The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-04-13
.so. Arsour,osmrsr


pose of forming congressional dis
tricts this is ample timc-three or iour-iold
as much as is necessary, indeed, If legisla-
tors go to work and spend no time In trad
ing or gerrymandering to suit this, that or
tho other congressional aspirant. 1t is u
political apothegm that, to the victors be-
long the spoils, and it is equally rs
forcible and as equitable to de-
mand all the advantages possible for
the majority. This being so, 1t IL
but right that Texas should have a solid
delegation of eleven democratic congress-
men, for Texas is overwhelmingly demo-
cratic in politics. 1t is sometimes senti'
mentally urged that the minority ought to
have representation, but such aproposition,
however correct it may be in the abstract,
has small, if any, recognition prac-
tically. 1t is enough to make
eleven democratic districts and without
gerrymandering in the least bit. There are
but two points to consider in creating the
eleven districts, and that is, first, to give
each district the same amount of popula-
ton as nearly as possible, and secondly, in
doing this, to give each one democratic
majority-not bare majority, but
q democratic working margin
over republicans and greenbackers
combined. In making these districts We
will have to take the census of 1880, which
was /, 592, 574 inhabitants. Divide this num-
Der by eleven, the number of congressional
districts, and we have 144,779, the popula-
ton for each congressional district. Now,
It is impossible to give each one exactly
40 inhabitants, but it can be approx
mated some districts having a
few thousands more and some few thou
sands less, and it can be done too, so as to
make each district democratic and to di-
vide the congressman equitably between
the northern and southern, the eastern and
the western, and the central sections of the
state. We have given the matter some
study and with map of the state, the
census of 1880 and the vote for
president at the last election before us, we
have laid off eleven districts which we
think the legislature Will act wisely in
adopting. We give them as follows: In
the first district we have placed the coun-
ties of Chambers. Jefferson, Hardin, Tyler
Orange, Jasper, Newton, Sabine,
San Augustine, Nacogdoches, An
gelina, Polk, Shelby, Pamela,
Harrison, Rusk, Gregg and Upshur The
aggregate population of these counties in
1880, according to the census report, is 144,-
All. In these counties the aggregate demo-
cratic vote for president in November, 1880,
was IA 100; the republican vote was 5,637,
and the greenback vote was 1880. This
gives a clear democratic majority in the
district of 1888. In the second district
we have Marion, Cass, Bowie,
Red River, Lamar, Delta, Hunt,
Hopkins, Titus, Morris, Franklin and
Camp. The aggregate population of this
district is 1851. The vote for president in
1880 stood, democratic, 14,474; republican,
1924 and greenback, $685. giving demo-
cratic majority of 6,20S. In the third dis
trict we put Wood, Smith, Cherokee,
Anderson, Leon, Madison, Houston
Walker, Montgomery, Trinity, Free
stone, San Jacinto and Liberty. These
counties aggregate 14S, 155 and
gave an aggregate democratic vote in 1880
for president of 1905; republican of 6,S97,
and greenback of 1886, democratic major
ity.of 2,s63. In the four district we pro-
vide for the counties Of Galveston, Harris,
Waller, Austin, Colorado, Lavaca, Con-
zales, Fayette and Lee. Here we see an
aggregate population of 1859, of which
14,1O1 democratic votes were cast
for president in 1880, 1882 repub-
lican and 1909 greenback, making
q democratic majority of2,0l0. In the fifth
district we have combined the counties of
Washington, Grimes, Brazos, Robertson,
Limestone, Henderson, Navarro and Hill,
with an aggregate population of 1860.
The vote for president in 1880 was demo-
cratic 1921; republican, $685. and green
back, 1854; democratic majority of 1888.
For the sixth district we have
the counties of Ellis, Johnson, Tar
rant, Denton, Dallas, Kaufman,
and VanZandt with a population of 1859,
which gave in 1880 for president, 1875
democratic votes; 2,706 republican votes,
and 4, 100 greonbacl, votes, democratic ma
iority of 1850. In the seventh district we
arrange the counties of Rockwell, Collin,
Fannin, Rains, Grayson, Cooke, Wise and
Montague, making an aggregate population
of IA, o66. The vote for president in these
counties in 1880 aggregated for HANCOCK,
19, 273; for GARFIELD, 2,s73, and for WEAVER,
3, 257, democratic majority of 1913. In
the eighth district we cluster Clay, Jack,
Shackelford, Palo Pinto, Parker, Young,
Baylor, Archer, Callahan, Taylor, Hood,
Hamilton, Bosque, Lampasas, Somervell'
McLennan and Coryell and the counties in
the Pan Handle not otherwise apportioned.
These counties will aggregate as near as we
can tell from the census report be
fore us, 10000, with 1880 dem
ocratic votes: 1 400 republican votes
and 2,4sO greenback votes giving
democratic majority Of n,S7O. The
ninfh district we construct with
the counties Of Falls, Bell, Milan,
Burleson, Llano, Burnett, Williamson,
Travis. Hays, Caldwell and Bastrop with
population OF l55,13s with a democratic
vote in 1850 Of 1881, a republican
vote Of 4,sg3, and a greenback vote
Of s,3Os, giving a democratic ma
ority Of 500. In the tenth district
we have the counties Of Com anche, Eruth,
Brown. Mason, McCulloch, Coleman, Gilles-
pie. San Saba, Blanco, Concho, Comal. Kerr
-endaIl. Banderh, Medina, Kinney, Uvhl-
De. Berar. Tom Green, Pecos, ii Paso,
Prcsidio. Menard, Kimble, Hunneis, Ed
yards. Crockett and ell those counties
sparsely settled north Of Tom
Green county, nggregating APPROX