The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-10-08
Tae Second Gerrymander Knocked.
Out.


Milwaukee Sentinel, 18th ult.
| And sovereign law. the states collected
| Der thrones and globes c.aic,
| sits empress, browning good, repressin- i'll.
Smit by her awful frown
/ The EcDd Discretion like Il Napor shrlnkS.
! The plea OF Senator Villas in defend
ing the second gerrynander that the
legislature of the state is invested
with the discretion of dlsregarding the
requirements of the constitution in
framing an apportionment law Is
swept away by the decision yesterday
Of the Supreme court. His other claim
that the question of the constitutions
ali,y of legislative act affecting the
whole people can only be submitted to
, the court with the permission of the
attorney general is pronounced equally
unfounded.
The constitution lays down certain
rules to lie observed in apportioning
the state into Senate and Assembly
districts. In 1891, the Legislature of
the state fell under the control of
ring of rascally politicians. y majority
of the members of the legislature was
composed of men who mcekly resign
ed their legislative functions to the
ring. For the first time political
boss attended the sessions regularly;
he was assigned 4 chair on the floor of
either house, and directed and super
vised the proceedings. This WIS Boss
Wall, who bossed the governor and the
legislature. Tie arrangement was
devised lest "the boys might make
mistakes if left to act upon their own
judgment Over Boss Wall was Boss
Villas, who gave the general directions,
while the Subordinate Boss attended
the details of their execution.
The big Boss and the subordinate
Boss found that, if the requirements of
the constitution were obeyed in max
ing the new apportionment of the
state, there was danger that the peo-
pie might overt throw the Eng at the
next election, and choose a legislature
that would assert its independence of
Bosses. They accordingly decided to
assume the discretion of disregard
ing the constitution. They thereupon
proceeded to elaborate an apportion
ment under which they felt confident
that though the people of the state
should give 5000, or $4,000 majority
against the ring, it would still be sure
of keeping control of the legislation of
the state. Obedient to their directions,
the majority of the legislature accept
ed this measure, and the BOss-ruled
governor approved it. For the first
time in the history of the state, an ap
portionment bill was prepared without
any consultation with the minority,
and passed by a strictly party vote.
The question Of the constitutional
ity of the act was brought before .ne
Supreme court and the art was declar-
ed n Vocation OF the constitution, and
null and void. A special session of the
legislature was called and met in July
last, the bosses threatened to give the
Republicans worse bill than the form
en- The same course WAS adopted rs
before The bossruled majority were
only allowed to ratlfy measure which
the the ringsterS had prepared in ad-
vance. There was no elaboration upon
it. All amendments were voted down.
1t was ratified just rs it came from
the hands of the ring. 1t made sem
blance of respecting the decision OF
the Supreme court by emitting to dis
regard county lines in forming assem-
bly, districts; but it insolently violated
the constitutional rules respecting
popula ton, and convenience and com
pactness of territory. The bosses
counted on at least keeping the new
measure in force till after the election,
and to this end ordered a submissive
secretary of state. directly the bill
passed, to issue the notices of elections
under it. These were rushed into the
official paper and the county organs
two months In advance OF the usual
time The bosses thought this would
at least tide them over the election.
But they were mistaken. A new suit
was brought to try the constitutions
ality of the second gerrymander. The
attorney general refused to bring it.
and the duty was left to private per-
SON Every effort has been made to de-
law a decision. Senator Y las has tax
EN- the laboring oar III defending the
act of July, but he has been no more
successful than was his predecessor,
Bragg. Yesterday the decision came,
and this second act Of political rascalI-
ty, designed to fetter the Will OF the
people of this state in matters Of legls-
lation, was consigned to the same
grave with Gerrymander No. !.
This result is not only gratifying for
its immediate effects here, but for the
encouragement it Will give to the war
on gerrymanders being waged in other
states. The decision carries the more
weight from the fact that it is not open
to the charge of party bias. Two OF
the judges who join in it are of Repub-
! lican and two of Democratic antece-
| dents. Another extra session of the
| leg iSlature must now be called, entail
ing expense upon the taxpayers and
| involving much trouble and confusion
IN the political affairs of the state, the
whole responsibility for which rests
upon the unscrupulous politicians who
dictated and the seryile legislators Who
enacted the geErymander'