Evening star., 1948-06-09
Electoral College Divergencies

I have read with great deal Of interest the
articles by Chalmers Roberts appearing in The
Star under the heading Changing Our Elec-
tive System
Most Of us who have given the matter any
thought at all-even in purely academic
way, as I have-realize that our elective system
is sadly in need of revamping.
Possibly the proposed Lodge Gossett amend
ment to the Constitution would be the answer
or, at least, a step in the right direction. It
Goes not, however, reach what has seemed to
me to be serious flaw in the system and that
is the method of apportioning the presidential
electors among the States. This matter was
discussed somewhat in the articles but they
did not dwell upon the exact flaw which
have in hind.
My point is simply this: After all, electors
elect the President and the electors are elected
by voters, not by population Why, therefore,
should there not be some relation between the
number Of electors credited to State and the
percentage of its population which elects to
exercise the voting privilege? As an example
Of what I mean, take my native State of
Iowa: The 1910 census gives it population
of 2,538258 with II electoral votes. In the
presidential election of that year 1211 ITO votes
were cast in Iowa, which means that 47.42 per
Ccllt VI IllC otdIC pOpOldC4oh VptCu. 4NOW,
take for comparison the State Of, Virginia
which had population OF 2677,773' in 1910
and was also entitled to II electoral votes.
The vote in Virginia for President that year
was 345324 and only represented 1873 per cent
of the States population. In other words,
each elector in Iowa represented 110,106 votes
while in Virginia each elector represented only
81 1893 votes OF course one can think Of a
number of answers for the situation described
but the question is whether any answer or
group of answers can be found to justify the
glaring disparity in the presidential electing
value between Iowa and Virginia votes.
The 1owa-Virginia illustration Is not an
isolated one. There are numerous others, par
ticularly in comparing poll tax States with
nonpoll tax States. This study shows an aver
age 1910 presidential vote in the then eight
poll tax States equal to only 1882 per cent Of
the total population as contrasted with 44.52
per cent Of the total population In eight COM
parable nonpon tax States.
Applying as yardstick of presidential electS
ing value the average presidential votes per
elector" of the poll tax States-31, ,452 votes
to the actual votes cast in the nonpoI tax
States-105 538,552 votes-would increase the
number of electors for the latter States from
an actual 90 to fictional 335. BY reversing
prOCcSS dIlu dppyAB Iiic average pcS1-
Dental votes per elector' of the nonpol tax
States-114,549 votes-to the actual votes cast
in the poll tax states-2956,43S votes-would
reduce the number of electors from the poll tax
States from an actual "a to hctional 26.
EWING H. SCOTT.
Playground Segregation Condemned
To the Editor of The Star:
Much discussion has taken place concerning
segregated Fairgrounds in the Nations Capital.
Arguments have been set forth as to the feasi-
bity of colored and white children playing
together the feasibility of changing the pattern
of segregation found in the city schools. One
side cites the fact that dual facilities are costly;
the other side says custom must be followed
am going to present the position of Negro
parent. I have 5-year -old son and like any
other father, think my boy is tops" and want
the best in life for him. live about three
doors from one of the largest Fairgrounds in
the Northeast section. AS yet have been un-
able to explain to him why he cannot go on
the playground and play with other children.
Several Of the colored boys in the block go and
watch the playground activities through the
fence, but some of the other parents and I feel
resentful over the underlying implication that
our children aren't good enough to 60 on the
playground
Every time I hear brakes slammed on, my
heart skips beat, because although have
taught my son not to go in the street, dread
the day that he might dash after ball or ride
his tricycle. off the curb If my son should play
ball and break window, he is classed as a
vandal. AS he grows older, if he and his friends
play on the corner or streets they will be
classed as hoodlums.
The white parents in my neighborhood are
more fortunate than I. When their children
grow older they can send them to the drug
store or 10-cent store to buy sundaes or sodas.
They can send their children to the neighbor-
hood movies or swimming pools. All of these
things are privileges that have been enjoyed by
the poorest persons in America but cannot be
enjoyed by my children or the children Of the
richest colored families at any cost.
No argument will ever make me believe that
this second-class citizenship should be perpetu-
ated. When the Board of Education votes on
this issue, hope that the democratic spirit of
America will rise up and cry aloud for youths
Interpretation of democracy - something In
which young people can be taught to believe,
something to which they can look forward as
their way of life. WENDALL A. PARRIS,
President. D. c. Health, Physical Education
and Recreation Association.
He-Man Political News Preferred
To the Editor Of The STAR
Many of the men who read The Star regular
ly, and have been accustomed for years to read
in it trustworthy political news and commen-
taries written by competent men, would appre-
cate knowing whether you contemplate con-
tinuing policy conducive to such interest or
whether the paper has suddenly become femin-
istic.
For some time now the former good articles
by well-known and dependable male writer's
have been displaced to large extent by women
writer's, sometimes two in one day, conveying
the woman's viewpoint and chatter on political
military and international matters. These are
subjects that few women understand or are
interested in and if it is your intention to cater
to these few to the exclusion of many other
readers you should be told that more women
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