The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-02
TEN DISTRICTS
AGREED UPON
A Long Drawn Out Fight
Ended.
DEMOCRATS CARRY ALL
The East Fulflls ITS Promise to the
West.
DEMOCRATS CARRY ALL
DECISION OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
The Debate Was Earnest and Vigorous. Re-
appotticnment Gives Every District
aFlghilng Chance Caucus
Ends in Harm7nv.

The Democratic caucus settled the sCon-
gressional -appartionment question last
night. After warm and vigorous debate
for nearly three hours the caucus by
decisive vote agreed to redistrict the
State, and TO make ten Congressional
districts. with Il fighting chance for De-
mocracy to win. even in the redistricted
west, where Repnblicanism has been
rampant
The roll call on the question had been
demanded time and again when a vote
was finally reached about half past ten
o'clock. There was at no stage of the
caucus doubt It's to the final result.
though motions for reconsideration, and
for substitute after substitute were
placed before the caucus, only to be
voted down promptly.
Reapportionment, with ten districts
won by a vote Of so against H. and those
who were opposed TO the plan yielded
most gracefully.
The ten districts which the caucus
finally agreed upon. and which is the
bill introduced by Representative Watts,
OF Tredell. with seven changes. are as
follows
J.. Beaufort, Camden, Chowan, Curri-
tuck Dare, Gates, Hartford, Hyde, Mar
tin. Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pit, Tyr
rell, Washington.
2. BERTHE. Edgecombe, Greene. Halifax,
Lenoir, Northampton. Warren, Wilson.
3. Carteret Craven, Duplir. Jones.
onslow, Pamlieo. Fender, Sampson,
Wayne.
4. Chatham. Franklin, Johnston, Nash,
Vance and Wake.
s. Alamanee CaswelI, Durham Forsyth.
Granville, Gnlford, Orange, Person, Rock
ingham. Stokes.
6. Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cum
berland. Harnet, New Hanover Robeson.
Z. Arson, Davidson. Davie, Montgomery,
Moore, Randolph, Richmond Scotland,
Union and Yadk:n
s. Alexander, Allegheny Ashe. Cabar-
rus, Caldwell, Iredell. Rowan Stanly,
Surry Watauga and Wilkes.
>. Burke, ,Catawba, Cleveland, Castor,
Lincoln, Madison Mecklenburg, Mitchell,
Yencev.
10. Buncombe, Cherokee. Clay. Graham,
Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon,
Mcdowell, Polk, Rutherford, swain and
Pennsylvania.
The caucus which decided. as told above.
met at 8 O'Clock last night in the House
with Representative Gattis in the chair
and Senator Ward acting as secretary.
Representative Nicholson, Of Beaufort,
sent forward a substitute for the commit
tees bill, providing that the diGtricts re-
main as at present. After a lively debate
this was killed by n vote of So to 40, OH
a motion to lay the substitute on the
table.
Then Senator Jno. S. Henderson, of
Rowan, took the floor and began what
proved to be a most earnest plea for
no reapportionment. Question after ques
ton he fired at the friends OF the bill
asking for the figures upon which they
based their report that the ten districts
recommended were Democratic accord
ing to the vote in the November election,
and here and there over The House vari-
Gus members arose and gave Their. data,
which did not satisfy Mr.. Henderson. who
declared that the districts as named
would give TO the Republicans three. per-
haps four, congressman.
During Senator iienderson's speech
there were snap shots OF debate for the
bill by Senator's Morrison, Wood Gudger,
ana Brown, Representatives Robinson,
Curtis and others. Senator Henderson
continued his speech. declaring that he
was concerned about particular dis
trIct but that his anxiety was for the
Democracy and for North Caroline. Aid
ing him were speeches by Senator Alex
ander, Representatives Shame nhouse.
Blalock. Duls Mason and others.
Again came a substitute. This tine il
provided that the districts remain as they
are. and that q congressman-at- Large be
selected from the present Ninth district.
This was turned down not being prae-
ticable.
Just here the speaker Of the House.
Hon. Walter f. Moore. who was in the
caucus. arose and in ringing tones. called
upon the Democracy of the East to re-
member its pledges to the Democracy Of
the West, to remember how the West had
stood 10 the constitutional amendment to
It's hurt. and to repay il by voting with
the West for ten districts. This appeal
was further added to by Senators Travis
and Brown. and a vote seemed at hand
when another substitute was sent up.
This provided for the redstricting OF the
State into nine districts. eight Democratic
and one Republican, with Il Congressman
at-Large but this was at once pro
nounced out OF the question and was not
put to the caucus.
After final appeal from Representative
Duls for no redistricting, the vote was
taken. resulting in a victory for redis-
tricting by a vote of GO against 4S.
The bill. as adopted by the caucus is
the bill prepared by Representative
Watts, of IredelI, with the following
changes: Pamlico from the First to the
Third Greene and Swain from the Third
to the Second. Vance from the Second to
the Fourth, Granville from the Second to |
the Fifth. Durham from the Fourth to
thes Fifth Cleveland from the Tenth to
the Ninth.
The following table. showing the popu-
1ation and the Democratic majorities in /
the August and November elections in /
Tia naw diatrictc shnn that on the No. Z