Hfc COLUMBIAN. ' BLOOMSBURG, PA.
I
LIVE QUESTIONS.
AfArrlr of Article Contrlbnteil to Thrae
Culumu. by Advautcil Thinker.
IfViiBKH I1L Proportional Eepre-
BUNTATION".
In the dovelopnicut of onr popular in
Ftrtutioiift members of logislntivo bodies
on elected from "districts," bocauso
people do not yet realize that there is a
butter wny to secnre representation.
Thnt this system was a clumsy con
trivance was evident from the begin
ning; it gave no security that the popu
lar wishes would be represented ut all;
a popular majority might be so dis
tributed that it would not coiA-ol a ma
joriry of the districts. The ca'o is often
bad enough, even when no effort is
made to prevent fair representation,
but it is infinitely worse whenever the
party in power seeks to intrench itself
by purposely dividing districts in such
a manner that the opposition cannot se
cure control of the legislative body,
even if a majority of electors demand
a cl) nngo. Again, the different sections
of the state or city continually change
in population ; hence frequeut readjust
ments of the districts become necessary.
But we want a systom by which con
stituencies shall readily adapt them
selves to new conditions. If there were
a few lare districts, the need of reap
portiouuient'would be greatly reduced,
while if there were no districts nt nil
apportionment would bo unnecessary and
Impossible. The palpable defects of tbo
district system might be illustrated in
various ways.
Popular government (as we know it
today) is merely government by politi
cal parties. Men who think alike would
naturally act together, and their anion
would form a party, but the district
system, while it forces men into parties
with whose principles they do not agree,
tends to prevent the natural, healthy
union of persons who think alike and
who desire to vote alike. A large ma
jority of all popular elections turn upon
questions which apply to the whole
country rather than to any particular
locality. A man votes with this party
or with the other merely because he be
lieves or does not believe in txpo trade,
free silver, prohibition, eta, and this
la equally true even when the real is
sue is purely local. The district systom
separates those whose interests are iden
tical, while uniting those who have noth
ing in common.
Another evil of the distriot system
arises from the facilities afforded for
vote buying. The system of dividing the
Etate and also the city into districts,
from each of which a representative is
to be chosen, usually results in doubtful,
closely contested districts, where the
change of a few votes must change the
representative and may consequently
change the legislature and ultimately
the national senate.
Naturally the vote buyer confines his
operations to such pivotal localities, but
if districts were abolished he could
never secure any larger number of law
makers than were fairly represented by
'the votes thus bought. Again, even if
eloetors were perfectly free when casting
their votes, if the votes thus cast ex
pressed the real sentiments of the voter,
it is obvious that, under present condi
tions, large numbers of votes are roally
thrown away and a largo proportion of
voters are systematically disfranchised.
Equally obvious is the fact that small
districts tend almost inevitably to the
production of small men in tho halls of
legislation, men of narrow mental cali
ber, who almost invariably lack the
oouraga of their convictions, and who
rjmain perched upon the fence, touch
ing all questions where the constituency
ia divided. This district system really
fastens servility upon the representa
tive, whilo proportional representation,
on the other hand, encourages the selec
tion of mon of character and principle ;
it stimulates independence and leader
ship, for the representative who can re
tain the support of even a single quota
can afford to remain true to his convio
tiona. The proposed reform is sometimes
objected to for the alleged reason that it
would be dangerous to allow the advo
cator of wild, impracticable schemes
titen a single representative in the halls
of legislation, but a moment's reflection
Will convince the reader that anarchists,
for example, are no more dangerous
to society when they are represented
than when they ore not represented in
the lawmaking body.
' It is the confined explosive that is
riost deadly ; give truth and error a fair
chauce to fight their battles in the open
field, and the former will take care of
itself. The objection most strongly
urged against tho proposed reform is
that if each phase of popular sentiment
Was ullowed its proportional representa
tion, the chances are that legislative
bodies would divide into groups; that
no one group oould control or would be
responsible for the legislative policy.
We are told, in other words, that a ma
jority must bo secured, even though
misrepresentation is resorted to in ob
taining such majority. But is it true
,thnt an absolute majority is essential
or even desirable? It may be true in
the exorcise of administrative functions,
but as to purely legislative matters the
correct principle demands "plurality."
