Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-09-01
Republican Candi-
date for Sheriff

men-a gain of one. 1t seems rea-
sonably sure, therefore, that Mich
igan's congressional district lines
must soon be re-establshed to ac-
commodate themselves not only to
this additional member Of the house,
but also to increased centers Of
population.
zone OF the most serious problems
of the next year will come with this
necessity for re-districting. Not the
least interested gentlemen, further
more, are the present congressman
themselves, TO whom district lines are
vitally important.
1T will become necessary to start
with the process of re-districting at
opposite ends of the state; because
it is at these antipodes that the great
est growth has been apparent. We
refer To the Detroit districts and to
/ the upper peninsula.
The upper peninsula is at present
district by itself-the twelfth. IN
der the 1900 apportionment, it was
vastly too big, claiming at that time
population OF 275,525 Today, gov
ernment figures give it 31S,472 This
means that it must disintegrate as an
individual district. The western half
the iron and copper country-must
be put into district by itself For
example, the thirty-frst and thirty
second state senatorial districts, plus
Alger county, would embrace 2l6,3l0
people-or reasonably near to 225,-
/ 600 district Then the eastern half of
the upper peninsula--the strictly agri-
cultural section, embracing popula-
| tion under the new census of l0o,S37,
! including Menominee here-would at
tach itself to about 125,000 population
from the upper end of the lower
peninsula and make a district stretch
! ing across the straits 1t is to be
noted that this Immediately starts
necessary process OF re-districting
throughout the lower peninsula, since
the Completion OF the second upper
peninsula district necessarily eats into
both the tenth and eleventh districts
as at present laid out. For example,
the addition OF Emmett, Charlevoix,
Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Antrim,
, Montmorency, Otsego, and Alpena, to
the upper peninsula counties east of
the mines, would just about make a
225.000 district
In the meantime simultaneous
start must be made in the gerry
mandcr, at the Detroit end of the state
where Wayne county has grown in 10
years from 34S000 to 45l 600 This
affects, at single blow, four present
congressional districts which eat into
various corners of Wayne-the first,
second, sixth, and seventh.
This means, in other words, that
central Michigan will probably hardly
recognize its old congressional lines
when these two invading forces
north and south-have been equalized
1t will of necessity mean general re-
arrangement.
"Now, coming directly home, what
will this do TO our own Fifth district?
Kent is now credited with 159145;
Ionia with 33,550; and Ottawa with
45,3Ol total of 237,oo6. This would
continue 10 be a very reasonable dis
trict on 225,O00 basis and the Herald
aid would probably advocate that it
be undisturbed. But geographical rea-
sons may intervene. For instance, the
present Ninth district-embracin
Benzie, Lake, Leelanaw, Manistee,
Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, |
and Wexford counties-wil only |
have population of l73.204. 1t is
bound to be enlarged. OF course, it |
might reach over into the Eleventh |
and take Mecosta with lo,466, Mis-
saukee with 10000. and Grand Trav-
erse with 1894 1t would then be
225.0O0 district. But on the other
hand it might join Ottawa on the
south, preserving its character as a
lake district" In such an event. the
Fifth district might substitute Mont
calm for Ottawa and then have 224,-
764 people, or an approximately per-
feet score on a 225000 basis.
'We are opening the discussion this
just to start public thought
on the subject. There will be much
wailing and gnashing of teeth before
he job is ever done. 1t will require
much legislative and political forbear-
ance. 1t will be tremendously inn
portant task. Ii is worth long and
serious consideration"