The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-10-05
POPULATION AND REPRESENTA-
rrVnN

The census bureau has now begun to
give out the population totals for the
States, and 1t is not unlikely that many
surprises and many disappontments will
result In the next few weeks.
The public would. however, repose much
more confidence in the returns had the re-
publican party not so uumletakably in
dicated a purpose recently to cut down
the congressional representation of the
South under the new apportionment, II
again intrusted with power.
The census can be made an effective
weapon for the accomplishment 81 such
q purpose, even in the absence OF repub-
lican victory. To scale the figures for
Southern States would be comparatively
easy. There is only a small republican
majority In congress at present. A change
Of a dozen republican congressman for an
equal number Of democrats would change
the political complexion of the house. II
win at once be realized that this Is AT
uncomforably close margin for the now
dominant party.
Suppose 100000 people are taken as tn,
basis OF representation in the next appor-
tlonmeut reduction of between 1000.
900 and 1900 900 IN the population OF tn
south. and a corresponding increase II
the population of the North. would large
iy and safely increase the republican
strength in succeeding congresses.
There are two ways by which thi
change can he effected. 10 per cen
change In the actual census figures. o
even less percentage, would do the work
That is one method. The decrease c! rep
resentation on account OF and 10 the eX
tent OF the disfranchisemen OF the negr
vote in North and South Carolina. Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana would also largel
reduce the democratic COMPRESSION;
strength. A small miscount in the censu
figures. coupled with the reduction unde
the Fourteenth amendment-and the cor
spiracy has succeeded!
To say that the party In power woul
not attempt either plan Is 10 ignore plai
records. The census of 1890 was not
rio,sly partisan and did the South gro
injustice. Why not a similar manipuli
ton OF the census OF 1900? The very IA
that more enumerators. per capita eve
were assigned 10 the North than TO d
South, and more competent class Of emf
merators. according TO Director Merria
himself, is of itself a most suspicious CT
cumstance.
Possibly an inaccurate count for pa
tisan purposes can not be prevented. b
certainly the South can do its part
keep out of congress any men who won
aid in cutting down the sauth's repreee
tation under the Fourteenth amendmeI
Never before in our history was the
greater reason for "solid South
II matters not that the republican ca
didate for congress in the South may
good man who would be opposed 10 Gu
ting dcwn Southern representation. TIA
man like Mr.. Jones, for example,
our Tenth district. However loyal to I
South he might be. would he not be c.
trolied by tho republican compression
caucus In Washington and forced to "
for all the dangerous republican policl
whether he wanted to or not?
There's the dangerl
Every Southern man should be on
guard In this election. Not a South
district should risk aiding in any paru
lar the republican cause this year. See
IT that your vote will not tend to cit
ensiave or dlsfranch.se yourself or y
neighbor. The nefarious and danger
conspiracy threatens-d not be eau
furfhering its development,