For myself"I deny that an absoluto
Majority is desirable, in a deliberative
body, unless there is such a majority
atnong the people (it large. It is of tho
vry highest importance to tho state
that all special iutwrests should have
' the fullest, freest mewTSof expression
4 the halls of legislation caeh phase
of thought should be represUjfCthby
oin fairly chosen advocates, and Kli'"-
aiter a fair consideration of all nrgi
uicnts, judgment should be rendered
In accordance with the just rights of all
conceruod. But whatever might be
nrged against this proposed reform an
to national or state politics, it would be
obvionslj productive of unmixed good ;
in all municipal elections.
Ono prcut nnd growing evil of our
system of municipal government is tho
Ingoing in of national issues; the samo
political lines are drawn in rrtnnicipal
elections as thoso which divide parties
elsewhere; mon are elected to the city
council simply because they are or nve
not Democrats, are or aro not Republic
ans, and it will be impossible to pro
vent this, so strong is tho force of party
usage, until the electoral systom is radi
cally changed; then, and only then,
business administration will tako the
place of political administration in ma- .
nicipal uffairs. !
In applying the romedy proposed for
tho evils thus briefly outlined three
measures have been suggested -the
"cumulative vote," the "single trans
ferable voto" and tho "froo list sys- I
tern. " The first is now in practical oper
ation in the state of Illinois', in choos
ing members of tho lower honso of tho
legislature ; tho second has for several
years been used in Denmark ; the third
is in successful operation throughout
Switzerland; it is an American inven
tion, having been advocated by Thomas
Gilpin of Philadelphia more than fiO
years ago, and it is believed to be bet- ;
ter adapted than any other to the needs
of an American community. I
Under its practical workings district
lines are abolished, and members of tho
roprescntatij body are chosen at largo
upon a general tickot The official bal
lot is used in tho some manner as in
states where the Australian systom pre
vails; each group of electors is required
to file with the proper officer, previous
to the day of election, a list of its can
didates; this list may contain tho
names of as many candidates as the
community is entitled to elect or any
number less than that For examplo, if
10 councilmen are to be chosen, each
party may nominate 10 or any smaller
number. If the samo candidate is named
on more than one ticket, ho must elect
between them, and if he fails to do so
the choice is made for him by lot. Each
elector has as many votes as there aro
officials to be chosen. These he may
distribute as he pleases among candi
dates on the official ballot, giving no
candidate more than one. In the case
supposed be would have 10 votes and
would place his stamp opposite the name
of each person whom he designed to sup
port In addition the voter may, if ho
so desires, designate one of the parties
for which he desires to vote, in which
event be can only vote for the candi
dates of that party.
On the other band, the voter who
does not care to support a party ticket
may distribute his votes to suit himself.
In canvassing the returns all votes are
added together, the sum total is divided
by the number of offices to be filled, and
the quotient is termed the "quota of
representation," or number of voters
who are jointly entitled to ono repre
sentative. Each party is then entitled to
as many officials as it has quotas.
Among candidates those who receive the
greatest number of votes are seated, and
if vacancies occur, whether from death
or otherwise, the candidate of the samo
party having the next highest vote is
substituted. This plan has been success
fully tested by practical experience in
Switzerland and has been gradually ex
tended from one canton to another year
nftcr year. In conclusion, the free list
systom is an American device, but has
been adopted and demonstrated in a re
public whoso government is worthy of
imitation. It is a plan which elimi
nates and extinguishes the gerrymander.
It removes all incentive to vote buying.
It reduces the unrepresented minority
the grand army of the disfranchised to
the least possible minimum. It gives to
each voter the fullest liberty of choice.
It recognizes party affiliations and lines,
yet permits the utmost freedom of all
who wish to be independent of partisan
dictation. And, better than all else, it
contemplates and provides for a repre
sentative body that will be like an im
ago in tho camera, every color, form,
light, motion, shade being exactly re
produced a body that is representative
in fact as well as in name. If we have
any faith in popular government, any
faith in the political integrity of our
people, let us give this plan a fair trial
in the near future.
William Dudley Fotjlke.
Richmond, Ind., Dec. 1, 1805.
The Trne Functions of Political Parties.
