THIS COLUMBIAN, BLOOMSBURG, PA.
LIVE QUESTIONS.
AxVrtr nf Article. Contributed tn Thrne
Column, by Advanced Thinker.
KViniF.n X. The United Statfs Not
a Rf.pueskhtativk Government.
Tue Remedy.
A stnrty of the congwionnl election
rcrtnrn of 1894 proves conclusively that
oiu representative fystcm in a delusion
aud ft Buuro.
For instance, Massachusetts, with a
Republican veto of 191,243, secures 13
ropresenttttivi'R, while the Democrats,
with ICO, 893 ballots polled, are repre
sented by only one congressman, or
over 7 i Domocrntic citizens must go to
the polls to equal the representative
pjw er of one Republican.
- Today Illinois is entitlod to one Re
ptftlican congressman for every 22,403
Toters, but it takes 161,713 Democrats
to Rnin one representative, or, like Mas
sachusetts tho proportion against the
Democrats is over 7 to 1.
In Ohio it requires over sis times as
many voters to elect one Democrat as it
does a Republican representative.
In New York state tho recent voto
stands 22,897 for every Republican rep
resentative, whilo requiring 100,610
Democrats to accomplish the same re
sults, though in the congressional elec
tion returns of 1892 it took 31,680
Democrats to equal 43,356 Republicans.
Dear old conservative Pennsylvania
secures SS Republican congressmen for
613,921 ballots polled, while tho Dem
ocrats have only two for 852,060 votes.
Have the Domocrats of the Keystone
State sunk so low that it requires over
eight of them to offset one Republican?
If this state had had proportional repre
sentation, the representation would have
stood IS Republicans, 11 Democrats and
1 Prohibitionist.
In the states of Iowa, Michigan and
Wisconsin the Democrats, with over six
times the Republican quota, have no
Democratic representation at all.
Indiana leads off as the worst repre
sented state in the Union. The Dem
ocrats cast almost 11 times the quota of
the Republicans, and yet have not even
one representative.
The People's Party adherents polled
votes in excess of the average quotu and
yet in most of the states with no repre
sentation at all.
tieorgia Populists cast nearly seven
times the quota of the Democrats aud
yet are not represented, while in Texas
fhey have almost ten times the Demo
cratic quota, with the same results. In
1892 the Populists cast 1,046,892 votes,
securing 13 representatives, yet in the
lost election, at the polling 308,830 more
votes than in 1892, they have only seven
congressmen.
Today the Prohibitionists are not rep
resented at all in congress, yet they cast
a vote which would entitle them under
proportional representation to three con
gressmen. These figures prove that our whole
system of representation is manifestly
unjust. The wonder is that we have sub
mitted to it so long.
The evil lies in our district system.
Suppose there were 80,000 votes cast in
each of the 80 congressional districts of
Pennsylvania, each district being en
titled to one representative, with five
parties in each district, the vote stand
ing thus: 4,000 Prohibitionists, 6,000
Peoplo's Party, 6,000 Single Taxers,
7,000 Republicans, 8,000 Democrats.
Yet the mere fact that the Democrats
cast 1,000 more votes than anyone party
a plurality of 1,000 votes, not a ma
jority entitles them, under the present
system, to the one representative. And
the remaining 22,000 people are not rep
resented at all I Carry this illustration
through the 80 congressional districts,
and we find 120,000 Prohibitionists,
150,000 Peoplo's Party, 180,000 Singlo
Taxers, 210,000 Republicans and 240,
000 Democrats. Lo and behold, the
Democrats march off with the whole 30
congressmen, leaving 060,000 meu who
actually went to the polls and voted un
represented !
Is it right? Is it justice that the mi
nority of tho total vote should make the
laws for the majority?
Must the political fight always narrow
itself to two great parties? Is there no
hope for the many reform movements?
Mnst corruption and bribery run ram
pact that one party may succeed by a
fow votes? Is there no reuiody, or must
we coutinue to practically disfranchise
a large proportion of the men who ac
tually go to the polls aud vote?
There is a remedy, and that remedy is
proportional representation, which is
that eaoh political party within city,
county or state is entitled to represen
tation in proportion to the number of
votes each party casts. To secure it we
must first abolish ujl district lines.
