The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-10
SCOTT STANDS UP
Congressman Tells Why State
Should Be Redistricted.
People Would Be Much Better
Served Thereby.
IT'S OUT OF HARMONY.
Present Condition Does Not
Meet Spirit of Constitution.
Silent Concerning the Location
of the New District.
TITS OUT OF HARMONY.

Va GAA- -f-N --NN 80
washington. Jan. ia paragraph
appeared recently in the lola Register
20 the effect that the editor OF that pa
DER CONGRESSMAN Charles F. Scott, ex-
pecred that the state would be reds
fricted this year, and thought that It
ought to be done The correspondent OF
the state Journal called on Mr. Scott
to1av ana asked him If he had written
th9 paragraph referred to, or if 1t ex-
pressed his sentiments.
Yes" he replied. II wrote It, and it
does express my sentiments" Il don't
want TO be understood" he continued,
in response to further question. as
complaining about my present job. In
deed. If were speaking from the stand
point only Of my personal preference,
and upon the assumption that I might
have my choice, should certainly pre-
Ter to come here as the representative
OF the state at large, rather than az
representing any one district in it. It IS
true the place carries no patronage, but
that is not altogether an unmixed evil,
the chief regret concerning it being that
* gives q man so little opportunity to
reciprocate the kindness of his friends;
but it has a good many compensating
advantages. In the first place, it may
Certainly be counted a very high honor
TO be nominated by @ state convention
and elected by majority Of the entire
citizenship of the state In the second
place. IL gives one broader state ac-
Quaiutance than he would be likely TO
acquire as district representative, and
there are three and four and five cases
which appeal to me personally, but
which might not appeal to another or
interest the general public So il IS not
because do not ind my present place
a pleasant one that believe the state
Should be redistricted but solely be-
cause I think the people would be bet
ter served In the first place the pres
ent condition IS anomalous and out OF
harmony with the spirit If not the let
ser. of the law and the constitution, and
Should be changed Tor that reason. In
the second place, eight men, each giving
his entire time to One-eighth Of the
population of the state. can serve them
more efectuaHy than they are likely TO
be served by eight men. one OF whom
has no special and individual constitu-
ency."
do you think there viii be any diff
Guilty in redistricting the state this
year2r Mr.. Scott was asked.
'-I do not know particularly why there +
Should be- Ehs last election made i
very clear that Kansas is q Republican
state. and the ma1orfries were 50 gen
orally distributed that it would seem Is
be an easy task to divide the state into
eight districts, all of which should BE-
safely Republican. which Of course they +
ought TO be so long as the state main
faips its present political complexion F
Have you any views as to how the
state should be redistricted." asked the (
sDondent
II certainly have a decided preference +
IS TO how at least part of it should be
done. but it would hardly be in good
taste @ express u now am entirely +
willing to leave the whole matter to the
good Judgment Of the legislature
Ex-Governor Crawford has just re-
turned to Washington from his farm
near Baxter Springs Governor Craw-
tord says he is not taking any particular
interest in politics these days He Is
still Republican. and holds to the car
dlnat principles OF Republcanism with
the exception that he has never ap
proved Of the Philippine policy Of the
last Two Republican administrations He
Is against The whole Philippine business
Governor Crawford brings glowing Re.
ports M general conditions in Kansas
ana says that the state is on the crest
OF the prosperity wave.
Up on the floor OF the house the mem
pers are having good deal Of fun at
the expense Of Representative Bower
SOCK ana he may as we'll prepare TO
submit to considerable rOod-na+71ra7
railery when he returns to Washfn--+o~,
his sentiments as TO what a congress-
man who IS candidate for the senate
oushf 70 DO have become general NV
known among his colleagues on rha
floor, and they are wondering how he is
gcing TO reconcile these sentiments.
which he has expressed so freely. with
MS subsequent action in returning TO
kansas pos-haste 10 get into the thscEz
OF the senatorial contest His colleagues
are preparing TO give him a warm re-
crptlQn when he returns TO Washington
al the conclusion of the contest
kansas representation in congress is
very meager Just now. Representatives
Long, Curtis. Cal6erhead. Reeder and
Howersock are in Kansas. Representa-
tive Jackson is FIN New York undergoing
treatment for his broken Leg. and Res
resentauves Scott and Miller are the
lone representative from Kansas ait
that end Of the canitoI AT the senate
end OF the capitol Senator Burton Is
missing and Senator Harris is dofne
his best to maintain the dignity of the
state in the upper house of congress.
HAITEDECTFAO q