Daily Republican., 1884-08-28
Half Men.

zion in Delaware, and are disposed to
become offended when the citizens of
New Castle County are callei "half
men" when compared with citizens of
Kent and Sussex Counties. Intellec-
tually, morally and physically a man in
New Castle County is at least the equal
Of man in Kent and Sussex. 1t is
only politically that they are inferior,
and whether he be native born or
adopted, citizens of New Castle County
are not half men" when compared
with citizens of the lower counties. Let
us look at this question dispassionately,
aud prove it.
The population OF New Castle County
in $780, was 1916. 1t is now $1,000
The population of Kent County the
same year was SO, S74, and of Sussex
36,0lS of both united, 6S, 800. The
population of both now is not more
than ~, 600. For the sake of convent
enne tneu we will use the figures 81, 600
for New Castle County, and 1900 or
the rwo lower counties combined. The
represen aiion in the Legislature of the
8 ate is ten members, three Senators
and seven presentatives for each
county, without regard to the popula-
tion.
When the last constitution was
adopted each couny was nearly equal
In population, and consequently the
representation was the same, showing
that tur foref..thers OF those days in
tended thai representation should be
equal. Since then New Castle County
b ~ gone ahead Of her sister counties,
aud now las a population OF $1,000
while the other two combined have only
1900.
But the representation remains the
zane, and this is what il unfair to New
Castle County Let MS see now where
the half man comes in at. d. not for
get that New Castles 5000 people
have only ten representatives, and do
not forget at the same time that the
other counties, ~, 900 people, have TWEEN
ty representatives. Divide So, 900 by
ten and we have "A ralio of s, 900 to each
representative Tor New Castle County.
Divide ~, 900 by twenty and we have a
ratio OF $500 TO each representative for
Kent and Sussex
Now then divide the ratio of s, 800 for
New Gas le with the ratio $500 for
Kent and Su-SeX, aui we have the
Farther comparative ratio of 2.36 for
New Castle to one for X ent and SUSSEX
Thus will b. seen that it will take
two ami tnirty six oue-huud redths men
in New Castle County to equal one
man IN Ken and Sussex II will be
seen that il axes within fraction OF
tao men and half to equal one mau
in political power in the other counties.
This we thiuk is explicit and plain
enough 10 b. understood by everybody
OF average C in prehension.
So much for unequal representation
in the Safe. Let us look for moment
AT efforts made by the Democratic party
to remedy ii, and then we sincerely ask
any honest man If he can sanction it or
support it, A constitutional amendment
has been offered and left to a vote of
the people in such manner that for "A
Democrat to vote against the amend
ment will be to vote against his party
This amendment gives New Castle
County four Senators instead of three.
as before. Well, that is oua N r., We
are told. Yes, but it gives on more TO
Kent and Sussex Counties as veil.
Before,it was three Senators for each
county ; if the amendment is adopted il
will be four each. That is the way the
Democrats propose to equalize represen-
fation III tue Senate, and the voters OF
New Ga, IL County are asked to sane
siei IN anivl'lneut How doe. Il loul.
in figures Let us see.
Kent and sussex with -, coo popula
snp, -.
Comfy with 5,000population and four
Senators it will take 81, go people in
New Castle County TO be entitled toon+
Senator, while il wall take only 5000 in
Kent and Sussex. This is nice thing
10 ask the vo:ers If New Castle County
TO endorse, and it should not be forgot
ten that every man who votes the Legi4-
lative Democratic ticket endorses that
amendment.
Every man who votes the Democratic
Legislative ticket votes that 1t is right
teIas 5000 persons IN Kent and SUSSEX
Counties should have as much repre.en-
tation in the Senate as 81, go in New
Castle.
Let us see how the amendment will
effect representation in the House. The
inequality here is not so glaring as in
the Senate. The Legislature has actu-
ally allowed an increase of four Ineni-
bers in New Castle County without al
lowing any increase III the other conn
ties. Then the comparison is something
like this
New tastle County with a population
of $4,000 is to have eleven members,
while Kent and Sussex Counties with II
population Of ~, 900 have fourteen mem
oers. While it takes Z, 272 persons in
New Castle County to be entitled to one
representative, in Kent and SUSSEX
Counties il takes only 5,143.
This is a little better than the present
arrangement, which rates one man IN
Kent and Sussex As equal TO nearly two
and half men IN New Castle. The
amendment goes 40 far as to acknuw-
ledge that man in New Castle County
is really about two-thirds of man
when compared with one of the lordly
d,nizeEs of Kent and Sussex. But this
lis what the people are asked to adopt
by voting for the proposed Constitution
al Amendment Are the voters of New
Castle County prepared to vote for such
an amendment ? There is nothing in
the Constitution now that acknowledges
tue inferiority of the people of New Cas-
tie County. If the amendment is adop-
ted, then such inferiority will be ac-
knowledged, and every person who
votes for the amendment votes for his
partial Acknowledgement, aud places his
own seal of judgment in favor of his
inferiority. Will the people do its