Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1910-07-20
The Senatorial Situation.

The Senatorial Situation.
A proviso of Section ! of Ar
ticle 4 of the constitution gives te
the governor. the attorney-generaI
and the secretary of state authori
ty to apportion senatorial districts
after each decennial census in case
the legislature fails or refuses to
pass redistricting bill.
No legislature since the coastitu
tion was adopted has been found
willing to agree to such gerry
mander of the districts as Demo.
cratic party leaders demanded in
1881, 1891 and 1901. Democratic
party leaders have always manag-
ed the matter 80 as to have the
senate defeat bills for redistricting
and let the three state officials
named arrange and proclaim a
gerrymander guaranteeing the
election of twenty-one TO twenty
three Democratic senator's, leaving
it possible for the Republicans to
elect not more than thirteen. The
senate has had Democratic men,
bership of more than twenty since
1881 under this legislative trick.
Although the Republicans have
elected majority of the house of
representatives several times IN
late years, and though their ma.
jority in that body elected a
United States senator in 1905, and,
although they have twice in sue
cession carried the state, electing
five state officers and member of
the supreme court in 1904 and
electing the governor and lieuten-
ant-governor in 1908, the Demo-
cratic majority in the senate has
been maintained, with only slight
variation, as a result of the gerry
Wandering of senatorial districts
made possible by the proviso of
section seven.
No wonder, therefore, that At.
torney. General Major and Secre-
tary of State Roach were found
ready to fight the proposed amend
ment to the constitution which
knocks out the proviso of section
seven and redistricts the state by a
vote of the people. Those two of i.
6cials, extreme partisans, both of
them, will have the privilege of
gerrymandering the senatorial dis
tricts in 1911 if section seven re-
mains in force, for the Democratic
senate will hardly agree to any re.
districting bill that will reduce the
Democratic majority in that body.
The house is quite sure to be Re-
publican in 1911 and, unless the
people rise in their might and
elect Republicans in some of the
gerrymandered districts-as they
ought to do-the senate will be
Democratic. Under such condi.
tions the Democrats must, and Ger.
tainly will, look to Major and
Roach to make the gerrymandel
in 1911 under which the senate
may be held by them ten years
longer.
In case the three state officer.
are charged with the redistrictina
Governor Hadley cannot hope t.
restrain the two Democratic of
ficials. and should be refuse to ap
prove and proclaim such a gerry
mander as they may arrange, th,
Democratic supreme court will b'
at their service to compel th,
proclamation.
II the people can he brought tt
understand this situation they vii
the better understand why Cover
nor Hsdlsy suggested the propos
"a constitutional amendment ant
why be wants it submitted to {
vote Of the people; and they viii
also understand clearly why Majo
and Roach and their Democratic
oo.worksrs were 90 jealous in Of
forts to prevent the submission o
this amendment. for which so, ,OO'
qualified voters petitioned an,
which the best nswspspers and th
bs.t citissns Of the state approve