Evening star., 1902-03-31
REDISTRICTING STATES
ESTIMATES AS TO GAINS AND
LOSSES OF BOTH PARTIES.
Anxiety Over the Failure to Redistrict
the State of Ohio-Matter to
Be Taken Up.

ness among the congressional leaders, who
arc concerned in the impending campaign
for Congress. 1t probably will result in the
national leaders taking cognizance of the
Ohio situation.
1t is asserted that obstacles are being
thrown in the way of redistricting the state
by one member of the delegation in the
House, who is thought to be afraid that he
will lose prestige by a change in the exist
ing lines of the districts. At any rate, the
republican leaders in the Ohio legislature
have not been able to agree upon the wis
dom of redistricting the state although sew
eral caucuses upon the subject have been
held
Interests National Leaders.
The situation, it is claimed, interests the
national leaders and they are called upon
to lend their influence to the faction which
is urging redistricting. In bringing the at
tention of the national leaders to the case
the fact is pointed out that in addition to
the four districts which now represent
ed in Congress by democrats-the fourth,
fifth, thirteenth and seventeenth districts
there are two others that are republican by
such moager pluTalitieS as to practically
prevent their being counted in the repub-
Hcan column. The twelfth district CColum-
bus and Franklin counties) was carried in
the last election by Tompkins, republican,
over Lentz. democrat, by eighteen votes.
The third dayton was carried by Nevin,
republican. by 154 votes. Both districts are
normally democratic Some of the Ohio
republicans contend that these districts
should be strengthened by the sacrifice of
some of the supernumerary republican
votes in other districts.
The national leaders interested in the con-
gressional outlook will probably feel war
ranted in taking cognizance of the Ohio sit
uaton, as they have reason to feel con-
cerned over the general results of redis-
tricting throughout the Union.
Effect of Apportionment Act.
The apportionment act passed in the last
Congress added twenty-nine members to the
House of Representatives. 1t was assumed
that as the redistricting would occur at a
time when the republicans were in control
OF the legislature of the larger states in
which the reapportionment occurred the
change of the lines of the district would
reflect some added advantages to the re-
publlcans in the succeeuing elections.
The apportionment act, however, gave the
democrats a great advantage al the oHtset.
Ter additional members were added in
states solidly democratic; Texas received
three, and Arkansas, Colorado, Florida,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and North
Carolina one each. Furthermore, the Mis-
souri, legislature gerrymandered the state
50 as to deprive the republicans of one dis
trict, which virtually increased the total
democratic gain in those states to twelve
There were twelve democratic votes in the
House of Representatives obtained without
turning hand, and to be added to the
existing advantage possessed by the demo-
Gratis on their votes from other southern
states. Thus, the dead weight which the
republicans have to carry in every cam
paign. by reason of the solid souths"
certain representation was increased.
The republicans had no such advantage
anywhere along their line. In every state
which they redistrict they have to fight for
their life. They cannot be certain of any
thing, outside of an occasional rock-ribbed
Pennsylvania district.
In Several States.
So the republican legislatures have at
tempted, well as they might, to redistrict
their states and gain stray district here
and there. The general result as stated
has not been such as-to cause an excess of
jubilation.
California has redistricted, and it remains
to be seen whether the outcome will give
the republicans even the one additional seat
which the reapportionment accorded the
state. Colorado did not redistrict The ad-
ditional member of the House will be elect
ed at large and will be anti-republican.
Connecticut did not redistrict and her ad-
ditional member of the House, to be elect ed
at large, will be a republican; but the dem
ocrats not hopeless of carrying one of
the districts in this state
In Illinois the republicans have scored.
The state gets three additional seats in the
House under the appOrtionment act and
the redistrictinss will insure them to the
republicans.
Massachusetts gets one additional seat
in the House, but the redistricting will not
increase that gain to the republicans
In New Jersey the republicans cleaned
up good job The apportionment act gave
two additional seats in the House and the
legislature redistricted the state in a way
to put the democrats to disadvantage in
districts where heretofore they have some
time had a fighting
New York received three additional seats
in the House by the apportionment act.
The redistricting seems to promise them
to the republicans North Dakota will elect
an additional representative-at-large and
he will probably be a republican North
Carolina received one additional seat and
SCI cured it for the democrats. Pennsyl-
vaEia was given three additional seats, and
the republican legislature did the best it
could to cast them in republican districts.
Texas, as stated, gives her three additional
seats to the democrats. Washington re-
ce!ved one additional seat, and will elect
representative-at-larg probably repub-
lslioan.
West Virginia was given one additional
seat in the House and the redistricting
seems to assure her five votes to the re-
publicanS
Wisconsin furnishes peculiar situation.
The state got one additional seat in the
House, but, although the present delega-
ton is solidly republican, there is no APP
parent increase of the republican strength,
for in redistricting the state the Legislature
had to throw one district to the demo-
Gratis.
Minnesota got two additional seats and
the state was redistricted to republican ad-
vantage. Mississippi received one addi-
t.onal seat in the House, which. of course,
goes to the democrats.
Speculative Estimates.
II must be remembered that all OF the
fore going estimates of republican strength
are speculative. based upon present repre-
sentaff0n. The Republicans know to their
! sorrow. however, that laEdsiides can occur
in congressional elections. The gain in re-
dlstricting may be easily wiped out in
slump in close districts that have not bcen