The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1907-02-26
BUT HALF A SENATOR NOW.

BUT HALF A SENATOR NOW.
Unless the Governor Swings his Axe
Benton's Representation Reduced.
Unless Governor Chamberlain's
welcome veto axe swings quickly
Benton county is nearly wiped off
the map so far as a representation
IN the state Sc nate is concerned. A
reapPortionment bill that passed
the legislature in the last hours
joi1s Benton to Polk in a joint SEN
atorship. Under its terms Senator
Johnson will hold his seat through
out the term for which he was
elected, serving in the next senate
asJoint senator for Benton and Polk.
Alter that senator will beelected
every four years to represent Ben
ton and Polk jointly. 1t reduces
Benton to half her present weight
in the senate and is most unfor-
tunate condition for the county.
The reduction is the more un-
fortunate because other counties
with less population, Josephine
among them, get increased repre-
sentation. What it takes from
Benton it gives to other counties
and that serves as further reduc-
ton of Benton's power in the strug-~
gle that biennially goes on in, the
adjustment of issues in the 1egisla-
ture. 1t is the more regrettable in
that it leaves the college with less
strength to defend such interests
as the Institution may have in 1egis-
lation. Furthermore, it ties the IN
stitution to the county In which the
state normal is located and makes
the man who is the representative.
of one. the sponsor for both. In a,
measure, legislatively, it links the
interests of the one to the other,
which is condition that ought
not to be. With the joint senator
elected from Polk county, his first
care would naturally be for the
normal. If the interests ofthe two
should become in a measure oppos-
ed to each other the college would
be dependent solely On senators,
from outside counties for support
Those who know the peculiar
strength through the courtesy Of
members that a senator naturally
has for measures affecting his own
county, realize what an immense
loss this phase of the new scheme
of representation means for Benton.
+ But there is an even greater
misfortune that will be consequent,
Polk Is much larger county than
is Benton and has a great many
more voters. The nominations
and selections of senator now are
by the primary law. Voters will
vote as they please and cannot be
controlled. 1t will be natural and
inevitable for Polk county voters
through county pride to largely
vote for the nomination of a Polk
county man for senator and Benton
county people will for the same
reason vote for Benton m,n. With
her much greater voting strength
Polk county will invariably get tfe
senator an Benton will get soup.
This is the natural outcome as rea-
soned out by the philosophy OF
human nature, and though in the,
rarest instances there might be an
exception, it is extremely probable
that the new apportionment pract-
ically means the disfranchisement
of Benton county so far as repre-
sentation in the state senate is con
cerned. 1t is hurniliating condi--
ton for a county that was once the,
largest and most powerful aud that
is still one of the oldest in Oregon.
4 The redeeming feature in the sit
uation is that the institution is not
a county but a state affair with a
wide circle ofsupporters and friends
in Polk and every other coun-
| ty, and that affords hope that
5 through its own merits it will be
) properly cared for.
Benton is one Of the Oldest coun-
o ties in the state and reason OF hel
). prominence deserves better ap-
: portionmert of power. The only
hope. for it now, however. is the
d veto axe of Governor Chamberlain
d which swings often. and alWay:
mighty straight and true,