Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-12-26
THAT WARD
CERRYMANDER
The Division ssof the First
Ward Should Reduce
Its Representation
FOURTH WARD A FREAK
Msve was Evidently Peanut
Politics That Should Be
Discountenanced

Residents of South Aberdeen are
not particularly pleased with the ac-
ton of the city council in splitting
UP that division of the city so as to
place thirteen blocks in the Fourth
ward, and the South Aberdeen I'M
prOvement club called a meeting for
last Monday evening to discuss the
matter.
As South Aberdeen as a whole has
constituted the First ward, and had
the smallest number of registered vot.
ers of any ward in the city, the club
feared the change would result in
reducing the representation of the
ward from two to one councilman,
and Councilman ]. F. Myles was ask
ed to explain the reasons for the
change.
Feared Socialist Vote
Mr.. Myles was present at the meet
ing and stated that the object of the
change in ward lines was made for
the purpose Of preventing the elec-
ton of q socialist councilman from
that ward, a reason that does not CO.
ine7de with the vote at the general
election, when the socialists cast but
16s votes for president out of total
vote in the ward Of 1854.
Regarding the reduction Of the num-
her Of councilmen he guar
Anteed that the first ward
would continue to have two
nnembers, and promised to bring to
the club signed agreement, with the
signatures of six councilmen and May
or Parks, to that effect, which agree
ment he is to produce at the next
meeting of the club, on Monday even
ing. January 10.
Can He Make Good
i Residents of other wards are Won
derSng if Myles can make this guaran-
tee agreement good, and are not at
all pleased with a ward division that
gives the people OF South Aberdeen
almost double the representation on
the city council that other wards en-
10Y. on per capita basis.
The first ward had but 437 register.
ed vpters this year, and It is esti-
mated that the change will cut off at
least 100 of those, while the Fourth
ward to which this 100 is added, had
$50 registered. The Fifth ward has
413 registered voters, and the Sixth
73s. while the Second and Third have
t1S and $50 respectively. and 1t goes
without saying that those wards will
not willingly consent to 337 voters
having one-sixth of the representation
ON the council. The total registra.
tion Of the city, is 1852. which with II
councilman gives one to each 81
voters, and according to this the First
ward an constituted under the change
q entitled to but one member in all
fairness to the other sections of the
city.
Population the Basis
Ever since Aberdeen became a city
OF the second class, the council has
contained two members from each
ward, but this distribution is not re.
Quired by law In fact, the law ex'
pressly provides for the distribution
OF representation according to popu
lation, and just why Aberdeen, has
mot followed that fair plan is one OF
those things no fellow can find out.
Ward Two Miles Long
8 The ward lines of the city were
changed a year ago, and the Herald
is unable to discover a valid reason
for any alteration at this time, nor
should there be any at any time un.
less it is demanded in the interest OF
public convenience-the only reason
for the imaginary lines anyway.
According to the change complained
Of. the Fourth ward will extend from
Schley street, South Aberdeen, to the
northern limits of the city, distance
OF two miles, and the average citi
zen asks, why?
/, It Is not too late to correct this er
roF. The scheme was worked through
the deciding vote cast by Mayor
Parks, the council standing 6 to 6, ant
q would require the chang Of but ont
yote to reconsider the matter. and thu
Herald is inclined to believe tha
assre than one of the six voted fol
~ measure without . full concep
In u its meaning.