The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-21
MAY MOVE JONES
FROM HIS DISTRICT.
Encouragement by Legislature
Might Put Him in the
Eighth.
MANY CHANGES NECESSARY
Ninth District, Largest in State,
Must Lose Some
Counties.
MANY CHANGES NECESSARY

VIII Wllllam Atkinson Jones, Con
gresham from the First Virginia Dis
trict. be legislated out of the district
where he is personally SO popular? This
is the question being asked in political
little basis for truth.
The Legislature at its coming ses-
sion is required by law to rediBtrict
the State for representation In Con.
gress. in accordance with the last
United States census. This must be
done every ten years. Population has
shifted a good deal in decade, and 1t
will be the duty of the lawmakers to
rearrange the districts so that they
VIII be as near the average of popu-
lation as possible.
The new census gives the State q
total population of 2,061,6l2. Divided
among the ten members of Congress
each should represent an average OF
2O6,l61. But division of the counties
and cities into districts by last years
census shows a wide disparity.
Might Remove Jones.
For instance. the First District as
at present constituted, has a popula-
ton of 227,144 or q good deal more
than the average. 1t is being said in
political gossip that the four counties
in the Northern Neck now in the First
District will be transferred to the
Eighth. The last named district ia
now the smallest in the State in popu.
lation. having only 1879. 1t already
includes the county of King George. in
the Northern Neck. Taking in the tier
of counties between the Rappahannock
and the Potomac-Northumbe
Westmoreland. Richmond and Lancas
teT-thA
ton of l97,056, CO as close to the aver
age as Legislatures usually get
such result would take Mr. Jones
himself out of the First District and
put him in the Eighth. he would thel:
to stay in Congress, have 10 contend
with Representative C. c. Carlin. who
is said to have his baliwick well or
Eanizcd and in fun sympathy with
MIN and with the machine" which
secured large majority in the Eigi a,
In the recent primary. 1t would seem,
therefore. to be move to get rid OF
Mr.. Jones.
The elimination Of the four counties
from the First, with their population
of 1927, would make that district 100
small. Ii is suggested that this could
be cured by taking three Peninsula
counties from the Third District, which
Is also too large, and adding them 10
the First These would be Charles
CITY, New Kent, James City and the
city of williamsburg Their popula
ton, added t. that of the First, with
the Northern Neck left out, would make
the total 206.160. or just exactly the
average for the State.
In the Third. taking out the counties
mentioned. the population would be
2o7,S4s, or very slightly above the aver
age. The present population of the
Ihlrd is 223,s2l. 1t Is hoped that by
the next census the city of Richmond
alone will be entitled to a Congressman
The Second District is also too large.
with 23S,029. Taking out Southampton
and giving IT to the Fourth. with %. 30.
IT would have 206.727, another case of
almost striking the average. The
Fourth would then have 2l2495. for
at present 1t is good deal below the
average.
Other Possibilities
me Fifth District is too small. with
1888, and the Sixth is too large.
with 227974. Taking Montgomery from,
the Sixth and putting 1t in the Fifth.
the latter would have 1so,1o3, and the
former 21o,7e6 people
Otner changes will be necessary. The
Ninth District is the largest in the
State, with 265,567 people. far above
the average. 1t will be difficult to re-
! arrange 1t without hurting the Demo
cratic party. since the counties which
border on other districts are largely
those which have Democratic masori-
ties. 1t seems, though, there must be
some change.
The Tenth now possesses a popula-
uon nearest Of all to the average
1se.o5s.