Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-12

The letter from western Nebraska
published in The Bee is not only perth
nent, but one that deserves careful
consideration. The writer Of the let
ter, who signs himself "a Citizen of
the Unorganized Territory West of To-
gan County" is a man not only of
prominence and influence in that sec
ton, but also we'll known throughout
the state, whose lame is permanently
fixed to the history Of the state as the
author of some of its best laws and to
whose utterances heed should be paid.
1t is much to be regretted that such
feeling as is expressed in the letter
should exist In any part of Nebraska,
and yet the ground for resentment felt
by the people who have built up the
empire west of the hundredth merid-
ian is natural. Many times in the past
The Bee has called public attention to
the injustice of continuing certain con-
ditions that were established in Ne
braska at a time when practically the
whole state west of North Platte was
"unorganized territory"
In the matter of legislative appor-
tionment alone this injustice is most
glaring. Representation in the legis-
lature of Nebraska at present is based
on a census taken in 1885. The popu-
lation of Nebraska has not only in
creased many fold since that date, but
its center has shifted and there is no
fairness in the continuation of the re-
suit of that census. The constitution
of the state provides that the legisla-
tive apportionment can only be made
after a census has been taken, and
that a census can only be taken by the
state on the half decade ear Four
opportunities to make this apportion-
ment have been neglected by the Leg
islature, and 1t is impossible that a
remedy can be applied by the coming
session.
So the people of western Nebraska
will be compelled for at least two more
sessions of the general assembly to pa
tiently bear the wrong of which they
Complain Dub NACJ "oob hOi NhAAAh
that this condition voices the attitude
Of the people of the eastern part of
the state. The general interests of
Nebraska are the same from the Mis-
souri, river to the Wyoming line and
from South Dakota to Kansas, and
there should be no division of opinion
along geographical lines. The tradi-
tional North and South Platte separa-
ton has been the occasion of a ire
mendous amount of political mischief
in Nebraska in the past and it should
be wiped out. A man should be Sc
lected for office, not because he comes
from a particular section of the state,
but because he is qualified for the po-
sition to which he aspires or is APP
pointed. The interests of the people of
the "unorganized territory west of Lo-
gan county" in Nebraska are identical
with those of the people of Omaha or
any other community along the river.
Taxes are levied against property
through the same leans and are ex-
pended by officers in whose choosing
all of the people have had a voice. The
government of the state exists for all
alike.
The danger of the segregation of
the panhandle" of Nebraska, or the
secession Of its inhabitants is remote.
1t is absurd that a senator of Nebraska
should not know OF the wonderful
progress that has been made in those
counties that were considered impos-
sible twenty-five years ago. The Wig
orous and energetic citizenship of
whom the writer Of the letter referred
to is a splendid representative, has
wrought wonders in that region and
deserves the utmost credit. The Bee
congratulates these people on their
achievement and believes that at the
proper time justice will be done to
them. 1t must be remembered always
that Douglas county suffers equally
with the "unorganized territory west
of Logan county because of the pres.
ent unfair apportionment for legisla.
tive purposes.