Morris tribune., 1911-02-17
trial purposes and permanent assur-
ance of cheap transportation rates.
We hope to present more concerning
it from time to time.

Reapportionment is one of the great
questions before the present legisla-
ture. Sentiment either for it or
against it in this district has not been
| pronounced, and about all one ever
hears of it has been that as matter
of right the northern part of the state
ought to be given greater representa-
ton. In Grant county. however there
is considerable sentiment against in
creasing the representation of the nor
them part of the state or of the large
cities. the objection as stated being
in the northern part of the state there
is larger foreign element. and that
so far as the cities are concerned their
influence is already too large. Re-
preventative Peterson agrees with his
Grant county constituency and points
out that conditions in this state are
tending toward the conditions in New
York where it has been necessary to
limit the representation of New York
city in order that the city shall not
control the state. The three large
cities of this state cannot now COM
mand as many votes in the leglsla-
ture as the balance Of the state, but
their interests are so close and their
representation is so large that their
power is already very great. In any
legislative body compact minority
such as the tri-county delegation can
often actually control legislation, and
it is this great power of the cities which
Representative Peterson has set him
self to combat. The question is
large one into the details of which We
have no opportunity to go at the pre-
sent time, but one point is clear, and
that is that Representative Peterson
in taking the stand he has represents
the opinion of his district so far as it
has been expressed.
Representative Spooner, on the
other hand, has taken a stand for
reapportoinment ION population
basis" that is that 16. 900 people in
any part of the state are entitled to
one representative and twice that
number to one senator. This is the
contention of the cities and is the basis
for their claim for increased repre-
sentation. One of the pledges which
he claims to have exacted of Speaker
Dunn was that the reapportionment
committee should report bill ION a
population basis and he has been re-
peated quoted in the city press as
standing for such a bill. Our criticism
is that in so doing he is not complying
with demand from the 57th district
but is fighting the battle of the cities.
The bill at present before the house
does not change the representation of |
this district, and any bill which is
adopted will be compromise, but |
Representative Spooner should throw
his influence not with the city crowd |
with their population basis cry. but |
with the country and with the wishes
of the folks at home.
However, justice demands that a
reapDortionment bill should be passed !
at this session, and that certain sec
lions of the state which have increas-
ed in population should have more
adequate representation. The con-
stitution requires that it be made at
this session and that it be made on a
population basis.' Rep. Spooner
has on several occasions this winter
attempted to sound the sentiment of
this district on various public quees-
tions. evidently with desire to truly
represent the opinion of the, people at
home, and we now voice this opinion
of ours as our view of what his course
should. be