The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-26
a RAMSEY COUNTY CONGRESSMAN.

"A RAMSEY COUNTY CONGRESSMAN.
The proposal embodied in the report
of the sub committee on reappertion-
ment, in its application to Ramsey coun-
ty. is manifestly unjust. 1t is so plain
ly, the product of the purpose of the
subcommittee to secure a Republican
congressman from the district which
now includes this county as to put aside
all pretense of concealment. Something
like 210.OO0 people are understood to be
embodied in the new Fourth district as
laid out by the committee a tribe of $1,000
or cocoa more than is assigned to others
of the proposed congressional districts.
it includes, moreover Washington ana
Chisago as we'll as Ramsey county. OF
course there is no discussion needed Of
why this is done.
Minneapolis is clamoring for two con-
gressmen on a population some TO-
600 or $4,000 in excess of the proposed
new Fourth district. Not word has
been urged by those who usually make
themselves heard on matters of concern
to this city and county, including our
own delegation the Chamber of Com
merce or the Commercial club, in con-
domination of this palpable fraud on the
rights of the people of this and the
other two counties involved The reason
is not far to seek Those who are loud
est in their outcries when far less injury
and wrong is threatened to the locality
than is involved in such a dishonest
proposal as this, are afraid to hurt the
interests of the political party to which
most of them belong.
1t is time that our people should awake
to this contemplated wrong, and make
their protest heard by the legislature This
county, if justice were done, would have
a congressman assigned to it, 1t would
be Republican district; but it would not
be so strongly Republican that the Re
publicans might nominate whom they
pleased, The better man for the inter
ests of the community would be chosen,
without regard to politics. If We con-
tinued under such a plan of apportlon-
ment to be represented by a Republican
congressman, he would unquestionably
be the best and most popular man at
the disposal of the party
Ramsey county is entitled to a con-
gresham.
The majority of our delegation, if they
were as true to the interests of the city
and county as they are to their party
predictions, would not stand silent and
Idle while this wrong was attempted to
be consummated Senator Ives, Mr.
Hickey and their Democratic colleagues
on the delegation should take this sub
ject up, and see that justice is not Who'll
ly denied to our people in the reappor-
tionment of the state for congressional
districts. We do not assume that Demo-
cratic influence or effort will accomplish
much good in this direction But it
should be none the less certainly and
strenuously exerted.
The CT e does not believe that it's
voice will reach very far on this subject.
There is a determined purpose to gerry
mander the state, so that there snail be
no representation of the minority in the
halls of congress. That purpose, as we
have already suggested, is too palpable
to admit of denial or to call for conceal
ment. If it is to be carried out, the read
ing public should be made acquainted
with the fact that such is the animating
purpose, and the only one of the major
ity in the state legislature. 1t will no
doubt be accomplished. Let it not be
done in silence or under the popular ap-
prehension that any other aim animates
those who are about to reapportion the
state.