Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-03-13
Representation Of localities and
~ Minorities. -

There are but few days remaining
of the session of the Legislature, and
in that time twill be impossible to
dispose of all the business that is be-
fore the two houses. 1t is to be hoped
that among other measures that will
have to go over, the apportionment
bill also be postponed. There is
really no hurry for its adoption, and
there are many good reasons why
there should be delay. We profess to
apportion representation according to
population, but the new bill almost
ignores population. Since the last
enumeration of our Inhabitants i'm
portant changes have taken place.
Some of the mining counties have lost
heavily, while the agricultural re-
gions, particularly Southern Califor-
mia, have gained greatly. The bill
scarcely recognizes this fact, and even
if its authors were willing to do the
fair thing by every portion of the
State, there is nothing but guess-work
to go by. 1t isquite important too, be-
fore the State is re-districted, that some
changes should be made in the plan of
representation. Every county ought
to have member of its own, to look
after its interests. AS it now is, vast
tracts of territory are thrown together
into one district, the interests Of
which are widely different. Men rep
resent counties who know nothing
practically of the demands of their
constituents, and if they do are able
to override them by the superior
weight of the larger counties. This
can only be stopped by giving to each
county member of the lower house
and in the future retaining from or
ganizing new county unless the ter
ritory included within its borders is
sufficiently populous to entitle it to
member. Minorities too, have rights
that ought to be respected, and most
important is the right of being repre-
scented. Even when party lines are
sharply drawn and the people gener-
ally adhere closely to only two parties,
great injustice is often done. The
party in power nearly always seeks to
perpetuate that power by shaping the
districts of the State to suit its pur-
pose, and it is the exception rather
than the rule that fair basis is agreed
on. But in many eases the two
parties prominently before the
world do not include all the
voters, and many that nOminally
belong to one or the other, are not
in full sympathy, but only adhere to
them because their votes count for
nothing unless they do. 1t is right
that all shades of opinion should be
represented in our Legislature. 1t is
no argument to say that the body of
the people holding to given political
faith is small. In popular govern
ment they have right to be heard;
right to representative who will
watch their interests and present their
case. 1t is not always the mere num-
Der of votes that count. A watchful
and active member can always accom-
plish more for his constituents by
keeping their interests prominently
before a Legislative body, and guard
ing them from imposition, than he can
by his vote. Hence the importance of
so arranging our election laws that
minorities shall be represented. The
most feasible plan that occurs to US is
the one before suggested in the
HERALD. After assigning a single
representative to each county, let the
remainder be elected by districts of
such extent as may be found conve-
nient, each district, however, to elect
not less than three members. The
electors in these districts should then
be allowed to cumulate their votes,
and in this way minority,
if not not less than one-third,
or in district choosing five
members, one-fifth of the voters, could
choose member, leaving the rest to
be elected by the majority in proper
ton to its number of votes. This plan
of distribution would not only distrib-
ute representation equitaDly, but it
would also act as q check upon the
growing disposition of the populous
districts Of the State to override the
weaker ones. With new and COM
plete census, and an apportionment
based substantially on the plan
as roughly sketched above, we believe
that all the important interests of the
State would be fairly represented, and
all things considered, an ADLER and
purer legislative body secured.