Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1912-04-24
No More Gerrymanders.

rt is beyond doubt that the peo-
| pie of Missouri may, by direct vote,
adopt measure apl0rtioning the
state into thirty -four senatorial dis
tricts. 1t may have to be done by
adopting an amendment to the con-
| ST tuition A subcommittee of the Re
| rlblican State Committee will fully
determine the legal problem involved
| and prepare the measure or measures
| 20 be submitted to vote. When the
State Committee approves the mea-
sliies and methods agreed upon petit
guod men over the state, according to
| the requirements cf the initiative and
referendum law, and when properly
signed will be filed with the Sacre-
| tary OF State This work will doubt
! less be taken up in May.
| The people have the undonbted
right to say, by ballot, how the six
teen congressional districts shall be
| formed. The Democrats" members OF
}congress from Missouri the two
J }lnmocratic SrnatOrS-trie hard 70
get through congress Il provision OF
| Jaw denying this right alto the people,
| but Governor Hadley and the Repub-
| iican members of congress from Mis-
l s,I 10 10 nri il.f
distinguished leaders in congress and
| the contemp'ible trick was exposed
| .Ld defeated. The Missouri Dem
Gratis in congress, incluuing Champ
| Clark, got through the House an ap-
| varent!y innocent clause in the reap
l;portionmeIt ILL providing that con
gressional districts should be deter
| mined in EACH state 20, the ieglSia-
| tt,res Thereof" which would have mad
| it impossible Tor the people OF Mis-
souri, to adopt a congressional redls-
trictiag bill. that clause was stricken
| cut of the bill before its final pass
lace. however, and in all the ~tatcS
| W hich nave adopted the initi = ve
and referendum law the people MAY.
hv direct vote apportiOn the state IN
Iccneressional districts, The Republic:i
Estate Committee will cause a con-
IGr1ssional redistricting bill to be sub
irlitted to popular vote next Novem
ILer It will provide for sixteen
Idistrcts of approximately equal pop
Iu!ation without reference to partisan
Ina Oritics. Ioneressmeu must be elec
led this year, however. from the Old
districts.
No fair apncrtionment of the stat
into senatorial and congressional dis
ltricts has ever been made since the
luresent state constitution was adopt
cd There is a provision in that docu
|ment under n;hich the Governor. the
Secretary OF State and the Attorney
General may establish senatorial dis
tricts at the beginning OF each de
ccnnial period when, for any reason,
the legislature may fail to do so. "
Iccursp the Democratic senate has al
iNays failed to PASS a senatorial re-
IdiStr;cting bill because three Demo,
icratic state officials, Unhindered by
|dc5ate and publicity, could make I.
lmore thorough gerrymander than thf
LEGISLATURE could be induced to adopt
Il asst year Attorney General Major ar
ISpcretary of State EaoCh tried t,
i''rut over" an iniquitous gerrvmande'
against the protest of Governor Hal
ll.l. who refused either to sign ol
lrrcmulgate it, and the supreme cOur
has sustained the objection of the
lGCyernor and has administered :
! Ist:nging rebuite to Major and Roach
who sought to serve the Democrats
marty nv scheme to GCny half thu
lNoters of the state fair representation
in the state senate.
II is safe to say that there will b
no more gerrymanderins of senator
ial and congressional districts il
Missouri. The people have been thor
ouehlv aroused and public seAtimen
is everywhere asserted against jus
e'ing districts for partisan advantage