Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-28
POINTER AND The WEST END
His Part in Defeating the Bill for the
Reapportionment of the State,
THOUSANDS VIRTUALLY OlSFRANCHlStD
People Denied Their constitutional
Representation Through the Lead
crship of the Present Npos-
tic of Reform.


crship of the Present tpos-
tic of Reform.
LINCOLN. Oct. 81 Special The story
of how W. \. Poynter played the star part
in the defeat Of the reapportionment bill In
1891 Is still fresh In the minds OF the people
In the western part OF the state. where the
effect vas to deprive them Of the increased
representation to which they were entitled.
The record Of this performance is found on
pages 1OO9-lO-ll-12 of the Senate journal
or that year. On April /. being the
sixty fourth day Of the session, Mr.. Poyn
ter, who was the chairman of the sitting
committee, moved that the senate go into
committee OF the whole to consider bills
on general file. Mr.. Swtzler occupied the
chair in the committee ami according to the
prearranged plan house roll $50, the reap
portiOnment bill, was the only consid-
cred. The committee subsequently arose
and recommended that the bill be in !
definitely postponed. Mr.. Poynter promptly !
moved that the report of the committee he .
adopted and on the roll call that killed the |
bill he cast his vote in favor of the COM
mittec report, explaining that no further |
time should be taken up with the bill, as
the members were very anxious to close
the session and go home.
Mr.. stevens Scorchcs Poynter.
J. X. Stevens of North Platte. who rep
resented one of the immense senatorial dis |
tricts in the western part of the state. made |
some remarks on the perfdy OF Poynter and
his associates in declining to pass the bill, !
and as Mr.. stevens was one of the most
prominent and able farmers alliance men
in the state, his remarks as printed in full
in the record are good reading at this time
and Will show why the voters of the west
have crow TO pick with Poynter this fall.
Mr. Stevens said:
Mr.. President: In the name of the good
people of the state of Nebraska. and for The
credit and fair fame of the members of Ii e
legislature Of this proud commonwealth Il
do here and now, in my place in t!c senate
most solemnly and earnestly protest against
such actions being taken by this body. A
plain and emphatic provision of tho state
constitution IN section =. article iii makes it
mandatory upon this body to district the
state at this time for legislative purposes.
and members have all taken solemn obiiGd
ttons under the sanctty of an cath to sup
port It's provisions Yet we see a cringing.
unmanly disposition manifested upon the
part of many to disregard sacred obligations,
under constitutional environments. which
members of this BODY made to their con-
stituents in almost every school house during
tnt late pUHtlCdl nave gentl"-
men forgotten their sacred pledges which
were fresh upon their lips "A few months a"n,
when they convened here fresh from the
people as their trusted and honored repre-
sentatives?
They tell us business affairs compel them
to adjourn and hurry home. What inordinatc
zeal for the seclusion of home has seized
these honorable gentlemen that can OUT
weigh their sworn duty to all of the people
| of great state or hope to appease the
n n
tnsulted, forsaken. betrayed constituency at
home? II legislation on this subject is de-
ferred it will not only be deliberate insult
to many sections Of the state but an outrage
to many of our people.
People who Are Dissatisfied.
The Thirtieth senatorial district comprises
| an area nearly equal to one-sxth of the
state. with a population approximating So.
900 people The fourth representative
district comprises eleven counties. with an
approximate population of 10000 people,
while Lincoln county alone possesses pop
ulaton which more than entities it to a rep
resentatve in the lower house. Anticipating
| the result Of the motion Of the senator from
Boone ! am very decidedly Of the opinion
and speak advisedly when l say that a fall
ure on the part of this legislature to pass
| some bill upon this subject by which the
people may have a fair representation will
arouse public indignation all over the state.
| and the honorable senator who may not be
| HDit lC give d DtlttI tACuSc lHdH HIS duhitlN
to adjourn will not, in the good time coming,
grace these classic halls with his presence
| as a representative of the dear people.
| To adjourn this session without a fair
! lust and equitable appcrtionment will be
! revolutionary IN every sense of the term
| unrea sonable. unfair. unjust and dishoncr-
able. and the effect will be that thousands
| OF our dear people will be practically with
out representation in the counties of the
! state for at least five wears to come.
! | firmly believe that such action AS is an
I ticpated here today will and should be the
deathknel of any man who supports it. The
people CT Nebraska ask only at our hands
| that which is fair and just, and If their
right and privileges as guaranteed to them
under the constitution are trampled under
your feet you cannot hope TO escape their
| lust indignation. ! demand of you here to-
day in the name of all of the people of this
great state that YOU do not render this
august body an object of ridiculs or its Off
cial action a farce.
| Demanded as Justice.
No political party dare ignore popular
| sentiment and hope to survive the wrath Of
! the people. | demand in the name of JUS
! tice and right and fairness and all the varied
| interests of all the people in Nebraska. at
| the hands OF the representative of each OF
/ the great political organizations mere repre-
sented that you do not ignore the people s
most sacred interests in this matter. but DO
YOUR duty like men and then return to your
homes with credit TO yourselves and hdeilty
! to those you are here to represent.