Emmons County record., 1910-04-14

state other than this 1.-THE 26th).
wherein there is more than one
county, it has been customary, in
arranging for equitable division of
7 legislative representation. to
e 3unt the senatorship as equal to two
representative positions. Kidder
and Emmons are the two counties
Of this district. In the early days
the Goth district embraced the coun-
ties of Kidaaes77 Kidas7, y: xs,..sss :. ..sxA ...ssxA
Emmons. At the subsequ
portionment Logan and McInroh,
were put into separate district.
Since the present district was formed
it has been the custom to give En-
mons the senator and q representa-
tive. For many years this basis was
fair enough when the majority-party
votes of the two counties were COM
pared. But Kidder county, having
a lesser population than Emmons
during those years and being nearly
equal to her southwestern sister in
size, naturally had q better field for
rapid increase Of settlement. Rail
roads having placed northern Kidder
much nearer to market. the settle
ment of that region has been rapid.
until now the vote cast by Kidder is
much larger in proportion to the
total of the two counties than it was
a few years ago. It was not rs large
as that Of Emmons, to be sure, two
years ago. but it was much larger
than the proportion of three to one.
as the present custom of giving a
senator and representative to one
county and a representative only to
the other makes it. The counties
being of nearly equal area. it stands
to reason that the population will
eventually be approximately equal.
If the basis for representation in the
legislature be raised. as it must be
to prevent the lower house from be-
coming unwieldy. and also to keep
within the constitutional maximum.
it is probable that Emmons and
Eidder may for years be kept in the
safns district. If so. there certainly
ought to be some understanding that
will make the basis a little more
equal than at present. At the last
election Emmons county cast for
president 1893 votes and Kidder
1850 votes. This is a proportion Of
Ia to in favor of Emmons.
while the representation with the
senator counting as two members of
the lower honuse) is 3 to in favor
of Emmons. And it should be noted,
also this article referring entirely
to majority party representation
that the republican vote two years
ago in the two counties was 95l in
Emmons and 769 in Kidder-a differ
ence of less than actually 1872
according to the latest blue Book. /"
Kidder made no complaint while her
vote was considerably lower in pro-
portion to Emmons than it is now.
But. when the writer attended the
old settlers picnic at Dawson last
year several gentlemen not all of
one faction expressed the hope that
the republicans of EmmOns would
allow their brethren of Kidder to
have the two representatives on the
regular election ticket at the COM
ing election.
The Record makes this suggestion
for the purpose of bringing the mat
ter before the republican voters of
this county. 1t is right and fair that
the stronger county should consider
the suggestion now coming from
kidder for the first time that they
be allowed the two representatives
this year. Then, If the two counties
do not soon grow to population
approximately equal. the county
with large excess of voters can
again demand q senator and q rep
resentative-at least every other
term. which would make the basis
exactly equal. with the present vot-
ing strength.
Now. here is an opportunity for
real harmony, as far as this county,
and possibly the entire district, is
concerned. 1t is all very we'll to talk
of harmony" under present con-
ditions. But the kind of harmony
asked by our Hazelton contemporary
is that the heretofore majority
faction of the county stand supinely
while the minority inserts political
stiletto under its fifth rib. The do.
ing of justice to Kidder would give
US the senator without contest,
would possibly allow the sister coun
ty to amicably settle her own troub
les and do as Emmons has done as te
q senatorial candidate by putting VI
men satisfactory to both factions
or. if not, allowing the district I,