Moreover, since on this plan every vote counts, the greatest source of political apathy will be removed-that sense of hopelessness which paralyzes the efforts of the members of a minority party.  Corruption will hardly pay; for whereas at present the boss has but to win the comparatively few votes necessary to swing the balance toward a bare majority, in order to have complete control, he will upon this plan secure control only in actual proportion to the number of votes he can secure.

Another advantage of the system lies in the stabler policy it will ensure.  Our present system results in frequent sharp overturns, according as this party or that may get a temporary majority.  But this battledore and shuttlecock of legislation does not represent the far more gradual changes in public opinion.  A system whereby the number of representatives of each party is always directly proportioned to the number of votes cast for that party would make it possible to evolve a careful machinery of government, as is not possible with our periodic upheavals and reversals of personnel and policy.[Footnote:  See publications of the American Proportional Representation League (Secretary C. G. Hoag, Haverford, Pennsylvania).  National Municipal Review, vol. 3, p. 92.  American City, vol. 10, p. 319.  Thomas Hare, Representation.  J. S. Mill, Representative Government, chap.  VII.  Political Science Quarterly, vol. 29, p. 111.  Atlantic Monthly, vol. 112, p. 610.]

(6) The separation of national, state, and local issues.  The obtrusion of national party lines into state and municipal affairs has continually confused issues and blocked reforms in the narrower spheres.  Masses of voters will support a candidate for governor or mayor simply because he is a Republican or Democrat, although the national party issues in no way enter into the campaign.  Bosses skillfully play on this blind party allegiance, and many a scoundrel or incompetent has ridden into office under the party banner.  The separation of local from national elections has proved itself a necessity; in the most advanced communities they are now put in different years, that the loyalties evoked by one campaign may not carry over blindly into another.  The direct election of United States Senators has this great advantage, among others, of separating issues; in former days the alternative was often forced upon the citizen of voting for a state legislator who stood for measures of which he disapproved, or of voting for a better legislator who would not vote for the United States Senator he wished to see elected.