Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-11
GLAD IT'S LAID OUT
Judge Brown Discusses the
Gerrymander
AND ITS EFFECT ON POLITICS
II Was Becoming Ait0gethes Too coHl
mon and had Disastrous Eject
On Political Morality.

Judge NJ Brown OF Big Rapids MAS
q guest At the Morton yesterday. "ies,
sir, I'm down 10 s-e the races" he
said TO . reporter for The HERALD.
"i'm not gong TO deny il either. OF
course l dldn't come down for the sole
purpose OF attending the races. but II
II had not been for them l should not
have come down. Big Rapids - very
qaiet-even ia regard 10 politics. Me-
COSTA county has q candidate for con-
gress and has instructed for NJ. L.
Gale. Willis siosson of Reed City 10
also being doomed for the nomination
and there are several other candidates.
Ii 10 impossible To predict who will get
the nomination; but all OF them are
men whose repubsicanism 10 beyond
question.
"Mecosta county is very we'll pleased
with the senatorial reapportionment.
IL places Newaygo, Osceola and Mecos-
"a counties IN the district. They have
always been associated together in the
congressional and judicial districts and
there Is sort Of common understand
ing between them. am glad TO see
the gerrymander knocked out, and am
glad to see that we have y supreme
court capable of rising above partisan
ship and declaring what it believes to
be right and just. l hope the gerry
mander is killed for all time to come
in this state, and l wish IT were in every
other state. 1t has become . crying
evil and no party can lay the blame
Tor 1t on another.
Both Parties tn Blame.
"Both parties have been accessories 10
these dishonest districting schemes
for years. and have not hesitated to
use their public authority to betray the
peoples trust and advance the cause
of their own party. The legislative
authority OF the country has repeat
eddy been prostituted for partisan ag-
grandizement, and the people were be-
ginning to look upon gerrymandering
as legitimate political function. Ii
has had a startling effect on the politi-
cal morals of the people, and the
Michigan supreme court struck a
mighty blow in behalf Of the cause Of
political purity when 1t declared that
the redistricting bills were unconstitu-
tional, and refused to allow such fraud
ulent legislation to masquerade under
the guise of law. 1t was getting SO that
every new legislature took upon itself
the task Of redlstricting the state,
and there was no help for It.
No matter what party was i'll power
the districts of the state had to be
changed and the consequences were
not conducive to political morality. /
sincerely believe that there Is grow
ing tendency in favor Of purer and
more honest politics than ever before.
While it is not to be expected that the
time is near at hand when political
parties will discuss measures from the
sole standpoint of public good and not
of partisan benefits, yet it is hopeful
sign Of the times to see q tendency In
that regard. The Michigan supreme
court has shown itself to be body
worthy of the respect and confidence
of the state"
Colonel sanford's Opinion.
Col. George p. Sanford of the State
Democrat is at Sweets. The colonel u
one of the most prominent democratic
politicians in Michigan. but he isn't
working at it this trip. 81 don't know
VINO will get the nomination for COVER
nor" he said to a reporter for The
Morse's name may be urged. but ne
may not care for the nomination. He
may prefer to be a candidate again for
Judge of the supreme court next
spring. Judge Morse Is q strong man.
L don't know whether Ellis will
be in the race or not. He has
given good service as attorney
general, but his recent attitude toward
the peoples party may make some diff
ference in the convention. Some think
democracy ought to endorse the peo-
pies ticket; but all the course l can
see IS to nominate distinct ticket and
fight il out. The special session hasn't
hurt the party anyway, because the re-
distributing measure is so fair and equit-
able. Speaking for publication /
should say the democratic party's
chances for carrying Michigan are
good"
"What is your private opinion about
the matter?' asked the reporter.
"WelI. / don't care-well, my only
opinion Is the one for publ, atom"