The sun., 1890-03-12
The New Apportionment in Ohio.

The conduct OF the Ohio Legislature, which
is Democratic in both branches, In passing
last week the bill districting anew the Con-
gress districts Of the State, has given Of
fence to many Republicans. Several Rcpub-
lican journals declare that IL Is by means OF
this measure that the Democrats hope to
carry fifteen OF the twenty-one Congress
districts OF Ohio, leaving the Republicans
but six, although the State is regarded as
safely Republican on national questions.
The gain In Congressman that this al
| legged gerrymander is expected 10 bring, Is
relied upOn say the Republicans, TO make
the House Of Representatives Of the Fifty
second Congress, which Is to be chosen next
November securely Democratic. But the
fact Is that an unjust and inequitable divi-
sion OF legislative and Congress districts, no
matter by what party 1t Is made, is fraught
always with much greater peril to the party
making 1t than to the opposition whose
prospects 1t is designed to affect adversely.
Thus, on fair division OF districts, the
Democrats OF Ohio would probably elect ten
members OF Congress this year, against
eleven elected by the Republicans. In the
expectation OF doing better than this, a new
apportionment has been put through, and
under its terms there are but three secure
Republican districts left in the State, the re-
naming twelve having been 80 carved out
as to show Democratic majorities varying
from 1000 10 1900 While 1t is true that in an
ordinary contest. fought on lines as favora-
BILE to the Democracy as FORAKER made the
battle OF last year. a gain OF few members
might thus be secured, the reduction OF the
Democratic majority to such narrow limits
In the districts really imperils for that party
the greater part Of the delegation.
II the internal administration Of the
Democracy in Ohio should be such as to
disappoint a material number Of those
who voted for Governor CAMPBELL and OF
those who refrained from voting for For
AKEB, the effect Of such a reaction would be
to leave the Ohio Democrats with, perhaps,
but three members in delegation Of twenty
one, instead Of ten members, OF whom.
under fair apportionment, they were sure
The day Of Congressional victories achieved
through gerrymandering has long since
passed. Elections are not to be won by any
such means. They may give some prelimi-
nary promise OF advantage to the party |
which assumes the reproach Of trying it,
but it is always at the risk of larger loss.
The Republican managers are not blame
less in this matter, but they will be sure to |
use the issue which the Ohio Demo |
Gratis have placed in their hands; and |
they will probably gain by it, as the voters
whose sufrages decide our elections are,
above all, in favor Of fair play. Moreover a
Is never a popular thing, see
Ing that it puts together remote counties
that do not agree, SO that instead Of homo
geneous constituencies unnatural and dis
cordant ones are arbitrarily created.
1t is difficult to see in what particular the
OF the Buckeye Democracy are to
be promoted by any such means. In the
Congress contest OF 1873 the Democrats
elected eleven Congressman from Ohio. The
work of Democratic Legislature Of that
year had been popularity supposed to mako
secure, but at the next election,
hat OF $780, the Democrats elected but five
and the Republicans fifteen.