The Parker post., 1916-11-04

NO. 1O6--YES X
PASSAGE OF LEGISLATIVE RE-
DlSTRicTiNG AMENDMENT NOR
THERN YUMA COUNTY VILLA
BE ASSURED OF REPRESENTA-
$TiON IN THE LEGISLATURE.

Il One of ohe most important amend
lhents to be voted ON at the election
TO b held Tuesday is the one to
amend Article of the Constitution
Epf Arizona, providing for legislative
I:edistrictng. This amendm ent is of
vital Importance to northern Yuma
county, if this part of the county
ropes to secure represent alton In
the state legislature.
A speaker from Yuma who recent
ty toured the northern part of the
county. mentioned in the course of
his speech this amendment, and ad-
vlsed the voters to vote against it.
Of course, coming from a Yuma poll
t1cdan this occasioned no surprise, as
that part Of the county desires to
continue forevermore grabbing off all
on the elective offices in the county
and they are now fearful lest the
the people, because it is northern
the people, because if it is northern
yuma county will form a part of
legislative district and be assured of
having representation in the Iegisla-
ture.
The amendment Will appear upon
the ballot as No. 106 and No. 1O7
Place your x opposite 106-Yes.
The amendment is based on the
same principle and follows the same
rule that has been in effect since the
formation OF our government in the
election OF senators and representa-.
tiVes to our national congress. Sen
ators are elected from the states at
large, and representatives. from con-
gressional districts.
In the proposed amendment the aps
portionment is 50 made, and it is
definitely stated, that no county sha
nave less representation in the state
legislature than it has at present,
but 1t provides for an increase In the
representation when the population
OF the county justifies it. The con-
stituttonal provision now in effect
does not make any allowance for in.
crease In representation with the
srowth of population in tnis state
The proposed amendment gives each
county equitable representation, and
provides system of home rule by
which every section of the state can
nave Its representation in the legis-
lature; so that each particular local
lty. OF fifteen hundred voters shall
have a representative to look after
it's interests.
When you consider the diversified
resources OF some of our counties
lhls feature of the amendment is
particularly desirable 1t is a means
Of securing the best qualified men
In each locality to become candidates
for the legislature, for the reason
that in small districts of fifteen hun
dred voters, where a man is known
to every voter inthe district, his uuals
lflcatlons to represent. a particular
district in the legislature will be the
consideration with the great bulk of
the voters rather than his political
affiliation.
The constitution of the state grants
women the right of suffrage and this
necessarily carries With it the right
to hold office. The legislature is a
fruitful field for the activities of
women interested in political affairs,
out 1t lis almost a physical impossi-
DIllty Tor a WOmantO make cam
pa1gn over a county larger than an
eastern state for the sake of being
elected to the legislature which meets
for sixty days every two years. The
election by Legislative districts makes
It possible for more women to be eli
ected to the legislature.
Thls same argument applies to the
average business or professional
man He has not and will not give
the time fromhisbusiness NO matter
what 1T may be, to make a campaign
over one of those large counties.
Thus the state is deprived of the
services OF men andWomen competent
to make our laws and appropriations
Tor the conduct of our state govern
ment running into millions of dollars.
The question of who shah represent
you in the Legislature is a serious
one and one deserving of more
thought and attention than it has
heretofore received from the major
lty OF the voters of this state.
This proposed amendment provides |
FOR an annual salary for members of !
The legisla ture, rather than the pres |
ent system of per diem allowance /
Ih1s eliminates the incentive to della. !
public business for the purpose of !
forcing the executive to call special |
sessions of the legislature, so that |
the members may continue to draw
their per diem allowance from the |
state treasury.