The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-08-27
REDIsTRICTIYG.

ne" oPp0'HOnnieni ..eGu the reolshiCltg
necessary there2pon is beginning to ale
tract attention and call forth the SUCCESS
and criticisms Of The press. Indeed
This will in few months more at beet, be-
! come of such vital interest to every commuN
atty in the union, that it is q little remark
able that i, has not been touched on sooner
and more frequently In our own state Il
few OF the leading journals have hereto
fore had something TO say on the subject,
but it does not seem as yet 70 have excited
general comment or created any degree of
!hought commensurate with the
question. The trouble with
US all as individuals and
communities is that we are often too apt
to put off TO the last momen. matters de-
manding anything like serious attention, and
as result experience the mobilization that
comes from haste and half doing. II is APP
pretended in most of the states where this
particular subject has been already raised,
that at no previous period in cur history
have the difficulties of fair and wise sp-
portionment and redistricting been so great
or 70 many, and it is possible that the same
trouble will be found, upon inspection, to
exist here. The very advantages which, in
other respects, we point toand glory in, will
probably prove, when tho attempt to rea
district is made, the greatest stumbling
blocks. The differences in climate
and location cause, invariably, diff
ferences in products and avocations, and
these in turn create dtfsyences il interests
Where .ss population is great and the terriN
! Tory small, under our peculiar institutions, a
sufhcien! number of representatives can be
returned TO guard and advocate the rights
and demands of the diversity of interests,
but when the reverse Is true, a sparse popu-
lation, scattered over an immense territory,
and each separate community engaged in
some distinct enterprise from all others, one
can see the dilemma in which those will be
placed who are deputed to determine what
the districts will be. Congress either could
not, or would not, OF its last session enact the
necessary laws under which the states could
proceed to act, and, az a consequence, it will
not be possible, even in called session
Of Legislatures to take definite
action in regard to the matter, but the time
can be most protltably spent in the in.
term in discussing and investigating, calcu,
lating and determining the most just and
practicable combinations necessary for the
proper representation of all the many inter.
ests and trades and characters of people. In
our own state several clements to be consid.
cred exist, which cannot play anything like
prominent part in the agitation Of the same
subject In other communities. In the first
place there Is our unprecedented influx Of
new population which must be taken into
consideration and ii must be determined
whre it has mostly gone to and what districts
therefore are entitled TO increased repro SEN
tation, and If 80, how much. Then comes
the question Of diversity of occupations and
interests which must be most carefully
attended TO for the sake or harmony within
our borders as we'll as matter
of justice. Now these ends cannot be prop.
erly met, nor can the questions possibly be
determined with fairness and accuracy unless
a thorough investigation Of these identical
subjects be made previously to the hour for
action. The legislative hall, with the lob
byist and the interosted member pulling the
average man and legislator in every i'm,
agionable direction, 10 no place TO arrive at
correct conclusions touching a matter of
such serious import. He must go there
filled not only with the necessary informa-
ton, but cognizant of the desires and will of
his constituency. 10 this way alone can an
ard unobjectionsl apportionment
allotment or redisIricting, legislative or
congressional, DO obtained. And 1t is idle to
suppose that either this knowledge of facts
or of the will Of his constituency canspring |
into the legislators mind without previous
study and psinstsking. The right senatorial
and the right representative districts must be
formed aud no others, and if any one section
Is robbed of its rightful quota ofrepresen!s-
lives, it will be simply for want of the atten-
ton beforehand which their interests de-
manded. 1t is possible for every member Of
tho legislature TO know accurately what the
wants of his people are In this particular,
and it would be criminal in him TO approach
tho matter in legislative council, or give his
sanction to any measure Of tho kind while
still in ignorance Of its most vital surround.
ipgs. II 10 intimated in many of the states,
that in the matter of congressional redistricl-
ing attempts are being made, and will con-
.inue TO be made to influence decisions in
the interests of certain individuals, and
thus use the new spportionment as
means to enable ambitious, but
disappointed men 10 ride into position re-
CARELESS Of any consideration of the wants or
interests Of the populaco at large. This Is
undoubtedly true, and may be so Of Texas,
bu, we hope not. AT any rate IL ia we'll that
this particular feature of the case should be
closely watched and prevented. We want
our people Represented by men Of their
choice and faithful representatives, too,:of
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