Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-04-21
anlering.

Gerrymanlering.
The constitutions ofthe states OF the
Union usually fix the number OF
members to be chosen for the state
legislature. But it is left with the
legislature itself to divide the state
into districts, in each OF which the
voters shall elect one or more men,
bers.
Since the population will naturally
increase more rapidly in some parts
OF g state than in others, it follows
that the districts must be changed,
from time to time, IN order that each
member OF the legislature may repre-.
sent, as nearly as possible, the same
number OF voters.
No rule is made in the state con.
situations rs to the method of.mapp-
Ing out the districts. Most states
require that all districts shall be fixed
inside Of county lines, and that g.
single district be made no OF "contigu-
Gus" territory. Otherwise, the legis.
lature may draw up the district map
as it pleases.
1t was long ago discovered that
this power might be turned ia partisan
use. Some sections or neighborhoods
will always cast large majority for
one party, when close at hand there
may be sections which invariably give
majority to the other party.
Now if the Democrats, for example,
eau combine into one district as MANY
sure Republican neighborhoods as
possible, and then arrange the neigh
boring distrlctsso that in each district
there shall be Just enough Democratic
voters to counter. balance the Re-
publicans in the same district, it is
clear that the Democrats will have
the advantage.
The Republicans might carry the
first district by ten thousand major
ity, and the Democrats get only a
thousand majority IN each OF three
other districts. Republicans would
cast more votes, but the Democrats
would elect the more members, and
thus control State legislation.
Ii then a legislature making a new
"apportionment" OF the state is
strongly partisan, it has an oppor.
tunitv to take advantage for its par
ty for the ensuing elections.
Thispract,ceis known as clergyman.
dering" state, and the origin OF the
name is curious. AS long ago as 1911,
the democratic majority in the Mas.
sachusetts legislature passed law
''redistricting" the state for senators,
with very irregular district boundaries.
The governor who signed the bill was
Elbrldge Gerry. One district in Essex
county stretched from Boston to the
New Hamphire boundary.
Gilbert Stuart, the famous painter,
sketched on the map the outline ofthe
district. and added eyes and claws to
the figure, so that it seemed like the
picture OF q strange winged beast.
s.It looks" said Stuart to Boston
editor, "like a salamander."
"salamander!" cried theeditor; "call
it Gerrymander!" and Gerrymander
1t has been called. from that day to
this.
There haYe been many famous cases
OF unjust gerrymanding, where States
have been so divided as to elect the
officers OF one party, when the other
had a large majority OF the total vote.
Both political parties have in turn
taken advantage OF the expedient, and
an Unfair division of State by cue
party has often been followed, when
the control OF the legislature changed,
ty an equal unjust "redistricting" in
favor OF the other side.
States such as Ohio and New York,
!, :.
control, have had their district
altered at most srequentintervals and
in the mostremarkable way. The fam.
Gus "shoestcing" congressional dis.
trict OF Mississippi was thin strip OF
territory reaching from the north to
the south boundary OF the State.
BY some politicians eerrymandingis
regarded as aperfecrly fair means OF Sc
curing partisan advantage. But the
better class OF political leaders do not
hesitate to denounce it.
Unfair Igerrymandering, moreover,
has lately received sever blow from
the courts. In Wisconsin, the party
in power had passed law dividing
the state, irrespectiveof county lines,
80 as to make apparently sure for
themselves a permanent majority.
But the supreme court of the state
declared the law unconstitutional,
because the state constitution makes
a restriction on the general method of
forming the districts, by requiring
that county lines must be followed.
The legislature might cut q county
into congressional districts on any
plan it chose; but it could not com.
bine into one district voters situated
in two different counties. Fortunate.
" Tor tair elections, a large proper.
ton Of the etate constitutions contain
precisely this: "a useful limitation
Youths Companion.
80 vi =.
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