The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1912-04-25
No More GerTymadstiTg.

a measure apportioning the state into
"a senatorial districts. It may have 10
be done by adopting an amendment TO
the constitution. A subcommittee Of
the republican state committee will
fully determine the legal problem in
volved and prepare the measure or
measures TO be submitted to vote.
When the state committee approves
the measures and methods agreed up |
on petitions vii be put in the hands
Of good men all over the state accord |
ing 10 the requirements Of the initiative
and referendum law and when properly |
signed will be fled with the Secretary
Of State. This work will doubtless be
taken up in May.
The people have the undoubted
right to say, by ballot, how the sixteen
congressional districts shall be formed. |
The democratic members Of congress
from Missouri-and the two democrat
ic senators-tried hard TO get through
congress a provision Of law denying this
right to the people. Governor Had
ley and the republican congressman
from Missouri were able to enlist the
aid OF distinguished leaders in congress
and the contemplate trick was exposed
and defeated. The Missouri demo.
Gratis in congress, including Champ
Clark, got through the House an ap.
parently innocent clause in the re -ap-
portionment bill providing that con-
gressional districts should be determin-
ed in each state by the Legislature
thereof which would have made it
impossible for the people Of Missouri
to adopt a congressional redistricting
bill. That clause was stricken out Of
the bill before its final passage, how
ever, and in all states which have ad-
opted the Initiative and referendum law
The people may, by direct vote, ap'
portion the state into congressional
districts. The republican state com
mittee will cause a congressional re-
districting DILL 10 be submitted to
popular vote next November. II will
provide for sixteen districts Of approx.
mately equal population without re-
ference to partisan majorities. Con
gressman must be elected this year,
however, from the old districts.
No lair apportionment Of the State in
10 senatorial and congressional districts
has ever been made since the present
constitution was adopted. There is a
provision in that document under which
the overnor, the attorney general and
the secretary Of state may establish
senatorial districts at the beginning Of
each decennial period when, for any
reason, the Legislature may fail to do so.
IOf course the democratic senate has
always failed 10 pass a senatorial re-
districting bill because three demo.
cratic state officials, unhindered by de-
bate and publicity, could make a more
thorough gerymander than the legi-
stature could be induced to adopt. Last
year Attorney General Major and Secre'
tary OF State Roach tried to put over
an inquitious genymander, against the
protest OF Governor Hadley, who re-
fused either to sign or promuagate it
and the Supreme Court has sustained
the objections Of the Governor and has
administered a singing rebute to Ma
jor and Roach, who sought 10 serve the
Democratic party by a scheme to deny
hall the voters Of the State fair repre-
Isentation in the State Senate.
i 1t is safe to say that there will be no
more gerymandering Of senatorial and
congressional districts in Missouri. The
people have been throughly aroused
and public sentiment is everywhere as
serted against juggling districts ior
partisan advantage.
MexicaDs are not ready for such an