Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-01-21
OUR COLUMBUS LETTER.
AN ARMY OF oFFlcE-SEEKERS OVER
RUN THE CAPITAL.

several RedtsCrfctfng Bills already 1ns
troduced-NO More Local Boom Bills
to Be Rai1roaded Through--Sherman
and His Coldness-Female Lobbyists.
COLUMBUS, o., Jan. 1S.
Administrations come and administra-
tions go, but the only appreciable sign
of such facts is the horde of office-seekers
that infest the offices and corridors of the
state house; when this is noticeable, it is
pretty sure sign that the administra-
ton that has gone does not agree polite
ally with that which has come.
Governor Mckinley has not had very
much peace since he went into Office and
methinks he casts an eye filed at least
half full Of regret toward Washington,
as he turns from one importunate Office
seeker to another. The Office of COVER
nor of Ohio is high and honorable
one. but Mr.. Mckinley has not yet been
in it long enough to like it as well as that
of congressman in the liberty y-crowded
building at the nations capital. But he
wades right along through his work in
the same manner that he performed any
of his mountainous tasks in days gone
by. He has not yet made much of an inn
preston in the pile of applications for
Office. The Office of oil inspector, which
mentioned last week, is bound to give
him sleepless night or two, and the
position of railroad commissioner, which
he thought he was rid of SO far as mak-
ing the selection is concerned, may cause
him some trouble; he gave the railroad
men to understand that if they would
agree on man he would appoint him;
they met last week and got into an
awful tangle, with the result that no one
was endorsed. Then there are the
wardenship of the penitentiary, mem
berships of boards all over the state, and
minor positions without number which
have to be considered by the governor of
this great state. And when he is
through with making all these appoint
ments-if indeed he ever gets through
and has signed the papers creating
notaries public, he has done about all
that the constitution of the state re-
quires.
Redistricting the State.
Governor McKinley's inaugural ad-
dress is yet discussed by the members of
the legislature, and all unite in saying
that it is one of the most statesmanlike
papers that has ever been presented to
the general assembly. The paragraph
that relates to gerrymanders has attract
ed attention and approval not only from
the members of the general assembly,
but from the press all over the state and
country. The idea that the congressional
districts ought to be SO arranged that in
q Democratic year, a majority OF the dis
tricts would go Democratic, and in Re-
publican year majority of the same
districts would go Republican, is really
the only equitable basis of dividing the
state. And this brings me to the con-
sideration of the redistricting bills
already introduced.
The first bill was that offered on the
first day Of the session in the senate.
The districts in that bill were as badly
shaped as are many Of the present ones.
1t showed on its face that it was pre-
pared to take care of the political all-
bitions of several politicians. Investiga-
ton showed that such was absolutely
the fact. In one part of the state wsre
three Republican ex-congressmen, who
had in years gone by, been placed in tie
same district and fought each other to
the bitter end. This bill very ingenious
" made three districts for these three
men, and as they live in adjoining
counties, the result can be imagined
without even looking at the map. The
bill will not only never pass. but IN al