Year: 1879

METHOD OF ELECTISG PHESlDENTIAL ELEC-


TORS IN NEW YoRK-wHAT IS SAID OF THE


PLAN.


The project which has been mooted by some
republicans in New York. that the Legislature of
that State shall. when it meets in January, change
the method of choosing Presidential electors. finds
general favor here among republican Congressman.
and some Western men are particularly active IN its
advocacy. They urge that New York is now de-
cidedly doubtful State; that the proposed change
would give large majority OF its electoral vote GER
tany to the republicans. and that it would thus
settle beforehand and almost beyond doubt, the re-
suit OF the next years election and give the Pres
dency securely the republicans. The plan. as 1t
is here urged, is to let the voters in each Congress
sional district choose Presidential elector the two
electors-atarge to be chosen either by the Legsla-
ture or by the body OF district electors. Some
Western republicans think that this plan ought to
be recommended to the republicans OF the New York
Legislature party measure. and it is even said
that the National Committee, which is to meet here
next Wednesday. should consider the propriety of
public declaration the subject. 1t is feared by
those who favor it that the Sew York republicans
will be timid about acting unless they caused to
feel that they have the of the party in other
States.


RETURN OLD PLAN.


In conversation about this project q republican





the Legislature has the constitutional power to
adopt such regulation. 1t would in fact. be only
The revival Of an old law, which in force in New
York in the Presidential election OF 1925 when the
electoral vote of the State divided between
General Jackson and john Quincy Adams. In my
belief it would be wholesome regulation for all the
States, because it would secure the minority,
often very large State fair representation and
voice in the election of President. and would thus





To carry Presidential election by narrow and
perhaps doubtful majority in o single State would
be the cause of great excitement-possbly Of great
ana injurious public anxiety and of lasting polit
cal bitterness To have that State New York.
which is predominanty democratic at one end and
predominantly republican at the other, and where
each party is prone to charge the other with fraud
wrongful conduct would only increase the
trouble. New York has now four millions
Of people. evenly divided In political
sentiment that it may possibly be carried
next year by party the other. by
q majority of only few hundred. in which
the voters. representing nearly two millions Of in
habitsnts, would see themselves left without inhu-
in the result But to allow each Congressional
district to choose elector is split the cleo
toral vote of the State and to to each party
share of the electoral vote and representation
in the Electoral College. Yes; the main OBJ
lection. Of course that it is now to be done for
purpose. that We republicans propose it q means
OF insuring success next year. This is o serious
objection TO a fair-minded man. though it may be
replied that few changes in laws enacted, ex-
cept occasion moves Legislative bodies. But it
cannot be denied that the present movement would
not find favor with 1t does il
1t not that they it would settle the Presi-
dental election beforehand and give the next
President. see clearly enough that party which un
dertakes to pass otherwise just measure for
merely selfish purpose does hazardous thing, for
1t may call down public indignation on itself and
iose more than it hope to gain by its act. Never
theless believe the New York republicans will pass
the law. 1t has the favor OF many Western men
here. and it may be urged upon them by the whole
party"


REPUBLICAN CALCULATIONS.


The republican calculation may be thus stated -
The South. 1t is supposed. will cast 1873 electoral
votes for the democratic candidates. the number re-
quired TO elect is 1856. To carry New York Connec
ticut and New Jersey, which have in all A votes
would give the democratic candidate 1s2. and he
would look for the remainder from Oregon Califor
MIA But to choose electors by districts in New York
would. the republicans calculate break this comb.
nation. They have now in the House twenty-four
members to nine democrats. They would hope to
maintain this ratio next year. and IL so they would
deprive the democrats of twenty-sx of the thirty
five Presidential electors which they counting
This would be not indeed. to make a democratic
victory absolutely impossible, but very dificult
with the 1873 of the South. They would to
succeed. have still carry Connecticut with six
votes. New Jersey with nine. Indiana with fifteen,
California with six and Oregon with three-in all
torty-eight vctes-and this would secure them only
more than majority 1t is believed by some
republicans that on this showing the South would,
before of
cratic President and that this would precipitate a
disintegration OF the ruling party in many southern
States and bring several OF them to the repub-
lcan side.


THE SOUTH WANTS SUCCESSFUL FRIENDS


There is this much to be said for this view that
IL is frequently and openly said by Southern men
that IL the democratic party loses next year they
will longer act with 1t. They arc tired of being
out the cold, and prefer friendly relations with
the administration and their share OF what s oong
Hence some republicans believe that II the result
can be fixed beforehand, this proposed ohapoa q,
the New York law would fix il. it would only hasten
the coming political break up in the southern
States. and that prominent men in several of those
States who are well known to be iukewarm demo.
Gratis would use the fact of coming and
assured democratic defeat to carry their
people to the republican candidate
The democrats see that they arc not in a position
TO strike back The folies of the extra session lost
them this fall all control Of those Western States in
which, had they secured their Legislatures, they
might have retorted upon this republican device.
They are helpless except so far they may be able
to arouse public indignation at what will certainly
be. 1t is carried out. trick. and thus gather sup
port among the voters. Some democrats threaten
that the electoral vote of New York shall not DO
counted in the House IL tho law is altered
But that Is nonsense. for the law proposed
is clearly constitutional and within the
power of the Legislature. As to the repubii.
cans. II was long ago said OF their party
leaders here "Those fellows will not let 20 without
hard struggle They will be difcut to get ou, as
the democrats in 1861. and the longer they stay
tho moro desperate they become" And this is un.
doubtcdly true of q good many of thom. brief