For instance, to return to our previous
illustration of Pennsylvania, abolish all
the 80 districts, making the state into
one large district. Suppose the voting
power is 900,000, balloting for 80 con
gressmen. Justice would demand that
every one-thirtieth of the 900,000 voters,
or every 80,000 men, should receive one
representative. Thirty thousand votes is
then the quota. With this result, the
120,000 Prohibitionists ore entitled to
4 congressmen; the 150,000 People's
Party to 5, the 180,000 Single Taxers,
210,000 Republicans and 240,000 Demo
crats to 0, 7 and 8 congressmen, respec
tively. Under proportional representa
tion the Democrats, instead of having
the whole 80 congressmen, receive only
the proportion to which their number of
votes entitled them no more, no less.
Is not this justice?
Mauy people have a dread of adopting
any new system, thinking it best to hold
to an imperf uot one rather than advocate
one which has uot received the test of
experience.
But, unfortunately, proportional rep
rwentution has stepped from the theo
retical to the practical field of politics.
It is in operation in several of the can
tdbs of Switzerland and has met With.
inch overwhelming success that it is
only a matter of getting the "political
niuchiuo" p art cel. when nil tho cantons
of Switzerland will ndopt it. 1
Today only one parly can win in any !
ono district. Result, bribery and corrup
tion, in order to bo that ono party.
Under proportional representation all
parties can gain representation. Any
party can print the names of their can
didates on the regular ballot, provided
that party can show they can command ;
1 per cent of tho total voting power, j
Today it is practically impossible for '
Prohibitionists or Singlo Taxers to gain
tho balance of power with any one dis
trict, lint under this system the Singlo -j
Taxers could unito all over the state to .
send one or more representatives to con- i
gress or to the state legislature. Then a
man will voto with a knowledge that it
will count for the party and principles :
in which he is interested. i
For any economic or political reform
movement, desiring to work along the j
line of least resistance, proportional rep-
resentation is the quickest method to 1
securo real and practical progress. All, !
of whatever political shade of opinion, I
can nuito on this platform. Thefarmors '
should take warning from tho great loss
of voting power and energy of the Pop- j
ulists, who in 1894 secured only seven
representatives after polling votes
which under proportional representation
would have entitled them to 40 mem
bers in congress, a loss of 33 mombcrs.
First secure proportional representa
tion ; then reformers can step into the
political arena with the knowledge that
every vote tells. Once in the field of
action people will consider it worth their
whilo to study your principles. As it is
now tho reformers are practically dis
franchised, having no voice in the law
making of the land.
Katherine J. Musson.
Philadelphia, Jan. 1, 1890.
Ncmbeb XL The Possessory Rioitt
of Successive Generations.
Wherever the children of men be
lieve or can be induced or taught to be
lieve in the fatherhood of one God and
tho brotherhood of all men the princi
ples inculcated by Thomas Jefferson bid
fair to dominate the political and social
relations of the near future. One of the
reasons nrged by him against tho crea
tion of a national debt is of special in
terest at the present time. In a letter
written by him in August, 1813, from
which the subjoined quotation is made,
be demonstrates the "possessory right
of successive generations" thus:
"The generations of men may be
considered as bodies or corporations.
Each generation has the usufruct of the
earth during the period of its continu
ance. When it ceases to exist that usu
fruct passes on to the succeeding gener
ation free and unincumbered, and so on
successively from one generation to an
other forever. We may consider each
generation as a distinct nation, with a
right by tho will of its majority to bind
themselves, but nono to bind the suc
ceeding generation more than the in
habitants of another country. Or the
case may be likened to the ordinary one
of a tenant for life, who may hypothe
cate the land for his debts during the
coutinuanco of his usufruct, but at his
death the reversioner, who is also ten
ant for life only, receives it exonerated
from all burthen. Tho period of a gen
eration or the term of its life is deter
mined by the laws of mortality. I find
that of the numbers of all ages living
at any one moment half will be dead
in 24 years and 8 months. But leaving
out minor's, who have not the power of
self government, of the adults living at
one moment, a majority of whom act
for tho society, one-half will be dead in
18 years and 8 months.
