Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-01
THE RED|STR|CT|kG BILL
ADOPTED IN THE HOUSE,
But NOT TILL AFTER DELEGATE
ANDERSON HAD STIRRED UP
THE MAJORITY.
SOME POINTED REFERENCES
TO THE INCONSISTENCY, HYPOC-
RISY AND BRUTALITY OF
THE MAJORITY.
Special to the Register.

Special to the Register.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, January 81.
The House enjoyed another season OF
fire works this afternoon when the Re-
publican caucus bill to redistrict the
State into Senatorial districts and re-
apportion the membership of the
House of Delegates, was on its final
passage.
Anderson seized the opportunity to
go after the majority generally, and
particularly. and he made a speech
that lifted the hide.
He told of the name in which the
gag law had been invoked to keep
down legitimate discussion of measures
which ought to be discussed. He took
up the matter of the Smothering or
the resolutions, which had been sent
to committees and held there until the
public press and a determined minority
had forced their bringing forth. After
clearing away the underbrush he went
at the main issue hammer an1 tongS.
He said that under the virtuOus pre-
tense of a fair and equitable appor-
tionment the Republican majority had
presented one of the most Infamous
gerrymanders ever sought to be fasten-
ed upon the people. He dwelt partic-
ularly upon the Pocahontas-Calhoun
district, extending from the Virginia
lire to within forty miles OF the Ohio
river, and
Embraces Five Democratic Counties.
and upon the MingO-McDowell dis
trict, two hundred miles in length,
and but eight wide in one place. lie
denounced the majority no less for its
hypocrisy than for its evident inten-
ton to run things to suit itself with
out regard to the rights of the minor
ity. He appealed to the fair minded
among the majority to refuse to be
driven into the support of so unfair
a measur by the party last.
Mr.. Reynolds replied, saying it did
not lie in the mouth of any Democrat
in the State, after the redisticting
measure of 1891, to talk about a ger
rymandeT. The Republican majority
had given every county in the State
representation, while the Democrats
when III power had practically dis
franchised the people of a number of
counties.
a Sharp ColIoquy Took Place
between him and Anderson, over the
PCcahontas-CalhCun district, the
searching questions and bright retorts
producing much laughter and APP
plause.
Mr.. Wetzel criticized the bill for
otHino TAGeCrcon with mona than
10000 people. one representative, the
same as Hancock, with but 5000.
Mr.. jackson said the Republican
idea of giving each county at least
n delegate was a fair and just one,
Each county had its own county V
ernment, and its own peculiar, inter-
ests. Putnam, a Republican county,
had but one delegate under the bill,
and it was larger than the Democratic
county Of Jefferson. 1t was not poll
Tics, but because of the fact the fig
ures did not warrant giving them more
that kept these two counties from get
ting two delegates each. The bill pro-
posed met what he believed to be the
constitutional intention.
In reply Mr.. Anderson was very
sarcastic in his reference to the So
licitude Of the majority to carry out
the intention of the Constitution. and
declared that there was no Constitu-
tior in the bill,
AZ Was III Politics..
He took up a reference Mr.. Reynolds
had made about loyalty to the Union.
and said the men Of this day were
all loyal American citizens. striving
for what Trey believed to be the good
of the country, and refused to be sent
into the charnel house of the dead
past to dig up discussions and animos-
tiles that were better forgotten.
Mr.. Lowry followed in favor of the
bill and was waxing quite eloquent
ove the wrongs perpetrated by the
Democrats in Iedistrictjng the State
ten years ago, when Anderson asked:
You were 4 Democrat then your
self. weren't ycu?"
The gentleman from Tyler soon
quieted down. after that shot. as he
was a member of the party he was
abusing at the time Of which he COM
planned.
Smith, of Mcdowell, moved the pre-
vious question, which was ordered
and the bill passed by a strict party
vote.
Later the caucus bill to redistrict
the State into congressional districts
came up. was read a second time, and
advanced to a third reading without
amendment or discussion.