Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-11
IOWA DELEGATION IN CONGRESS-
PoLLeb ON QUESTION OF
REPRESENTATION.
UNEQUAL PoWeRs HELD
BY soUrHERN STATES
Senators and Representatives Ask
That Votes ins North Bs Made 70
Count - Much a. Those Below
Mason and Dixon Lins--Five Of
Designation Make Replies.

Washington, Jana 1.-THE Iowa DEL
egation In congress is overwhelmingly
in favor Of the proposal to eradicate
the disparity between the influence in
the conduct OF the government welded
by southern and northern voters.
The letter addressed on this subject
to the senator's and representatives
from Iowa follows:
Iowa, which cast $4,000 votes in
the recent presidential election, has
eleven congressman and thirteen votes
in the electoral college, Alabama,
which cast 1875, 44O votea has ten con-
gressmen and twelve electoral votes.
with approximately one-fourth as
many votes as Iowa, Alabama has
practically the same representation In
congress and counts for practically as
much In the election of a president.
one voter In Alabama has more voice
in the government than four voters
In Iowa.
Under the present administration
Iowa has contributedsto the support of
the government $S.sS3,s44 in internal
revenue and received $146,175 in fed
eral appropriations. Alabama has paid
81, az. ~ yinternal revenue and re-
cetved 1894, - in government appro-
priations. s
.syViliSyou insist upon legislation to
give the voters Of lows IA much repre-
sentation as the voters OF Alabama, or
do you think that the voters Of Ala
bama should continue to xercise four
times as much tinfiuencesin the conduct
OF the government as the voters of
Iowa g''s
Reply BY Iowa Senators.
Here are the replies so far received:
Senator Cummins (republican)-I
nave been now for years endeavoring
to arouse some public sentiment with
respect to the inequality and conse-
quent injustice Of MISREPRESENTATION OF
the various states, not only in political
conventions but in congress. The
movement which Isbsgan eliminated
finally in correcting the wrong par
tally, so far as the republican con.
ventioil isssconcerned; sbut confess
that under ratic4administration
with a. demoeraticL congress i do not
know any way In which we can correct
The inequality. of representation in
congress. IF YOU will point the way
you will find me jealous follower.
Senator Kenyon (republican)
think that, before this session Is over
d bill will be introduced along the lines
of square deal" on this question of
representation. IT is not a square deal
10 the people or the northern states
that present conditions should con-
tinue. VI lsys Il
Nisws Of House Members.
Representative Green replhlican -
me ininsticA 81 this pr S.tice IS SO ap-
{ parent as to speak for itself. and there
Is ~ doubt that this wrong ought not
to be permitted to exist.
Representative Towner republican,
~ have been for some time and am
now, very strongly in favor Of making
the superintendent sof representatives
dependent upon The voting population.
/ shall support that proposition when
ever 1t comes before congress in any
practical form.
Representative Good (republican)--
You have called attention not only to
q great inequality. butte great Illus
tice.s I shall be glad to Vote for any
provision that will correct the Injustice
you have pointed out. II many o. the
southern states continue the practice
OF preventing the free exercise q the
ballot, sooner or later we will amend
the constitution so that representatives
will be apportioned among the several
states according to their number Of
voters. instead Of the actual number
of people residing within such states.