The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-11-28

Population of Is Republican dis
tricts .........,....... .............. 2,750,625
Ratio for membe of Congress l52.q5O
Average population of Rep, dis
triets .......:........,.....,..,.,..... 1852, 2,2Ol
Population of 10 Democratic dis
tricts ;.......... 1921, Al
Average population OF Dem. dis
tricts .............. ........ 2,144
Republican majority in Is dis
tricts ....:.................... sS,l57
Average Republican majority
per district t".:.................,....... 4,6ls
Democratic majority in 10 dis
tricts .................... ................. 1922
Average Democratic majority
per district t,................,........... 4,527
Mote the almost exact mathemati-
cal equality. The average population
oe the Republican districts varies only
Fifty seven from the Democratic, and
average majorities vary only ninety.
two. 1t would be impossible to make
any other division which would be so
nearly equal and the McCracken Re-
publican bill thus meets the full re.
quiremeuts, both Of the law of Con.
gress and of joint conference commit.
tee.
Now, take the Nicholson bill as a
specimen Of the Democratic measure
and apply the same tests. That bill
divides the State into fifteen Republi.
can and thirteen Democratic districts,
which the Democrats claim to be fair:
THE NICHOLSON DEM BILL
Population of 10 Rep. districts, 2,227, ,OsO
Average population per district, l4s,47S
Population in l3 Democratic dis
trlctS 1896, ,661
Average population per district. 153, ,5S9
Average Republican majority. 5,l72
Average Democratic majority. 1867
1t will be seen that in this Demo-
cratic bill the average population of
the Republican aud Democratic dis.
tricts varies Sill, and the majorities
vary 1,4S5. The bill is so arranged
as to bury up Republican majorlles
to the extent Of 22, ,265, and instead Of
preserving equality it violates both
the law of Congress and the rule of the
Joint conference committee"
In the foregoing remarks l have
endeayored fairly and dispassionately
to lay before the House aud the peo.
die Of the State. the true facts now at
issue upon the question Of apportion.
tionmeOt divested Of all extraneous
matters. 1t affords the voters an op.
portunity Of judging of the real mer.
its OF the controversy which has been
going on in these halls for the past
four months.
On the one hand it presents the
Democratic majority Of this Honse
backed by ali the power Of d pseudo
reform Democratic administration
daily cracking its whip over the heads
of honorable gentlemen upon this
floor to keep them in subjecuon while
demanding an pPortionment unfair
in numbers and unjust in its details,
to the prejudice of the people of The
Commonwealth. and in direct antag.
onism TO their expressed will at the
ballot box. The demands made by
the Democratic party now in, acciden-
tai majority in this House can only
be justified by sophlstry which dissi.
pates and scatters the mist of the ear
ly dawn. Founded alone upon the
Jesuitical doctrine "that the end ius.
tifies the means" it daily squanders
the revenues of the Commonwealth
IN q futile attempt 80 gerrymander
the State, crush out majertes, con.
meet counties and peoples not assimi-
lated either in population, aVocation
or interest, and all this is done for
the purpose of increasing the rep
reseniatioA of a party which the peo.
pie of this State has uniformly con.
demned at the elections for the last
twenty years. Mr.. Speaker, / here
and now arraigu this party for its pro-
tligate expenditures and waste Of the
peoples funds for the purpose of gain.
ing party advantage and overthrow.
ing the will of the people of this Com.
monwealth. l arraign the Demo.
cratic administration for heeping up
this expensive extraordinary session
Of the Legislature for the sole purpose
OF gerrvmandering a sufficient num-
ber of districts to elect United States
Senator contrary to the wishes of the
people. | further arraign it before
the voters of the Commonwealth for
refusing 10 accept fair and just ap.
portionment, when the same has been
presented to them for adoption, and
upon this arraignment and the facts
now and often before presented, the
Republicans of this Legislature ap.
peal to the people for justification of
their action, and redress at the bal
lot box for the needless expenditure