The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-22

deem the district, perhaps at the next
election. or certainly in very few years.
Once again made Democratic. 1t VIII
likely remain so indefinitely under pres
ent laws.
",rhe reason ] say this, is because OF
the educational and poll-tax qualifications
for voting. While there are many edu-
GATED Z. and tax-paylng Republicans IN the
are Democrats. In the long run, there
fore, this fact is bound to build up our
party The two chief local causes for
our recent defeats in the district, are,
OF Colonel Slemp. and his organization in
looking after poll-tax payments and Sc
cord; prejudice among the illiterate
against the suffrage features of our
new construction. The first cause will
NOT exist long, and the second is rapid
ly dying out.
IN view of these conditions, and OF
me history of the district. where for
tWent9-itve years we have borne the
i prunt OF the battle in the State, we do
10 dlsmember us and sink us In the
sea OF RepublIcanisn1. The Sixth Dis
trlct Is ahead: overwhclminEIy Demo.
a ar.,. and certainly needs no relief, The
for m ,eea give US no alarm. Every EFFORT
5 1ras Deen abortive, and will continue en-
me fact that the Ninth has somewhat
! . than its average of population is
nnsoa as ~, argument possible for the pro-
.,o ine provision for equality OF pon,,,a.
1ion IN congressional districts is n,erai,,
uifectorS, and is never observed excen,
~ ~ t tne most general way In any State
~ lne mon. In some of the States the
population of one district is son,et,, ne
uoupie that of another The I,eeis,at,,ra
IS the judge and arbiter OF this u,bnIe
question OF population. 1t is now siy
years NICE the last Federal census was In.
k ne ana IN four more years new one will
u,,s saneh. why tear up the districts and
uhsettie matters at this late date when
IL IS likely that the uprooting and RAJ
arranging will all be fought over again
IN rev years? Who is clamoring for
TINS change? What good to any of the
people affected can be shown?
rs fhehe not enough legislation of real
value to the State pending to occupy all
the time of the Assembly proftabIy for its
brief sixty days without vexing the neo
pie with agitation of these barren and
useless schemes?
Is Homogeneous.
THE Ninth District a. now constituted
Is n remarkably homogeneous district.
Nature has framed 1t for one district, and
unless sound reasons exist 1t should not
be disturbed. The Democrats of the dis
trict have fought shoulder to shoulder
fellowship and confidence among them
selves are so deep-rooted that there would
be widespread dissatisfaction at the pro-
posed changes
II do not believe the Democrats Of the
Fifth Senatorial District, even, which it is
proposed to take away, will endorse the
movement Certainly the rest of the dis
tr!ct will oppose it bitterly. II is not bad
for the party as State organization to
have the fight for one. or even more than
one, OF the districts. 1t gives strength
and vitality to any organization to have
to meet in places n strong and aggressive
antagonist. To parcel out the land and
give one section to the enemy and cease
70 struggle, for 1t Is cowardly; and to take
the remaining sections and be able to hold
them without effort invites decay TO
make the Ninth District the dumping
gsondb o OF EspubI,eanlsm would be to take
to shrivel their ambitions and drive them
from active participation in the public
affairs of their State. Is this fair? Is it
right? for one do not believe. the fair
minded and generous Democrats of the
nv Acco NH ,, te,ko for