Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-27
A CONGRESSIONAL GERRY
MANDER.

Toe Republican party have been panic
stricken ever aimee the issl election by the
-ize OF Mr.. CLEvELAND's popular majority
The Republican party got into power uo,
by the peoples votes but by the peculiar
construction OF our electoral systsm, which
enabled QUAY to win the election by con-
ceotrating his oorrup.ing forces on one or
two States. New that hey have slipped
into power sgainst popular majority they
sre at their Wits ends for a scheme to still
retain control ia opposition to the peoples
will.
Several schemes have already been under
consideration with this end in view. They
virtually propose TO change our political
system o a manner that will destroy its
substance bat preserve IFS forms, render
the results Of elections foregone conclu-
sion. give 10 one party a monopoly Of
power, and leave 10 the other only enough
vitality to make the people believe that
they have still some control.
The latest scheme is attributed TO the no
torioua DUDLEY Of blocks Of iye' fame.
I OF the project which he and others propose
to embody in a bill, the following is an
outline.
Congress shall divide the different States into
Congressional districts Where state districting
Il. satisfactory Congress win adopt it without
change. where not satisfactory Congress will re-
district the state The bin winrurther provide
that all elections tor Federal Offices shall be un-
der tho control Of the Federal courts, and shall
I be il charge OF the United States Marshal IN
whose district Che election shall be held. IT'S
believed that the Republican representation can
I be- increased by two in Tennessee, one IN Aeu-
lucky. TWO in West Virginia, three I'm Virginia,
/ fl-ee in North Carolina. TWO in South Carolina,
Two iu Georgia two In Alabama, three ln Missis
sippi. one u Florida, one I'm Arkansas, one in
Louisiana. and one in Texas
This meant that wherever gerrymander-
I ing Of Congressional districts, IN the inter
est Of the Republican party, cannot be
done by Republican Legislatures, it shsll
be done BY the Republican majority in
Congress. Particularly the Southern
States are TO be governed by Congress in
q matter in which home rule will be con-
coded to the Northera States, which with
very few exceptions have Republican Leg
islatures. What the effects Of such a sys-
tenn. involving the naturalization Of sp-
portionmsnt frauds, upon the political
condition OF the country may be-, is ques-
ton in which Mr.. DUDLEY and his asso-
ciates are probably not Interested But
there are other members o. the Republican
party who cannot iail TO perceive that sec
tional legislation. which seeks 10 subject
the south TO new partisan "reoonshue-
ton. must render that section more
"solid" than ever, ard thereby defeat its
own purpose. Ofcourse the political COM
plexion Of the Fifty First Congress places +
practical obstacles in the way Of such a
project. and no one at this time can fore
see what the outcome Of the Congressional .
elections Of lsgO will be. This scheme ia
truly Republican and shows the view the
Republican leaders take Of our system OF
popular elections TIE wholesale bribery .
OF voters and the gerrymandiug of Con
pre.sional elections are merely different .
methods of q warfare against popular gov
eminent.