"At 19 years, then, from the date of
a contract, the majority of the contract
ors are dead and their contract with
them. Let this general theory be applied
to a particular caso: Suppose the annual
births in the state of New York to be
23,994; the whole number of its inhab
itants will be 617,703, of all agos. Of
these, there would constantly be 209,
280 minors and 848,417 adults, of
which last 174,209 will be a majority.
Suppose that majority, on tho first day
of the year 1794, had borrowed a sum
of money equal to the fee simple value
of the state and to have consumed it in
eating, drinking and making inevry in
their day, or, if you ploaso, in quarrel
ling and fighting with their unoffend
ing neighbors. Within 18 years and 8
months ouo-half of the adult citizens
were dead. Till then, being the major
ity, they might rightfully lovy the in
terest of thoir debt annually on them
selves and their follow revelers or fel
low champions. But at that period (say
at this moment) a new majority have
come into place in their own right and
not under the rights the conditions or
laws of thoir predecessors. Are they
bound to acknowledge the debt, to
consider the preceding generation as
having had a right to oat up tho wholo
soil of thoir country in the course of a
lifo, to alienate it from them (for it
would be an alienation to the credi
tors), and would they think tbemsolvca
eithor legally or morally bound to givo
up their country and to emigrate to
another lor subsistence? Every one will
say no; that the soil is the gift of God
to the living, as much as it had boon to
the deceased generation und that the
laws of uaturo impose uo obligation on
them to pay this debt. And althouuh,
like some othor natural rights, this has
uot yet entered into uny declaration of
rights, it isMio less a law and "ought to
uo acted on by honest governments. "
The reader who will carefully peril -jo
tne series of letters from one of which
the furegoiug oxtract is made and who
will then look around him, at tho mal
adjustment of existing sociul conditions,
will find cumulative evidence tending
to prove that in these closing years of
the nineteenth century the soul thut is
"marching on" is not that of John
Brown (whose body, etc ), but is, rather,
the soul of the patriot statesman, Thom
as Jefferson. Geo. (J. Woiith.
St. Louis, February, 1898.
HOEBER AND THE DEAD PARROT.
Its Owner Wnnterl nim tn Grt Hack the
Money ffhe Paid for It.
An old woman, who carried a Ibtb;
p..per bag, asked to see Coroner ITnober
at the coroner's office, in Now York.
She was ushered into Coroner Hoebcr's
private room.
"My bird is dead," said the woman to
the coroner.
'What is thatf asked Coroner
lloeber.
"Yes, he only lived a little while after
I bought him on Houston street. Such
a pretty green parrot, but he "
"What do I about your bird care?"
yelled the coroner, becoming excited.
"I took him to Justice Roech's court,
at Second avenue and First street,"
continued the woman, paying no at
tention tolloeber'sinterrnption. "They
told me there that, as the bird was dead,
you would hold court on him and get
me back my money."
"They are all crazy in Roesch's
court," vociferated the coroner, danc
ing about. "We don't cognizance take
of dead parrots here already. We have
all we can do looking after men and
women who their brains blow out.
Did you think I was a taxidermistf '
"Eliza Thurston Bsrkland is my
name," the woman went on when the
coroner's breath gave out, "and I don't
want my husband to know that the
bird man swindlod ma. The bird was
sick when he sold it to me "See," she
added, as she took the dead parrot from
the paper bag and laid it on the coro
ner's desk. "Look you what a pretty
bird. Can't you help nie get my money
from that swindler on Houston street?"
"Take yourself and your parrot ont
of my office quick!" the coroner roared.
"This was one contemptible trick
played on me, ain't it? I will hear no
more from you!"
Mrs. Berkland picked tip the dead
bird and walked Sadly out of the office.
Afterward Coroner Hoeber threatened
to discharge all the clerks in the gen
eral office for sending the woman to
him. New York Sun.
BISMARCK'S BOOK COMES HIGH.
No American rubll.hor Able to Pay the
I'rlce lot me Memoirs.
Bismarck holds himself at a great
figure in a literary way, as some of the
American publishers are finding out. It
looked last summer as if at least one of
the American editors in Europe would
bring back a contract for the American
rights to the Iron Chancellor's memoirs.
