The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-03-20

A0oA Iva SAAANNA IAAS ASNuAAS 1AC OCIA-
ate and Its Duties" which reads as
follows:
Section 2, Article w of the Con-
stitution of Minnesota says.
The representation in both
Houses shall be apportioned
equally throughout the differ
ent sections of the state in pro-
portion to the population there
OF, exclusive of Indians not tax
able under the provisions of law.
section %, Article w, after pro-
viding for state census in 1865 and
every tenth year thereafter, declares:
At their first session. after
each enumeration so made, and
also at their first session after
each enumeration made by au-
thority Of the United States, the
Legislature shall have power to-
ascribe the bounds of Congress-
ional, Senatorial and Represent
tative districts and to appOr-
tion anew the Senators and Re-
representatives. among the several
districts according to the pro-
visions of Section of this Ar
ticle. .=<r&
''This is the provision of the state
Constitution which the state senate
openly violated by refusing to con-
slider reapportionment bill of any
kind. 1t is solemn Injunction OH
the legislature to apportion the Sen
ators and representatives according
to population: The representation
is not so apportioned at the present
time. The house passed bill which
sought to correct the manifest in
equalities. The senate declines even
to consider that bill. 1t declines to
recommit the bill to committee for
amendment. It declines to pass the
bill as reported, or to perfect the
measure itself, or to have anything
to do with the matter except to
throw it out and in so doing to
throw the Constitution out with it,.
''This is the situation at the pres
ent time, but, as the governor says,
there is time tor the senate to change
its mind. There is time for the SEN
ate to reapportion. But there is no
time and no place for the passage
of any reapportionment bill except
one based on the Constitution. We
do not believe the Governor or any
one else seriously considers the Muir
ray bill substitute for the COngdon
bill
1.-The Republican platform, on
which Governor Eberhart was elect
ed, pledged the party to ''just re-
presentation in both branches of the
Legislature" and quotes Sections2 of
Article " of the Constitution as the
basis of the pledge. This is the only
RI hot
the demand of the people Unless
the senate recants, and does it's duty,
it should be called back in extra ses-
sion'' Fl.
The danger OF complete disrup-
ton of party lines is seen by the St.
Paul Pioneer Press which says un-
der "Defeat of Reapportionment:"
members of the Minnesota senate
will have none but themselves to
blame If they discover at the next
election that the voters refuse to
acknowledge party obligations and
refuse to- be moved by the partisan
appeals. The senate has released the
voters from all such obligations by
its refusal to pass the reapportion-
ment law, thus placing selfishness
above popular demand and public
welfare. -
"Party obligations rest lightly at
best in Minnesota, and that condi-
ton is due chiefly to the fact that
party leaders have persistantly and
openly ignored platform pledges,
practically serving notice on the
voters that platforms are not binding
on successful candidates at elections
The defeat of reapportionment simp-
ly furnishes another justification for
the Independent attitude of the
voters. '.9.t@
There might have been some ex-
cuse for the action Of the senate had
there been issue over the advisable
ity of reapportionment measure,
but the law was demanded by all
parties and by all sections. The
platforms of both the Democrats and
Republicans pledged a reapportion-
ment law at this session. The voters
in the sections of the state where
the representation might be reduced
by a reappOrtionment measure ad-
mitted the Justice of the plan and no
opposition was offered to it. The
defeat of the measure must be charg-
ed solely to the selfishness of the
senators. For that exhibition of
selfishness they must settle with
their constituents" s@=
Faithles to their oath and with no
right to term themselves progressive
is the position taken by the st. Paul
Daily News, in an editorial entitled
"A Bratrayal of Justice" scoring the
men who voted against reapportion-
ment: . -
No senator who voted against the
reapportionment bill in the senate
has any right to call himself a pro-
gressive.
.:For one of the cardinal principles
of progressivism whether it be LABEL
ed Republican progressivism or DEM
ocratic progressivism, is rule by the
of the people.
"That is not the decision of the
senators who voted against the Cong
don bill.
For the vote of Sc to ~, by
which the bill was defeated, means
that a minority of the people rule
In Minnesota under the present dis
tricting of me state.