Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-06

hc1s ct&Nllt- lGsc b<4zk OtrfSe$A VA
ths only question remaining - whether
IA counties entitled 70 more than one
senator and representative can through
Their boards OF supervisors legally an
telpats The operation OF the law and
form the districts in advance. This
question seema also 10 have been dis
posed OF In the Dickinson county case,
where II was held by the supreme court
that the state hoard Of equalization
should have anticipated and taken
into consideration the fact that . law
had been passed creating Dickinson
county, and the apportionment of state
tax should have been made TO the ter
ritory comprising il instead Of 10 the
counties from which il Was taken.
With these two points established in
their favor the democrats need ask no
fAvors from republicans. and can pass
just as partisan bill ~ they please,
subject to the above restrictions.
NAY Have To Asticspass the Law.
Should the work be hnished on Tues
day, the ninety day period will expire
on November Z. one day previous to
election day. Democrat counties hav-
ing more than one district would antic.
ipAte it operation and divide 1t. aud
republicans would he forced to do the
same in self defence because there 10
no authority for election OF senators or
representatives from . county 1t large.
II must be by dlstricts. 1t 10 very clear
| that . partisan bill will be passed.
A prominent republican today pro-
posed TO Frank Hosford that If the
democrats would let the republicans
see their bill and it was reasonably fair.
the latter would vote with the demo-
Gratis to suspend ell rules, pass both
bills and go home. Hostord refused to
exhibit the democrat bill.
1t Is believed that the only change In
the representative bill will be that
Houghton county will not be divided a.
in the old bill, and that in the sena-
torial one senator will be taken from
Saginaw and put into the twenty ninth
district, which has population Of o.
$50, while Saginaw county with 2,273
will be divided into two senatorial dis
tricts.
Nothing sure About 1t.
of course this is wholly . matter OF
the reasonable probabilities.
Democrats are very reticent. AL.
| though indulging in the stereotyped ex.
L
| and just bill, II 10 not with that AIR OF
sincerity that is altogether comforting
TO republicans.
So Tar ~ the democrats are con-
| cerned Frank Hosford 10 the bell
weather, and his beheste are religiously
followed. Several prominent republi-
cans outside the legislature are pres
ent. Among them are Secretary w. r.
Bates, James III. Stone. Dan Crossman.
Fred Clark, Theron F. Giddings, OTIS
Fuller. Dwight 8. Smith, Harry c. Till
man and q. d. Joslyn.
An earnest effort will be made to
make such resistance to partisan en-
croachment az seems to be Of avail.
The events of the future may be
classed as q very uncertain quantity
with entire safety. Nobody outside
the democratic junta knows just what
tactics will be pursued and the rest
must wait.
Republicans will Fight.
The democrat plaus are all being
| made by the officers Of the state CON-
mitiee, and democrat members of the
legislature freely admit today that they
are ignorant of the proposed program,
but that they expect TO follow it after
1
lead. There 10 no pretense that cousld.
GRAFTON will be given 10 other measures
than that which has been prepared by
the democrat committee, and it ID
clearly the democrat purpose now to
push this bill to final passage by Satur-
day night.
The republicans are preparing to op.
pose this new scheme for the gerry
mander OF the legislative districts with
all the resOlute vig0r demanded by the
seriousness of the situation. and they
will do all that 10 within the power OF
q minority to do to prevent repeti.
ton of the apportionment disgrace
just avoided by the supreme court.
How much they can accomplish In the
face of the odds against them REMAND
TO DO developed during the next two
days.
Prominent republicans who are here
from all sections of the state are unan.
imous IN the opinion that any fair ap
portionment bill proposed from any
source should receive the united cup
port of the republicans in the legisla-
ture, but there is not the slightest foun
dation for the belief that such q bill
will be offered from the democrat side
in either house.
| Democrats' Dishonest Plan.
The democrat plan 10 TO perpetrat<
another gerrymsder and for the pur-
poses Of the election this year 70 rely
upon the improbAbility Of its consider
alton by the courts IN time to preven
an election under its provisions how
ever illegal and unfair. The prospec
of defeating this iniquisous purpose il
variously regarded here today. but il il
worth while TO consider the inquiry o.
Senator Mines in this connection, WHIT
asks, "What can you do agalnst an IN
. scrupulous party which has . majority
OF the votes under its control and I
presiding officer without regard for tint
constitution, for the established rule
Of parliamentary procedure or for leg
islative presidents in this stater' Mr.
, Mines was speaking Of the eenate AND
he added that ia view OF the recorc
made last winter no abuse Of power
however arbitrary or fragrant, was TOT
outrageous to be confidently anticipAt
ed at the hands OF the democrat ma
. jority in the legislature.
The views Of Senator Taylor ant
, Representative Diekema coincide verl
, closely with thoee Of Senator Mines
but the fair-m.nded voters OF the stat
may rely upon the republican mem
bership OF Doth houses 10 do its utm os
30 secure q proper and legal and jns
apportlonment under the constitution
and laws ~ interpreted by the gu
preme court. No irrefuIarity or fraus
will be permitted TO pass unchailenRed
, and when the special session 10 endes
a.. A~-.l <<<<<~