Lot us not bo too superstitious about
parties. Political parties, rightly under
stood in this free country, aro but
agencies employed by the voters for
carrying their own will into effect
There have been times, within our first
century of national life, when.' party
linos ond party issues seemed to vanish
altogether. National parties great in
their day and with renowned leaders
have dissolved and disappeared, some of
them whose very names are doomed to
be forgotten, bocauso the people needed
them as agents no longer. What, then,
should be the fate of those political or
gunizers who make a Frankenstein
monster out of this party machinery for
consolidating and monopolizing personal
power, pelf and, putrouage? Let thoni
be crushed under their own contrivance.
When any organized force compels
tho voters and takes from tho people or
from any popular party a fair right of
selection among men and measures, it
should, by whatever combination of
good citizens, be overthrown. Tho tyr
anny of uu absolute monarch ispulliatud
by glittering pomps and illusions which
stimulato a i.outixneut of personal loyal;
ty, but a "boss" tyranny in a republio
is worsf than any monarchy to livo un
der, fur it fosters no high sentiment
and has no veil of illusion ; its bare hid
eousuess is like that of a swinging skele
ton; it is altogether vicious, and thriv's
by iKiisoning the lifeblood of solf gov
ernment. Professor Bchonler in PuMia
r..i. I Z
PICKEREL TRAVEL IN PAIRS.
Crawford' Tlenvrrr of Thin Fart, and
Wood l'ltt'a Disturbing Oupotlim.
"It's queer, isn't it, bow pickorel al
ways travel in pairs.'' said Major Craw
ford of Campbell Hall.
"Why, do they, Major?" inquired the
Hon. Charles T. Dunning, interested at
once.
"Do they?" replied tho Major. "Why,
certainly they do I I discovered the fact,
I think, and in a very curious way. I
never go pickerel fishing in the Wnll
kill without taking my rifle along with
ine in the boat, for ducks are liable to
come flying about this time of year,
mallards, principally, and there isn't
anything much better to follow pickerel
at dinner than mallard duck. My rifle,
always fitted with a hair trigger, so
there will be no delay in its going when
I pull, I invariably place between my
knees as I sit and troll, so as to have it
handy.
"One day I was out on the river this
way, trolling for pickerel and ready for
ducks. I got a big strike on the troll,
hooked it, and hauled in. Just as I had
the pickerel almost to the boat I spied a
lot of mallards coming up the river. I
kept cool, landed the pickerel all right,
and dropped the troll out so as not to
losotime. Just then the ducks came
into nice range. I fired. Ducks began
to tumble. Chngt came another strike
on my line. I hooked it, and landed a
socond pickorel before tho last dk had
fallen. I couldn't have done that, don't
you see, if it wasn't a fact that pickerel
travel in pairs ; and that's the way I dis
covered the interesting fact," conclnded
the Major.
"I see," said Mr. Dunning. "How
many ducks did you kill, Major?"
"Six," was the reply.
There was Bn impressive silence for
awhile. Wood Pitts of the St Elms
broke it by asking:
"Did they all fall in tho boat.
Major?"
Mr. Dunning reproved Wood Pitts
for asking such a disturbing question,
but the Major didn't deign to notice it
New York Sun.
Make, a Pretty Penny Ont of Pennies.
It is not generally known that all the
minor coins of base metal, such as pen
nies and nickels, are made at the Phila
delphia mint, and that noarly 100,000,000
pennies are coinod hero every year. This
largo number is occasioned by the fact
that thousands of pennies are lost an
nually, and the Government has some
difficulty in maintaining the supply.
The profit to the Government on their
manufacture is large. The blanks for
making them are purchased for $1 per
thousand from a Cincinnati firm that
produces them by contract.
Blanks for nicke'.s are produced in
the same way, costing Uncle Sam only
1 1-2 cents apiece. Gold is coined in
Philadelphia and Pan Francisco. Not
enough of it comes into the mint at New
Orleans to make the coinage of it worth
while. Gold pieces are the only coins
of the United States which are worth
their face value intrinsically. A double
eagle contains $20 worth of gold with
out counting the one-tenth part copper.
Had Lot. of Time.
A foppish young man, with a football
crop of hair, was walking along Chest
nut street the other evening, when a lit
tle urchin asked him the time.
"Ten minutes to nine," said the
masher.
"Well," said tho boy, "at nine o'clock
got your hair cut," and he took to his
heels and ran down Tenth street.
The masher ran after him, and in
turning the corner came in contact with
a policeman, nearly knocking him
down.
"What's up?" asked the policeman.
