160 WISCONSIN ACADEMY SCIENCES, ARTS, AND LETTERS 



all minor oj&cials were under the control of supervisors appointed 

 and retained in office by such a council, while not only the leaders 

 of both parties, bat the sfreat men outside of party lines could 

 thus take their rightful places beside the President. It will easily 

 be seen that State and city councils might be formed on the same 

 plan. 



Some may think these changes too radical; but every reader will 

 see the advantages, in other respects, of the list system over any 

 other method of proportional representation, though any of these 

 methods would be an immeasurable improvement over the present 

 plan, by which a party but slightly in the majority, or perhaps not 

 having a majority of votes, but only one of districts, can crush and 

 swallow up its opponents in true boa-constrictor fashion. 



Note. — A member of the Ia.st Canstitutioiial Convention of Missouri, to whom I 

 sent a copy of this e.ssay, informs ma that its main principles have been " adopted 

 n private corporation elections." 



