The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-02-28
STATE LEGISLATION
Correspondence Gazette.

st. Paul. Feb. 27.-It was not antic
ipated thar there would be much diff.
ficulty in getting the reapportienment
bill though the house, and such proved
to be the case. The measure, indeed,
while not by any menas perfect, is
probably as fair to all sections as
could be framed. Even its opponents
admit that. 1t was inevitable how
ever, that the representation of tn,
southern part of the state would have
to be reduced, and quite as certain
that those who were deprived of the
representation they now have and
those who represent districts which
will be wiped out should object. 1t
is not in human nature that anything
else could happen.
While no argument was made, OF
could be made, against this, those
who were inclined to oppose the bill
because districts were enlarged or
representation reduced could be de
pended upon to find other reasons
for their opposition. The one point,
therefore, that was insisted upon, and
it is not without force, was that in re-
districting the state according to its
population the representation of the
commercial centers would be larger
than in the public interest they should
be. The force of this argument is
made plain by the experience we have
already had. While no doubt the rep
resentatives of the cities want to be
fair and, as a general proposition,
signed to benefit the state at large,
still where the interests CT these cit
les, or their supposed interests, point
in one direction and the interests OF
the county and country towns in an
other, it is inevitable that city mem
bers should be for the city, first. last
and all the time That is what they
are sent there for.
!. !. +
n ..is state the interests of the
cities are largely bound up with the
interests of corporations and combipa
tions OF capital. The railroad policy
Of the state favors the commercial
centers Commercial and manufacture
ing organizations naturally support
the railroad policy, which they i'm
agine to be to their advantage, re
CARELESS of whether it is to the advan
tage of the rest of the state or not
The brewing and distilling interests
are centered in the Twin Cities. The
interest of the United States Stee
corporation is the interest of Duluth
In those days of combination it is in
evitable that these interests should
combine to each others advantage
1t is inevitable also that their infiu
ence over metropolitan representa-
tives should be overshadoWing 1t fol
lows that wherever these interests
are affected metropolitan representa-
ton will combine to support the leg
islation they favor or to resist the leg
islation to which they object. Giver
one-third Of the legislature compactly
organized for any purpose, and The
balance of the legislature without or
ganization, it is inevitable that those
interests whose Representatives Worl
as one man will be the better served
We all see this danger. No one ia
miliar with legislative proceeding
can fail to be impressed by it. 1t has
even with the inadequate representa-
ton Chased on population) the cite:
now have, made its effects felt OF
more than one occasion. 1t is small
wonder that patriotic members of thu
legislature should contemplate will
anxiety the advent of state of affairs
in which metropolitan representation
will be materially increased.
All the opposition that was wortl
speaking about was based on thi
ground. 1t was by no means withou
merit and for that matter withou
! precedent. Mr.. Robinson pointed GU
/ that it was to prevent the Legislature
of the United States being merel
! the servant of the more populou
states that provision was made in tn
United States Constitution that, re
CARELESS of population, each stat
should be entitled to two and onl
two senators. In like manner the reI
resentation of great cities like Ney
York and Chicago is limited in tn
interest of the rest of the state. Their
| is force in the argument that we ar
| approaching the time that it is desire
BILE at least to consider the advise
bility in like manner of limiting tn
representation of the populous Gel
tiers of Minnesota. Certainly if tn
4 &;v,o oror onr,or ruhon tho rnnrncapt.