Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-09-08
SOMETHING MORE
Concerning That Piece Of lniquify,
Known as the Democratic
Gerrymander.

~, 1897, Ine DEMOCRATS oI tue tn
Delegate District assembled in con-
vention in this place, and adopted a
series of resolutions governing the
distribution Of Delegates in said
District. The arrangement is made
for 10 years, beginning with '92.
In accordance With that distribution,
Nor IAN is without the right land a
right sticky given Ler by the con-
situation of this state, when it was
tramed)to elect her representative to
the House of Delegates this fall.
A gain in 1895 she will be denied that
rivilege unless the voters Of this
State arise in the strength OF their
manhood and vote to down the
party that Engaged in this dastardly
steal. Voter of Morgan, will you
help down the thievirg Democratic
party that robbed yon OF your birth
right? Voters OF West Virginia,
will you see that Morgan has her
rights restored? 1t is with you. 1t
is with YOU! We appeal to the
voters of the whole State, because
it is State matter, and Morgan
is not the only county thus depriv-
ed.
There is our neighboring county
of Berkeley likewise robbed. She
has a population of 1902 which
rightly gives her two delegates on
the basis of for l0,643 representa-
ton and one for the 3-5 of ratio.
But not considering that, there are
Berkeley and Morgan, two contig-
uous counties Gust what the Consti-
tuition calls for otherwise), that
should have been joined if Dele
gate District was to have been form
ed. Conjoinlly they have popula-
ton 25,446; which would give Berke-
ley her own delegate on full ratio,
with 1892 population to spare.
What business has Jefferson to be
attached to us, if it were not for the
purpose of robbing Morgan, when
she is in no wise contiguous to said
county?
Even the Distribution of Dele
gates between the three counties(if
they were contiguous) carries a lie
on the face of it. Does any fair
minded person presume to say that
in five elections, Jefferson's $3.50
surplus population entities her to an
equal number Representatives in the
House as Morgan's 6,744population?
Here's another rotten point for the
Democratic party to get over.
Wayne county (Dem.) has popula-
ton of 1S,652,-5O less than the
population of Berkeley county
and two delegates, while Berkeley
county goes with only one.
Again, but worse than ever, is the
case Of Webster and Lewis. Web.
ster is Demccratic and has a popula-
ton of 4,783, which is greatly below
the three .fifths. OF course she is
not entitled to delegate. But why
didn't they attach her to Upsher
county and make that the district?
Because by adding it to Lewis
(Which they did) a county that is
in no way contiguous thereto, the
Legislature has one Democrat, where
as, if done constitutionally, it would
be Republican.
There is Peasants county that falls
below the full ratio. Why didn't
they add Ritchie's surplus 5,S7S and
make a Delegate District OF Peasants
and RitcLie? Simple enough;
Richie is Republican; Peasants is
Democratic. To have done that
would be to lose one Democrat.
Instead Of Grant and Hardy, why
not Grant and Tucker 7 Oh, no!
Tucker must be Sanwiched into Dem
ocratic Randolph, for grand Old Re-
publican Grant would change that
Delegate District to Republican
one, whereas by shifting Grant onto
Hardy, the latter has big chance
of making the District Democratic.
Some Democrats may say it is be-
cause Grant and Hardy are so con-
tiguons and because Hardy does not
reach full ratio, the instance of Web.
ster and Lewis, that are not at all
contiguous, yet formed into Dis.
trict. Why didn't they hitch Hard
to Minerals surplus population!
They ARE contiguous
In this way we could multiply in
Vulnerable instances to show how
the matter could have been done, il
they wished to do the thing evenly
Why didn't that Legislature actlike
men and make the number of Dele
gates IS or more, If necessary, SC
that every county would have had
her representation as given rs by
the Constitution that those same
men swore they would support! Yes
a lovely support it wasl
But why continue further TO ash
questions like these? Every one
only brings the same answer; to make
} the fast disappearing Democratic
majority in the West Virginia Leg
islature certain for few more years
have they stopped so slow.
, 1t remains to be seen weather the
. free born American eitizen-and pa