Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-29

WOTHo Sgerrymhn0er bnOulu IOiIoW iu
Ohio. for 10 years we would be help
less. Ihave not time 10 answer your
question In detail-I am opposed to the
BILL" st1
or the nine Republican Represen-
tatives, Mr.. Wickham, the author
of the thing that Mr.. McComas has
tried to make presentable, is the
only one who admits that he is
decidedly in favor of the McComas bill.
In the course of bis illumination Of
the subject he says: "It was the
intention of the trainers of the Consti-
tuition that when an apportionment for
Representatives in Congress should be
made under q new census 1t should re-
main undisturbed during the decennial
period. In Ohio the apportionment
under the Tenth Census was regularly |
made at the regular time, but in 1883 .
Democratic Legislature was elected,
and in 1884 they redistricted the state.
In 1885 the republicans elected the Leg
islature, and, as was their duty, that
body restored the regular apportion-
ment. Last fall the democrats had an
accidental majority in the Legislature,
and again redistricted the state In a
most outrageous manner, so that while
the state is republican by an average |
plurality of 10000, it is calculated that
of the 2I members from Ohio only 6 can
be republicans"
Here Is richness. A state that keeps
one Democratic Senator all the time,
and has Democratic Governor at least
one-third of the time, and where the
democratic vote is never less than 4S or
40 per cent. of the total, ought in Mr..
Wickham's opinion, to be represented
In the House by 16 republicans and 5
democrats. Every time the republicans
gerrymander the state they perform
constitutional duty, and every time the
democrats gerrymander the state they
commit great outrage.
Now, in spite of all their protesta-
tions we venture to say that eight of
these nine Ohio Republican Represen-
tatives oppose the McComas bill, or are
unwilling take the lead in supporting
it, because they don't believe it's con-
stitutional, and they know the people
do not believe it is constitutional, and
that the Republican party will get hurt
If IL passes the bill. 8
That is what these gentlemen mean
when they say the bill is inexpedient
at this time. But they need not be so
cocksure about its constitutionality.
ISeventy years ago a project involving
part of the McC0mas bill was pushed
lin both Houses of Congress year after
wear at the instance of several State
Legislatures. The project several times
got majority of votes, but Its friends
never pretended that it could prevail
except by constitutional amendment,
and for want of a two-thirds majority,
they, year after year, confessed them
selves defeated. Had this precedent no
force? We quote from Stanwood's
presidential Elections" sa.
uIn December, 1915, Mr.. Pickens, OF
North Carolina, once more presented
his resolution, in a new form, embrac
ing two propositions. 1t provided that
States should be divided into districts
D for the choice of Representatives II
Congress Republican statesmen OF to
. day think no Constitutional amend
' ment. is necessary for thisl, and als'
. into single districts for the choice o
electors, After some debate in com
Q mittee of the whole the House adopted
: the principle of the district system 70
: Representatives by vote OF S6 to W
q - ~ ot.osnss to- " wss a1nroved, bv 81 vote
: sn.;nst :" S Il hmt as this was. not a two
lab;rds rsaioritv the House never tool
~ sSh;sct m -. 51.' n.
/: sHt HtSt % the pext session two amend
4 nents IN ma almost Identical words. wer,
;ntso5noaS hv Mr> Dickerson. .of New
. Tarsev and hv Mr. Macon. of Nortl
;. Carniins in he Senate. Subseoueutly
2 tha nrnnos;t;on reIatine to electors wa
ohe ohs : pcof so that one eIector should b
O ohosen rom each REPRESENTATIVES dis
v t.;os and that the two additional elee
ssi toss fcr s.s e.ch I state shonId be appointe
= s;n % such manner az the Legislatur
j. tharsof SS NAV direct, following til
Is words - cf tha Constitution. This amend
d want | v,.s w an naSatived by 20 In favor O
Il - nnn"ssaNSot two thirds. Again il
n is1s 70 NJ u.s. SANFORD of New York, intro
9; LdnoaS @ All the amend ment in the Senate
J. uJT" hu ;nstrnct;ons y ions Of the New York Legis
d Istnre as an nrevious occasions it ha
l. haen ;ntrodneed bv others according t
e New Jersey and North Carolina.
L