The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1913-03-20
Nd new CONSTITUTION
OR new DISTRICTS.
Legislature Fails to Pass Re-
DiStriCting Bill.
AFaW Patches Proposed for the Old Con-
stitutiOn Right Of State Officers
to Re.DiStriCt in Doubt, but Another
GerrymaHder May Be Attempted

Jefferson City, March IT, -- The
Forty,seventh general assembly has
hesilated about providing for con
vention to write a new constitution.
As the democrats easily control "a OF
the 34 senatorial districts and could
therefore elect 48 of the 68 delegates
who would sit in a constitutional con
vention it has been supposed that the
democratic leaders would urge the
legislature to pass resolution submit
ting 10 popular vote proposition to
oganize such convention, but the
only measure en- the subject was killed
in the senate last week, then revived
and passed, and is now pending in the
house. A convention cannot be called
until the people vote Tor it. Several
amendments to the old document are
to be submitted, however, though the
people are weary Of patching it.
There will be no re-auanging Of
congressional districts this year, the
legislature having failed to pass a cor
gressional redistricting bill. From the
democratic standpoint it is not desir-
able to change congressional districts,
as fourteen Of the sixteen are now
democratic, though several would be
closely contested were the republicans
united.
The thirty'four senatorial districts
may not be changed. The Legislature
has failed to pass a senatorial redistrict'
ing bill, just as it failed to do s. in
1911, when it was required TO do So,
under section 7 Of article " Of the
constitution, which says:
Sec. T. Senator's and representa-
tives shall be chosen according 10 the
rule OF apporrionment es,sbisf ed in
this constitution, until the next decen-
NAL census by the Upi'ed States S1all
have been taken, and the result thereof
as to this state ascertained, when the
apportionment shall be revised AID
adjusted on the basi, Of that census
and every ten years thereafter upo1
the basis OF the United States census;
or if such census be not taken, or is
delayed, then on the basis Of a state
census; such apportionment 10 be
made at the first session of the general
assembly after each such census: Pro-
vided, that il at any time, or from any
cause, the general assembly shall lai
or refuse TO district the state for sen.
ators, as required in, this section, il
shall be the duty Of the governor, sec
retary Of state and attorney general
within thirty days after the adjourn
ment Of the general assembly on which
such duty devolved, to perform saic
duty.
Under that section Of the constitu
ton the governor, attorney general al
secretary OF state have laid out senator
ial districts at the beginning Of ever,
decennial period since the constitution
was adopted, democratic Legislature
having failed TO follow the mandate c
the law. In 1911 Attorney Genera
Major and Secretary Of Safe Roach al
tempted gerry mander Of senator's
districts over the protest Of Governc
Hadley, who proposed a lair and Law
full division Of the counties. The 81
preme court declared the Major koac
geuymander unfair and unlawful, $
the districts have remained as the
were established in 1901. AS th
section above quoted prescribeS thi
the redistrictirg shall be done by Ii
first general assembly conveniug aft,
the decennial census, or else by II
the state officers named, ard as thel
was default by that assembly and /
said officers the question has bee
raised, has the second assembly COZ
vening after the decennial census,
the state officers named, the right