Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-13
Tho South and the Census.
(New York Tribune).


Some curious Ideas seem to have
taken hold in the south a S to the in
crease OF that sections political power
under the new census. We And The
Charleston News and Courier" saying.
for instance:
The solid south Will mean more po-
litically in the succeeding years than
ever before. The movement OF popula-
ton in this direction has been great.
Oklahoma for instance. which is dis
tinctly southern in its ideals. has more
than doubled its population during the
last decade. 1t has now practically as
many people as South Carolina or
Louisiana. 1t will have twice as many
congressman as heretofore. Texas will
show a gain of at least five congress
men. All the southern states will show
increases Of population and many of
them increases in representation in the
national house. On the other hand.
many of the distinctly republican states
will show losses in population or no
gains"
The census returns so FAR received
give no warrant for such conclusions.
Oklahoma's population has been
counted. It is now 165l951. an in
bined populations of Oklahoma and the
Indian Territory in 1900. When Okla
homa was admitted in 1907. it had a
population IF l.41417-. emitting II TO
seven seats in the house of representa-
tives But the enabling act. passed be-
fore the 1907 census was taken. allotted
1t only FIVE seats Oklahoma will not
double its representation in the house
of representatives. 1t VIII probably
receive eight seats under the reappor-
tionment act 10 be passed next winter,
assuming that that act will increase
the ratio of representation from 1912
70 about 215.000. Texas will also make
considerable gain. 1t now has sixteen
representatives and q population of B.
O4s 900. If its population Increases to
4o5o, 900 i. will be entitled to twenty
representatives But there is no indi-
cation. Of an exceptional growth in the
other southern states. They will prob
ably do little ore than hold their own
with an enlarged ratio.
It should be remem bered that num-
Der of the southern states were favor
ed under the appointment law of
sol getting representative on a ma
jor fraction Of the full ration. Thus.
Virginia. with only 1.S5i.1S4 inhabi-
tants retained ten seats. The shorta &c
was $4,000. North Carolina with only
1Sa3S69 Inhabitants, has ten seats. the
shortage being about $4,000 Florida
has three seats with a population about
"a 600 below three ratios. Arkansas has
seven seats with population OF $4,000
below seven ratios. The only southern
state with a population much in excess
of its representation is Alabama. which
has an urrepresented minor ratio OF
about - 900
Moreover. there IS no evidence Of a
growth in the southern sta ties. Texas
and Oklahoma excepted, equall!ng the
growth indicated in the population an
nounced for scattered northern cities.
The south Is largely agricultural. and
, without large cities. the seats OF well
developed industries It is urban
growth which shows most now in the
census tables and II would be a strange
reversal OF the conditions of the last
three censuses if the rural south were
TO exhibit as rapid an increase between
1909 and 1910 as the north. with its
great preponderance In urban Senters.
The speculations of The News and
Courier" are interesting. but they seem
to rest on no solid basis. The increase
in political power under the new ap-
portionment will be we'll distributed,
but the bulk of it viii go TO rapidly de-
yeloped northern states. like New ork.
New Jersey, PENNSYLVANIA, Illinois and
Minnesota