumabl' ahoC' a many FOR the local
congressional delegates. without ;cl-
ting but one two men elected to
Congress, rhei in proportion To the
votes cast it ought to have at least "a
score The same is true OF the Pro-
hibitionistS. etc. ard in Inc future NAV
be true of Republicans ard Democrats
IL the present American system IS
maintained.
'En principe" or in theory the "R.
p was adopted at the French cleo
lions in 1914. but the war came before
The term Of the Chambcr of Deputies
question arises: should the electoral
reform he put into law by this eX-
PRED chamber on the strength OF the
last election. or should such reforms
he left to the new popular represcn-
bated fully without result. Absorbed
by the peace problem. the dcmohiliza-
ton. the visits OF Kings and Presi-
dents, the Clcmencrau government has
not yet decided what to do, except;
send out instruct ions for revision
of the list OF voters by next spring.
Under the Old French system the
Deputies ar" elected. each one from a
definite district, as the American con
gressmcn WhiG the sG Senate franz arS
larger sections just Ehc American
Senators used to bc chosen. two from
each state. Under the new system
number and this delegation would he
made up In proportion TO the popular
make the voter decide in favor of a
party. or q set OF principles. rather
Than in favor Of individual candidates.
NEW SYSTEM WOULD
AH0LISH PORK BARREL
II is argued that such, a system
would relieve. lhr candidates from
local politics" Monl1 help abolish oils the tn,
even in Franco. and would tend TO
elevate the, quality Of the men who
Naturally. the Deputies now in office
arc anxious to know under what con-
ditions they must try for re-clcc; ion
fixed after years of labor. prefer. as
might be- cxnccicd. to see the old sys-
sure believe in taking a chance with
anything new. Though originally a
champion Of the ar. p Premier
Clemenccau is now reported TO favor
the maintenance OF the old regime
once more
The elections now overdue in France
are rs follows:
i. one-lhird oc the Senate. who's
term expired January. 1915.
2. Another third of the Senate, terms
expired January, 1918
3. The entire Chamber OF Deputies.
terms expired Man. 1918.
4. MUnicipal ana general councillors
corresponding TO, aldermen and STATE
legislators. wrh reduced powers
Thus there is only a third ot the
Senate that ia not "hold-over." and
In the coming elections the French
electorate will have ~ chance to make
a clean swocp. 1t will be the soldiers
who Will decide. as President Pom
Cares term expired In January. 1919
his succcsaor will be designated by the
mon to be elected by the people; but.
y far no dn1nita candidate hna ham