Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-17


knowledge Of Texas affairs that there |
Is nothing but folly In the suggestion
advanced by THE GAZETTE last sum
mer and generally favored by the state
press for q fairer and more even dis
ributlon OF representation among the
population.
The Picayune thinks IL a small mat
ter to suggest respporlionment oithe
legislature "becsuse come Western !
counties have outgrown the census Of
1880, and the apportionmeut thereon
based does them Injustice but
surely,n puIsues cur Creole lecturer,
"that injustice cannot be very severe.
No one, we presume, proposes to do
them an injury. The legislature chosen
upon the present line issud willcontin-
ne 60 be fairly representative Of the PEG.
pie, and will approve itself couscien-
tloua and honorable body" The ques-
ton whether anyone proposes to do
un an injury Is not to the point We
ask to have our just and proper repre-
sentatlon In the state legislature, 30
that no one can do Us an injury, II so
disposed. II other portions Of the
state, 10y virtue OF the controlling
authority given them by an excess OF
representatives to which they are not
entitled, shall force upon West Texas
an odous aud mischievous lease law,
which the people Of this part of the
state cannot prevent because they are
not fully represented In the state leg
islature, then even the Plcayune must
confess that 1.-THE Injustice Is very
severe.n From the present outlook
that is just what is going 10 be done.
For the sake OF a few thousand dollars
added to the school fund for the edu-
cation Of the children Of Eastern and
Southern Texas, IL is contemplated to
fasten law upon the state That will
check the development Of the Western
counties and depreciate the value OF
the property already there. If we
had the votes in the Legislature that a
fair apportlonment would give US, such
an injustice could be defeated
TnE GAZETTE lately sdduced
figures, based upon the vote east at the
recent election, showing that tho in.
crease OF the vote in Northwest TexAs
from 1882 to 1884 was 1885, per cent.
while In Southern Texas II was but
lTl per cent, indicating u proportional
increase Of population. II n ike Iatic
shall be kept up until 1892, when
under the present constitution, re-
superintendent will be possible, the
population OF Northwest Texas will
have increased 1866 per cent, while
( the increase elsewhere will be but 81
per cent The member OF the
legislature who in 1852 represented
1000 persons, in Northwest Texas
i will in 1892 represent 40 600, while In
| South or East Texas the IS 600 will
? have grown to but 27,0Ol
The vast unsettled area OF West and
/ Northwest Texas will continue to ah
/ sorb nearly all tbs immigration 20 tn,
| state for the next quarter Of q century
The ratio OF growth win be so unequs
3 IN the different PORTIONS " the stat,
that 1t will be an enduring injustice /,
/ provide for a fsapportionment onl,
. ouce In ten years. Even ii
: five years It viii be foun,
! that the center Of population
has drlfted westward by many miles
A reapportionment, based on SENT
decennlAl state census. will show
+, great changes in the transfer Of power
TO the West. AT lAat, aud before long
provision must be made for more re
, quent appointments OF leglalativ
representation, aud nothing can b
: gained by delay. Tho voting Glitter
OF Northwest Texas Is not In hume
: 10 be dlsfranehised to the extent tina
his vote shall count only two-third
2 AZ much a. a vote from South Texas Il
the legislature.
Ifthe Picayune ism frame OF min,
TO recelve advice, The GAzrrrE com
mends to Il tbs Wisdom OF ths adhor
!. tation. 'let 40, the nhoemakes a be
yond bis LAST Texas Is q big ssa,e
: aud when Louisiana editor venture
into lt he b pralsg nure to becom
benl.dered II 10 luminosity. An,
g do aud eay some exenediQgly fool
lsh thing.