The masher, very much out of breath,
said:
"You see that yonng brat running
down the street? He asked me the
time; I told him ten minutes to nine,
and he said :
" 'At 0 o'clock get your hair cut." '
"Well, remarked the policeman,
"what are you running for? You've
eight minutes yet." Philadelphia Re
cord. The Better the Day the Hotter the Deed.
After tho regular service at the Bap
tist Temple yesterday morning, the com
munion table was uncovered and while
those who had merely come to hear the
sermon were going out. the pastor, the
Kov. Russell H. Conwell, and the dea
cons prepared for tho solemn rite that
was to follow.
The silver goblets were filled with
wine, broad was broken and the audi
ence was already hushed by the impres
sive preliminaries, when a man, a little
past middle age, with unkopt whiskers
and linen besmirch 3d, stepped forward
to the altar. His gl ves and hat was all
that remained of respectability, and
those were the wore for wear.bnt his
manners were as exquisite as those of a
polished Frenchman. He stepped
blithely up to Dr. Conwell, tou hed him
gently on the shoulder, and with the air
of a man paying profuse compliments,
he said:
"My friend may I touch you for a
five to get back to New York?"
The touch didn't work and the cere
mony proceeded, while the un'cept one
moved away absorbed in deep thought.
Philadelphia Rocord.
Wanted to Know the Game.
Perry Patettic Mister, can you givo
me a dime?
Wallace None of my gooJ money
goes for whisky, my friend.
"It don't? How do you work it?"
Cincinnati Enquirer.
He'd Itave the Town.
Magistrate Will you leave the town
if I let you go?
Flippant Culprit Sure thing. I don't
believe real estate in this section is
worth carrying away. Chicago Tribune.
Over a Thousand.
The glorious charge of tho Light Brigade,
By Tennyson famously sunn;,
I. nothing to thnt which my doctor made
For taking a look at my totvne.
pf&vzSfZH. Vonowlne'i News.
I
i vjinci run
from any cause
of Cod-liver Oil and Hypophosphitese
It possesses in a peculiar sense flesh
making, strength-giving elements.
There are plenty of cases where per
sons have gained a pound a day by
taking an ounce of Scott's Emulsion
goc. and $i at
A6K FOR THE BSfcKLET ONIlGIflTAND
GivESrxsTucnTiNTncwoiMB.'syAKsiyrciyMre
ALEXANDER BROTHERS & CO.
DEALERS IN
Cigars, Tobacco. Candies, Fruits and Nuts
SOLE AGENTS FOR
Henry Mail lard's Fine Candies. Fresh Every Week.
2?ti-5 Goods &. Sifeci-o.h.t-s'.
SOLE AGENTS FOR
F .F. Adams & Co's Fine
Sole agents tor the
fonry Clay, Loiidros, Normal, Indian Princoss, Samson, Silver As
Bloomsburg Pa.
AT
And see the largest collection
bought before the advance in prices. Youget the benefit of
our early buying.
Our fall and winter underwear and hosiery is now on
our counters at prices never heard of before.
Copies Irdn axd Maix Sts.
"A handful of dirt may be a house
ful of shame." Keep your house
clean with
SAPOL O
B. F. Sharpless, Pres.
BLOOMSBURCcS
LAHD IMPROVEMENT COMPANY.
Capital Stock, $30,000.
Plotted property is in the coining business centre of the
town. It includes also part of the factory district, and has no
equal in desirability for residence purposes.
CHOICE LOTS are offered at values that will be doubled
in a short time.
No such opportunitv can be had elsewhere to make money.
Lots secured on SMALL MONTHLY PAYMENTS-
Maps of the town and of plotted property furnished on ap
plication. Call upon or write to the Secretary, or J. S. "Woods, Sales
Agent, or any member of the Board of Directors.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
B. F. SlIARPLESS;
C. AV. Neal, A. G.
Dr. IL. W. McKeynolds,
W16ef! Iow kqd
ror the hnest and best stoves, tinware, roohner, spouting
and general job work, go to W. W. Watts, on Iron street.
Buildings heated by steam, hot air. or hot water in a satisfac
tory manner. Sanitary Plumbing a specialty.
I have the exclusive control of the Thatcher steam, hot
water and hot air heaters for this territory, which is acknowl
edged to be the best heater on the market. All work guaran
teed.
W. W. WATTS,
IRON STREET. Illoonisburg, Pa.
aown, or emaciarca
whatever, will be
S
dimil&toru
Y
all druggists.
