Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-10-12

to turn upon such purely local matters.
il has not escaped public attention
that the partisan ysxow committee
has not sought TO discover nny police
abuses In any Republican cities q. the
state, and with such unfair dlscrinliua
tions the people viii mol tolerate any
attempt to make partisan capital cut OF
the result Of only a partial lnvcsllra-
tion. Neither do we propose to per
nit any old issues entirely disposed OF
TO engross our attention in shls cam
paign
THE question whether the Demo-
Gratis property or Improperly. iegulatly
or irreEulnrly. secured control OF the
state In 1891 Is powder alrcuaN burned
which can not be utilized again 20 tile
advantage of our advcrsuries. The
manner In which single sens .cr.al
district was for two short years OBJ
tanned Is overshadowed by the greater
living question as TO whether our op-
ponents by an unjust constitutional
apportionment shah obtain The control
or the whole legislature for all tine to
come. do not intend TO threah old
straw over again, but desire simply
to suggest that the Democrats Rad
fairly carried the state ticket In 1891
by 1900, and no legal puihbie. no
teohnicallties aud no harsh cuustruc-
tons of judicial orders should have
been permitted to deprive them CT the
control OF the legislature, to which.
under such circumstances, the domi-
nant party was fairly entitled; and.
whether any law was strained or not.
justice did in fact prevail.
The Republicans last fall accidentally
obtained control of the constitutional
convention and have proceeded 10 place
an apportionment OF senate and assem-
bly, districts Ia their constitutional
amendments to be submitted TO the
people at this election. The control OF
| this convention was Itself obtained by
deception. The Republican delegates
In several cities solicited support, not
as Republicans but as reformers, and
promised non-partlsan action. The
election last fan In this state was itself
! proclaimed as n reform rather than a
Republican triumph, hut no sooner ala
! the convention convene than all dis
guises We're thrown OF and Republican
| partisanship became rampant.
THE unfalrness. the partisanshlp. the
/ absolute Injustice OF the proposed APP
/ portionment admits OF no argument
ITS apportlonment admits OF no ar
l gument.
! Its purpose was openly avowed on
/ the floor Of the convention to secure for
| all the future control OF the leglsla-
| ture OF the state to the Republicans,
and no one denies that such Will be its
| effect. Every Democratic member OF
| the constitutional convention voted
| against the scheme ana thereafter Is
| sued an address to the people giving in
! detail their reasons therefor. and such
| address IL worthy OF the careful consid-
! Grafton OF the fair-mlnded men OF all
| parties Its facts. us figures, It's con-
| illusions have not been, and cannot be
successfully refuted.
at is absolutely unanswerable.
canont better describe this inlquitous
scheme to rob and disfranchlse the
Democrats Of the state than by reading
| to you what our representatives IN that
convention SO truthfully and tcrsely
said in their address. At the
| time the convention assembled AN APP
| polntment adopted by a Democratic
/ legislature in the spring Of 1892 was In
force. Under this the Democratic par
ty at the election of 1892 In which their
candidate for president received ma
Jorty OF over 45,O00 elected a majority
of % on the joint ballot In the legis-
lnture. undar this the Republican par
~ at the election OF 1898 IN which their
candidate for state Offices received a
majority OF but 1900 In the state.
elected majority OF 10 on Joint ball
lot in the legislature. II was quick
to respond to the popular VIII. Under
the present constitution the people We're
entitled to an enumeration In 1895 as a
basis of an apportlonment
"lnstead OF adopting provision
in the constitution directing
the legislature to frame
new apportionment upon the census
OF 1896. the Republican majority has
Incorporated in the constitution plan
! of opportionment which violates the
fundamental rules OF popular represen-
| tation, a scheme OF dlstricilng which
is an audacious Gerrymander This
plan prevents any new apportlonmcnt
| until after 1905. II forecloses the future
Q ~
even to the Legislature of 1895. with
out public demand 1t increases the sem
/ ate from 30 to so and the assembly
from 1928 10 $50. an Increased annual
expense approaching one hundred
| thousand dollars II destroys the pro-
I portion OF four to one between the as
sembly and the senate which has ex-
listed since 1926. II created IL senate
districts with population greater than
1 Ii other districts by 459,S72. 1t leaves
! unrepresented n population In Demo-
cratic districts OF 13i.287 II over-rep-
resents Republican districts by 100 g4s
i II thus makes discrimination against
| Democratic districts OF 261 1886. 1t per-
mits S5,572 citizens In Republican dis
| tricts but requires at lenst 1900 in
| Democratic districts 10 elect an assem-
1 blyman. IT prescribes that 115.s17
] citizens shall be entitled to n senator
| but II Affords to the Republican coun-
senator by one hnlf that number II
! refuses the Democratic county of New
Yorlf@and Of Kings an additional sena-
tor for any number less than 1857.
Should either the county Of New York
or Of Kings become entitled by It's In
creased population TO additional sena-
tors, II can only gain such senator's
by increase of the total number Of the
| senate II such districts OF the state
viii sun retain their quota OF senator's.
at provides that New York shall
never, no matter now great It's popu-
lation, have more than one-third the
ser ators. 1t provides that New York
and Kings counties shall never no
matter how great their joint population
have more than one-half Of the SEN
ators. IT fasteDs Republican rule on
the state, regardless OF poulnr will,
inasmuch as a majority OF 10000 in
the stote against the Republican party
viii not disturb its nold upon the legis-
lature. BY providing that IN New
York and Kings each senatorial dis
trict shall be within 500 OF the populh-
ton of the adjoining district. Il seeks
TO prevent new apportlonment The
impracticability OF this rule IL con-
fessed by the construction In the pro-
posed apportlonment Of the two adj
Joining districts in the county OF
Kiusre which dlffar In their panuIatton