Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1911-04-27


tionment must chiefly be charged.
The platform of the republican party
unequivocally pledged the party to
reapportionment under existing laws,
effective Immediately. The demo-
Ieratic platform was equally plain in
promising a reform, but no definite
time wherein the law was to take eff
feet was promised. In addition to the
platform declaration which should
have bound them, all the northern
senators signed pledges, either gener-
ally, to vote for fair reapportion-
ment measure, or definitely, to sup
port the Congdon bill.
4 Sought for Excuse.
Until after election the senators
from the northern and southern part
pf the state appeared equally honest
in an intention to reapportion the
state on the constitutional basis of
population. It was not until after
ELECTION, when the southern senators
were finally entrenched in their seats
THAT they cast about for an excuse to
|break their pledges and to retain their
seats as senators for an extra two
years. They then suddenly discov-
Tered that the constitution was wrong
lin principle and that in reapportion-
ment was made according to popula.
ton, the large cities would gain an
undue advantage in the legislature.
This contention coming from the
source it did was plainly subterfuge
fconcealing the real reason, that is a
desire to retain their seats as sena-
tors pledged them to fulfill the law as
it now is, not as the individual. SEN
Iator believes it should exist.
I "The people of the southern part of
1.-THE state are as fair-minded and hon
est as are the people of the north, and
are as willing to do justice to the
northern part of the state as is the
northern part to receive the same. To
1.-THE fair-minded honor of these peo-
pie we appeal from the selfish verdict
]of their senators, trusting that the
sense of honesty and fair play of the
people of the state will induce them
to properly rebuke the narrow-minded
selfishness of the members who thus
riolated the: personal ali party
pledges. Doubtless contributing
cause of the defeat of reapportion-
lent was the lukewarmness OF some
lei the northern members in their sup
port of the measure and in the fact
that a few of the northern senators
were absolute traitors to the cause.
We consider these men as absolutely
unfit for positions of trust, and we
make a direct appeal to their constit-
uents to retire them from public life
Special Interest Active.
Another cause contributing to the
defeat of reapportionment was the
hostile activity of a certain special
interest of the state which we shall
more particularly designate in the
near future. The emissaries of this
interest were particularly active in
opposing reapportionment, and it is
to the pernicious influence of this in
terest that the detection of some of
the northern senators and the hostile
attitude of some of the southern sen
ators can be attributed.
Governor Eberhart has during all
the time, stood the consistent friend
of the cause, and Lieutenant Cover
nor Gordon has displayed eminent
fairness in his attitude toward reap
portionment. Each has redeemed his
every pledge in that respect. The gov
ernor has in a measure pledged him
self to call an extra session of the
Legislature to consider reapportion-
ment bill, but in view of the great ex-
pense involved and for various other
reasons we now believe that such ex-
ira session at this time would achieve
no good results.
eve intend to present our just
cause to the people of the state and
to come before the next legislature
and ask the enactment Of fair re-
apportionment bill, based upon popu-
lation, and we sincerely trust that the
sense of honesty and fair dealing so
conspicuously an asset Of the common
people of this state will be communi-
Gated to their legislative representa-
tives of the next session to the end
that the northern part of the state
may receive it's just, dues"
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