The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-12-24

EX-GOY. WHITE
tconanusd Prom FIRST Pare,

AepuDncans OF these counties In con
Igressional matters. Besides. another
fact not to be overlooked and one that
must be seriously considered IL that
the counties embraced in such a dis
.trict gave to Mr.. Sutherland in 1914 |
nearly 1900 votes. half of which would
the majority we have given
our Republican governors for a mum.
Der OF years: and. besides, IL took last
election over 5000 OF these votes to
equal Mr.. Hodges vote. With such
unfair treatment little or nothing could |
be expected from the Republicans of
those counties except rebuke. There
lore, instead OF being a beneficial
move for the Republican party, in my
opinion. ii undoubtedly would have
just the opposite effect. | do no.
think II would be fair TO the peopIel
OF those counties nor to tbs gentle
men of those communities who NAV
have political ambitions. The Re-
publican party can o afford to loce
from its ranks or to discourage by
such a move so many loyal and cap
able Republicans OF great influence. !
Their Republican blood courses
through loyal veins; they have been
faithful and true in the past and they
are deserving OF proper consideration |
looking 10 the future. Moreover, tue
1910 vote shows the folly of the argu-
ment' Tor. taking that vote. only two
districts can be figured that would
have been Republican in that wear.
Our good friend. Howard Sutherland.
and the other staunch. loyal and
worthy Republicans who fought nobly
for success in b past are worthy or
all the consideration and mark OF re-
spect that can now be shown.
i think that the legislature at its
coming session should submit to the
people a constitutional amendment which
would make II possible TO have a
smaller membership in the House OF
delegates. This question arises both
from an economical standpoint and with
me object In view that the membership
Of the House does not become so large
That 10 will be nm unwieldly body. there
oy rctarding and making difficult proper
legislation during the short period a. is
section four OF article six OF our con-
stitution provides that the bership
OF the Senate cannot be less than twen-
ty-four but that II may be increased
The increase can be made so far a. A
proPortionate equal division OF the pop
ulation viii permit. A. that body at
present IL comprised OF only thirty
mem bers u cannot be said that IL Is too
large 90 be effective and without any
constitutional amendment sufficient
changes can be made. AZ found necessary.
The question OF the membership 81
ne House % DELEGATES presents an
bound 20 increase very materially under
our present constitutional provisions. N
= the population OF the state does. our
torefathers, OF course. could not look
into the future growth OF the state a.
70 the various sections and counties.
they therefore thought u a sufficient
margin and the part Of wisdom 10 write
section six Of article six. OF the ronstitu-
ton. which provides that For the cleo
tion OF Delegates. every county contain
nfths Of the ratio Of ropresentation FOR
the House % Delegates, shall AZ each
superintendent. be attached TO some con
Delegate District Since 1901 tbers
have been no delegate districts. each
county having one delegate. which
measure. firmly believe thai our
state T. TOO big and too great FOR any
delegate districts now. I believe each
Der. but do not think thst ID H. the part
q wisdom % allow the threo-nfths pro-
nlsion ei our constitution % stand. a. ~
membership IN the House.
think a. would be n very popular
move as Vel a. an economical one.
organic iaN would nave = tendsney 40
Z produce wholesome legislation. A.
have said think each county should
have AZ least one delegate. rorardloaa
~ population. and the law could fhen
embrace q provision that every county
.N.NA % fNNNANNN 10 o." many additional
DELEGATES 40 - population divided hv
the pfoportiuuate rate o. population
would euuue A. 90. or ~ could eatah-
llsh q reasonably nigh urnpnrfI0unfo
rate Tor additional deierater Dor in.
stance the 1910 population ~ our state
vas I22i,i1e and thia divided hy our
hftf -four counties would make the pro.
~purtionate ratio "a. 900 and ln order Tor
r cuuntV % have two DELEGATES DO would
have 90 have r. population 81 fAf0f and
~ on. Under this arrangement CahslL
faystte. Harrison. Mcpuweu ana ohio
! COUNTIES would be entitled fo two dele.
rates and kanaWha county o. three nnd
each ~ the other counties Co. ono dele.
gate. making the total msmbarahIu 90
tho House " DELEGATES rlnty.twa.
whereas under the present provisions
n our Constitution the memherahfn 0f
The house aiu be- Increased 90 NINETY.
four 81 Least. instead NJ ciFhty-slr hs
r. o. now. an increase Of nearly one
member for each year between faEInr
the national census Grant county has
the smallest population ~ any county
ln he state and in order that it and
Other counties ~ small population may
have one delcgate under the three.
hfths provision in force. BE- ia necessary
that tnn memh0rahip % the house ta
made large. but ~ q provision wac
ulHHnI Iu ono state runnflfuflun fnnft
'frH county should have I'd least ons