In fact, it was said that one of the
New York magazines had secured these
rights. Now it appears, however, that
the whole matter of American rights is
off, at least for the present As high as
120,000 was bid for the privilege of the
American publication of the memoirs
offered. But this was not enough, and
as neither publisher nor editor can be
found sufficiently daring to increase the
amount, the matter remains in statu
quo. It will require at least $10,000
more to induce Bismarck's agent to say
yes to an American issuance of his
chief's work, and even then the publi
cation cannot be made nntil after death,
and some time after at that. Further
more, only the smaller portion of the
work is finished not more than enough
for two octavo volumes, while the work
will extend to six at least. From all
this it is not very likely that the Ameri
can people will read whatever Bis
marck has chosen or may choose to
write for some time to come. That
much is certain.
Chicago'! KfTort for a I'lrst-Clas Jury.
"May it please the court, I have a
prayer meeting to attend, and if I sit
on this jury the prayer-meeting can't
go on," said the Re". R. A. Haddock to
Justice Hall. The ;ustice paused in the
act of taking his fee for a bond. Such
a novel excuse had never come to his
knowledge, and it required considera
tion. "This court has a proper respect for
prayer meetings," he finally said, "and
it shall never be said the blind goddess
who watches over this court was so un
sympathetic and heartless as to deprive
a flock of its spiritual guide, at least
not while I am on the bench. You
may go to the meeting."
The reverend gentleman lost no time
in departing, and Constable McDonough
went out to seek another juror. The
justice explained that he had been
bothered lately with professional jurors
and curbstone loafers, who were al
ways within easy reach when a jury
trial was demanded. In a case that
came up recently he ordered the con
stable to bring in "a first-class jury,"
and that functionary raided the reading-room
of the Young Men's Christian
Association, the Rev. Mr. Haddock be
ing among the number pressed into
service. Chicago Chronicle.
An Important Part Left Out.
Hazel Oh, bother I I've used np all
my note paper and my letter isn't half
finished.
Grace Why, you've written eight
pages, haven't you? Isn't that enough?
Hazel Yes, but I haven't begun on
the postscript yet. Somerville Journal.
Spured for Further Mlavhlef.
"Madame," said the new boarder,
"one of your family came very near dy
ing last night."
"Indeed. I was not aware that any
one was ill. Who was it? '
"The mnn in the room next to mine
who played the cornet till 3 a. m. He
stoppod just in time to save his life."
Detroit Free 1'iess. ,
Agreed to Ulfl'er.
Old Greybeard It's a pity to keep
such a pretty bird in a cage.
Mrs. de Style Isn't it a shame? How
perfectly exquisitively lovely it would
iook on a nan turn messenger.
If you read for the nleasure of tos-
ession, of sharing with the world's
great men the world's great truths.
then pray for courage to resolutely turn
your back upon the flood of new vol
umes which sweep ceaselessly past your
door. Go back then reverentially to
j seek admission into the companionship
a runaway train
Sometimes, through accident or neglect, control of a
train is lost and it speeds down the grado. It is so easy to
go down hill ; but the journey back is slow and hard. Have
you been climbing up in strength, accumulating force? Or
have you been going the ether way, losing ground ?
I ScSHS 6mufsioru
! of Cod-liver Oil and hypophosphites, checks the downward
course. It causes a halt ; then turns your face about, toward
the top of the hill. You cannot do anything without good
blood : Scott's Emulsion makes it. Your tissues must have
the right kind of food : Scott's Emulsion furnishes it. Your
nervous system needs a tonic: Scott's Emulsion supplies it.
You need a better appetite : Scott's Emulsion gives' it. You
aave nara worK aueaa : ocott s
50 cts. and $1 a bottU.
A6KF0R THE B&KLET ONIIGffPAND
Biirr,
GIVES BEST IIGHT IN THE
ALEXANDER BROTHERS & CO.
DEALERS IN
Cigars, Tobacco. Candies, Fruits ana Huts
SOLE AGENTS FOR
Henry Mail lard's Fine Candies. Fresh Every Week.
ZFTSifcT' a ooido .a. Specialty-.
SOLE AGENTS FOR
F .F. Adams & Co's Fine
Sole agents tor the
Haary Clay, Londros, Normal, Indian Frincess, Samson, Silver As
Bloomsburg Pa.
AT
And see the largest collection
bought before the advance in
our early buying.
Uur tall and winter underwear and hosiery is now on
our counters at prices never heard of before.
Copies Iiion and Mais Sts.
