Daily Republican., 1882-12-12
Representation.

tween the two parties, and yet owing to
the County system Of representation,
the Democrats elected twenty-seven
members of the Legislature and the Re-
pubicans none. The disparity is great
or when applied TO New Castle County,
where out of a vote of 1900 cast and
q difference of less than one hundred
between the two parties the whole dele.
cation is Democratic. But it has been
this way since the formation of the
State Government. So it has, but do
governments, like old wine, grow bet
ter with age? In large STATES, where
there are from sixty to one hundred
and fifty counties, the county system Of
representation works better than in
small STATES like Delaware, where there
are but three Counties. Clusters Of
Counties in the large States embracing
q population greater than the popula-
tion of Delaware, may all go Democrat
ic, but as an offset to this there are
other clusters of counties just as strong
ly Republican. But even in Pennsyl-
vania, New York and other large States
have provided against solid County
representation by dividing the larger
Counties into Legislative districts. Thus
Lancaster County is divided into four
districts, one of which, Lancaster City
elects a Democrat, though the County
is good for 5000 Republican majority.
Chester County is divided into three
districts. Democratic Berks is divided
into three districts, and one of them,
Reading, occasionally elects two Re-
publicans. Philadelphia is divided
into thirty seven districts, some dozen
of them electipg Democrats, though the
city on a square vote will give 10000
Republican majority. Allegheny Coun-
ty, Republican by some 10, 900 majority
lie divided into about seventeen districts
and never fails to elect some Democrats
Were 1t not for the district system OF
representation in Philadelphia and AL
legheny Counties, the Democrats wouli
never have ajority in any branch o
the Legislature, though the State might
give an immense Democratic majority
on the popular vote.
If district representation then is alb.
so)utely necessary in Pennsylvania and
New York, it is doubly more 80 in small
or States like Delaware. If Delaware
were represented by population and by
districts instead of counties as at pres
ent, the Legislature would still be
Democratic, but there would be such
strong minority as to check any extreme
legislation, with jobs and unfair politi
cal designs in it. If New Castle Coun
ty outside of Wilmington was repre-
scented by Hundreds, there would proba-
bly, be five of each politioNl party allow
ing one representative from Hundred.
Brandywine, Chzistiana, Mill Creek
Red Lion and Pencader, would in all
probability elect Republican members
with exceptions, and New Castle, White
Clay Greek, St. Georges, Appoquini-
mink and Blackbird would as surely
elect Democrats, also with possible ex'
ceptions. This would give five to each
outside of the city. In Wilmington
there would be no trouble in dividing
it into either two or four legislative dis
tricts by either Sixth or Market street
into two, or by both into four. The
ratio of population would give two dis
tricts each about six members, or four
districts three members. Without an
extremely crooked gerrymander, It'll
would be difficult to do otherwise than |
to equally divide the delegations politi-
cally, either in tho city Or the county.
With twelve delegates from the city
and ten from i.he other Hundreds, the
County sheuld bo represented in the
Legislature by eleven Democrats and
eleven Republicans.
Kent County in nearly the same ratio
of population, should be entitled to|
about eleven members, about four of
which would be Republicans from Mil
ford, South Murderkill. Dover and Lit
tie Creek. The remaining seven could
seldom fail being Democrats, without
some unexpected political change, to
which all districts would be subject.
About the same ratio of population
would give Sussex County a represen-
tation of thirteen members, Of which
Cedar Greek, North West Fork, Balti-
more and Indian River Hundreds,
would generally elect Republicans, and
DaRsboIo and GumbOro would divide
and elect them occasionally. This
would give the Democrats seven sure
members from Sussex, with fighting
room for two more. Then we would
have of Republicans from New Castle
II, from Kent and from Sussex A; to-
tai 10. Of Democrats we would have
from New Castle II, from Kent 7 and
from Sussex 9; total 27. Democratic
majority on joint ballot 8. Total mem.
bership in the Legislature 46, including
Senators and Representatives. Five
Senators from New Castle and three
each from the other counties would
make fair Senate, leaving 81 members
for the House. There may be many OBJ
jections to this apportionment, but i
certainly would not be 80 unfair as th'
present system, which is liable all thu
time to make solid Legislature of on'
~ a.