TT
Cut Chewing Tobacco
following brands of Clgars-
W. H. MOORE'S
of shoes in the county. All
i r u i
1 1 lOOrC.
foote
-v I I
i
N. U. Funk, Sec. C. II. Campbell, Treas.
J, L DlLLOIJ.
Briggs, Dr. I. W. Willits,
N. U. tunk.
1 1-19-
Good Woric.
Popular Magazines
FOR THE HOME.
Pi
71'"
FRANK LESLIE'S
POPULAR
MONTHLY
Contain rch Month t Original Watr Color
I mni;ploc s 129 Quarto Page of Rtadlna
Matter; 10(1 New and Hlgh-clase Illustra
tion! Mora Litrrary Matter and Illustra
tion than any other Magazine In America
25 eta. t $J a Year.
Frank Leslie's PIsasant Hours
FOR BOY3 AND CIRLS.
A flrlcM, Wholntne, Jurctillo Monthly.
Finly r.lumrti(i. The beft writer for young
)uolo oonttibuto to It. 10 on. ; SI year.
!fl ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS TO
; THE COLUMBIAN, Bloomiburg, Pa.
Cl.TB RATES.
' The COLUMBIAN and Flunk LpsIIp's
Fvimlar Mimihlv one ypnr for .'l.50, or
thin impor and I'learant liiiurt tor Hoys
, ud this, forll.H0.
Undoubtediy the Best Club Offers
ry.Srnd to Vnn UUf' PuMtoMtuj Rom, 1T.T,
fur K.ic llluMt ruled ITmium List, JYea.
THE MARKETS.
BLOOMSBURG MARKETS.
OORRIOTID W1IILT. BIT AIL HlClt.
Butter per lb $ ,at
Eggs per dozen ,ao
Lard per lb , .to
Ham per pound igg
fork, whole, per pound ,06
Beef, quarter, per pound .... .07
Wheat per bushel ,6e
Oats " " 28
Rye " " t0
Wheat flour per bbl 3 60
Hay per ton 13 to $u
Potatoes per bushel. .10
Turnips " 44 ae
Onions " " .eo
Sweet potatoes per peck 15 to .30
Tallow per lb 4l
Shoulder " " u
Side meat " 07
Vinegar, per qt 07
Dried apples per lb .05
Dried cherries, pitted 10
Raspberries , ,ia
Cow Hides per lb .i
Steer " 05
Calf Skin 80
Sheep pelts .75
Shelled corn per bus .60
Com meal, cwt 2.00
Bran, ,.00
ChoD " 1.10
Middlings " 1.10
Chickens per lb new .08
" "old 10
Turkeys " " I0
Geese " " .r
Ducks " 08
COAL.
No. 6, delivered a. 40
" 4 and 5 " , 3.50
" 6 at yard .a5
" 4 and 5 at yard 3.25
E. A. RAWLING3.
PKALKR IN
All Kinds of Meat.
Beef, Veal, Lamb, Mutton,
Pork, Hams, Bacon, Tongue?,
Bclogna, &c. Free Delivery
to all parts of the town.
CENTRE STREET.
BLOOMSBURC, PA.
BSTTelephone connection.
PATENTS
Caveats and Trado Marks obtained, and al'
i.Vv!tl lu'a conducted for MODKllATi
iri1,.yK,,C..EI801'POS,TBTnB V. B. PAT.
km i obhlt'h. Wo have no sub-atrenolea, all
nesa In less time and at Less font than Uioao re
Bond modol, drawing or photo, with descrlp
tlon. We advise If jmttnfublo or not, free of
cuarije. Our tee not due till putent la secured
A book, "How to Obtain 1'iitenta," with refer
enees to aeiuul clients in your Slate.Oouuty, 0
towu aeutfree. Addreaa
;. A. know & co Washington, V. VI
(Oppoalte U. 8 l'auiut Office.)
IHpt
Bring the Babies.
INSTANTANEOUS PROCESS USED.
Sirictly first-class guaranteed photograhs
ctayons and copva at reasonable prices. We
use exclusively the Collolion ArUtotype pa
pers, thus securing greaier l.eaiilv of finish
and permanency of results. CAl'WKU.,
MARKET SQUARE CAllERL
1 -2-iy. Over Hartmnn' Store.
GET YOUR
JOB PRINTING
DONE AT THE
COLUMBIAN OFFICE
llWMy