What brines relief from dirt and
grease?
you
B. F. Sharpless, Pres.
SAPO
BLOOMSBURG
LAND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY.
Capital Stock, $30,000.
Plotted property is in the cominfr business rent of tlie
i. i - - - 0 v-
town. It includes also part of the factory district, and has no
equal in desirability for residence purposes.
v,nuUJi LUit) are ouereci
in a short time.
No such opportunity can be had elsewhere to make money.
Lots secured on SMALL MONTHLY PAYMENTS
Maps of the town and of plotted property furnished mi nn.
, -i -- 1
plication.
Call upon or write to the Secretary, or J. S.- "Woods, Sales
Agent, or any member of the Board of Directors.
BOARD OF
B. F. Sharpless; J, L Dillon.
C. W. Neal, A. G. Briogs, Dr. I. W. Willits,
Dr. II. W. McReynolds, N. Tj. Funk.
1 1-19-
fVidef Iow and'Gfcodd Work.
For the finest and best stoves, tinware, roofing, 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. Bloomsburg Pa.
ivuiuisiou prepares you for it.
SCOTT & DOWNE, Chemists, New York.
WoftLB A9iyTELy5OT
Cut Chewing Tobacco
following brands ot Cigars
W. H. MOORE'S
of shoes in the county. All
prices. You eet the benefit of
. 11. 1 lUOrC
Why don't
know?
LSO
N. U. Funk, Sec. C. II. Campbell, Treas.
at values that will be doubled
DIRECTORS.
mm Magazines
FOR THE HOME.
WO
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tion than any other Magazlna In America.
23 eta. $J a Year.
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THE MARKETS.
BLOOMSBURG markets.
COBRIOTID WIKLT. B1TAIL rilOlf.
Butter per lb $ ,34
Eggs per dozen ,16
Lard per lb v .10
Ham per pound ial
Pork, whole, per pound ,06
Beef, quarter, per pound, . , , .07
Wheat per bushel 80
Oats " 28
Rye " " 50
Wheat flour per bbl j 85
Hay per ton 12 to $14
Potatoes per bushel, .30
Turnips " " 15
Onions " " .50
Sweet potatoes per peck 35 to .30
Tallow per lb 4$
Shoulder" " u
Side meat " " 07
Vinegar, per qt 07
Dried apples per lb , .05
Dried cherries, pitted 10
Raspberries .12
Cow Hides per lb .3 1
Steer " 05
CalfSkin 80
Sheep pelts ,75
Shelled corn per bus 50
Corn meal, cwt a.oo
Bran, " x,0o
Chop " 1.00
Middlings " 1.00
Chickens per lb new .12
" " "old 10
Turkeys " " 12 1
Geese " " 10
Ducks " " 08
COAL.
No. 6, delivered 9.40
" 4 and s " 3.50
" 6 at yard 2.25
" 4 and s at yard 3.25
E. A. RAWLINGS.
PRALER IN
All Kiuds of Meat.
Beef, Veal, Lamb; Mutton,
Pork, Hams, Bacon, Tongues,
Bclogna, &c. Free Delivery
to all parts of the town.
CENTRE STREET,
OLOOMSBURC, PA.
STTelephone connection.
PATENTS
Caveats and Trade Marks obtmned, and all
Patent busluesa conducted lor .MuDKKATJi
FEKS.
OUU OFFICE IS OPPOHITK TUB TJ. B. PAT
ENT OFFICE. We have no sub-agencies, all
business direct, hence enn transuct patent Dual
ness In lent) time and at Less Cobl than those re
mote trow Washington.
Send model, drawing or photo, with desnrlp
tlon. We advise If intent able or not, free of
charge, our fee not due till patent Is aecured
A book, "How to Obtain Patenta," with refer
encos to actual clients in your blate.C'ouuty, o
town sent free. Address
C. A. KNOW A co Washington, V. CI
(Opposite U. H Patent ooice.)
Bring tho Babies.
INSTANTANEOUS PROCESS USED.
Strictly first-class guaranteed photographs,
crayons and cojys nt reasonable prices. We
use exclusively the Colloliun ArUtotype pa
pers, thus securing greater beauty of finish
and permanency of results. CAI'WCLU
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II-2J-IV. Over Ilartman'i Store.
lit- fu- N
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