Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-08-11
ONE STEAL UPSET.
Michigan's Democratic Gerrymander
Declared Illegal.

There is jubilation in the tents of the
Republicans of Michigan, while con-
sternation and alarm is the dominant
feeling that fills the minds of the DEM
ocrats. Several promising United States
Senatorial booms that this morning
gladdened the hearts of as many DEM
ocratic patriots, and seemed destined to
live, are tonight laid away for good,
and all this state of affairs is due to a
decision of the Supreme Court in two
cases, entitled Theron F. Giddings VS..
the Secretary of State, a case that call
ed into question the legality of the SEN
atorial gerrymander and the Board of
Supervisors of Houghton County VS..
the Secretary of State, cause that
questioned the legality of the Repre-
sentative gerrymander.
To fully understand the case and get
its full import it is necessary to go
back to the work of the Legislature of
of 1891. For the first time in thirty
years the Democrats had control of the
lower house and the executive. They
lacked two votes of the Senatorial con-
troll, and one day in the absence of the
Republicans at State convention they
stole two Senatorial seats. Thus in
control, they passed two of the most
iniquitous gerrymanders the State has
ever known.
An instance of the Senatorial steal
serves to show how bad the work was,
when it is cited that Saginaw County,
with only 10000 in excess of the ratio
for one Senatorial member, was given
two Senators, and neighboring dis
trict with nearly double Saginaw S pop
ulation, was given but one. The Rep
resentative deal was even worse, towns
being thrown out of their county limits.
The Supreme Court, composed of
three Republicans and two Democtats,
have just decided the reapportionment
unconstitutional, and knocked out the
Republican reapportionment of 1885,
for like cause, directing the Secretary
of State to call for elections under the
apportionment of 1881. The court was
unanimous in its opinion.
While this in itself is enough to cause
the Democratic heart to quake, the
worst is yet to come, for since the ad.
journment of the Legislature three OF
Democratic Senators have resigned to
accept State appointments, and the Re.
publicans have control of the upper
house. Governor Winans, Democrat
does not want to call special session
of the Legislature, as he knows the ex-
pense would make the farmers and la.
boring men mad and would cost the
Democrats thousands of votes, and yet
he knows that if he does not do that
Republicans have cinch under the ap.
portionment of 1881.
Even if special session is to be call
ed new elections would have to be call.
ed in districts where the Senators re.
signed, as without the three votes the
Democrats would be lost in the upper
house, and eveL with the elections the
Democrats might not carry the districts
From each and all of these causes the
Democratic neart does not beat high
with glee, but is leaden and heavy.
Don NJ. Dickinson tonight looks sadly
at his burst Senatorial boom, while
Dan j. Campau, member of the Nation
al Committee, and erstwhile owner OF
a like boom, tries to appear cheerful
and says an extra session will be called
He claims everything in sight, but il
palpably vexed at the decision.