Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-01-17
TIL CATRoN ApPORTIONMENT.

80
have seven delegates. 10 other words,
1t requires 354 voters Ia Grant county
TO entitle her people TO . seat Ia the
convention, while Ia Valencia county
the people are given one delegate for
every 263 votes. How does this strike
tho voters OF Grant county? Possibly
the Lordsburg LIBERAL will enlighten
us.-Hew Mexican.
Not = voter In Grant county Is max
ing any objection 70 this apportion-
ment.
AS this statement will probably sur
prise the New Mexican the Liberal.
will explain fOr-its benefit that the
Eagle Is edited in Santa Fe and the
voters Of Grant county are an intelli-
gent, well educated set Of gentlemen.
They are familiar with the theory Of
the United States government, they
are acquainted with the history of the
United States. They have studied
the constitution Of the United States1
They have read the constitutions Of
the various states and the organic act,
which stands In the place of a consti-
tuition fer the territory of New Mex
leo.
They know'that since the constitu-
ton OF the United States was adopted
there has never been an apportion-
ment for a representative body based
upon the number OF votes cast In the
district, but that the apportionmeuts
have always been based upon the pop
ulation Of the district as shown by the
last preceding census.
There is hardly a voter In Grant
couAty who cannot repeat from mem
cry the third paragraph Of section 2 Of
article l Of the constitution of the
the United States. For the benefit Of
the New Mexican we quote the ma
terial portion Of this paragraph:
Representatives and direct taxes
shall be app~Ortioued among the sever
al States which may he included with
In this union, according TO their re-
spective numbers, which shall be de-
termined by adding TO the whole num-
Der Of free persons, including those
bound to service for 4 term OF years,
and excluding Indians net taxed,
three .1fths OF all other persons. The
actual enumeration shall be made
within three years after tho first
meeting Of congress of the United
States, and within every subsequent
term Of ten years, In such manner as
they shall by law direct. y Each
state shall have at least one represen-
tatlve."
The voters Of Grant are familiar
with the organic act. For the benefit
Of the New Mexican, however, we here
quote the material portion Of section
1919:
The apportionment Of represents.
equal as practicable, Civ
ing to each section OF the territory
representation in proportion to its
population"
The voters Of Grant county know
that the representation 10 every state
legislature, every state constitutional
convention, and every territorial con-
stitutional conven ton called by con-
gress has been based on population,
aud not on votes cast.
Bearing these facts in mind the
voters of Grant county have studied
Mr.. CStron's statehood bill. They
find he provides for e~ighty-vne dele
gates. Why he selected the number
eighty-one is 'immaterial. Perhaps
Mr.. Catron had become Impressed
with the mysteries that surround the
number nine. Perhaps this is the
ninth time New Mexico has asked fer
admission to the siSterhood OF states.
Nine times nine are e~ighty-One. The
New Mexican has made no objection
to the number eighty-one. Hence,
there is no objection.
According to the last census Of the
territory it contained 153,95 inhabi-
tants. Dividing this number by the
number of delegates, elghty-one, 1t is
found there should be one delegate to
every 1896 inhabitants.
In Grant county, according to the
last census there we're 9657 inhabi-
tants. Dividing this number by 1896,
the apportionnent number, and IL is
found that Grant county il entitled to
i've delegates, With q remainder OF
1T. AS Grant has five delegates in
the convention 1t is easy to see she has
one delegate for every 1881 rs inhabi-
tants.
In Valencia county according to the
last census there were 1886 inhabi-
tauts. Dividing this by 1896 the re-
suit is I, the number OF delegates al
lowed in the bill, with a remainder OF
6O4, or one delegate for every 1882 2-7
inhabitants.
The apportionment 10 practically
even with \ small ad Vantage in Grant
county'S favor.
These are republican counties. Let
us look at the figures 10 a democratic
county: In Lincoln there were 1851
Inhabitants. Dividing this number
by 1896 the result is 3 with a remain