Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-06-02
Increased Representation.


II IS quite interesting, especially 10
old-tjmcrs to note a recrudescence OF the
.,neient question Of representation IN the
General Assembly, especially IN the mat
ter of a larger representation for Whining
TON The special session Of the Leglsia-
tnrc gave occasion for q rcvamping q me
,ld question and it has claimed a iar
share Of public attention during the past
fcw weeks The agitation IS chiefly
among Republicans. Int Democrats nave
welded somewhat to its influence, Sena-
TORS and Representatives Of that party
boldly expressing the contention tha'
Wilmington should have as she Is larry
entitled to. a larger representation IN both
branches Of the General Assembly
Mavor TAYLOR Of Wilmington has come
forward with the bold suggestion e cut
the Gordian knot by erecting the city Of
Wilmington into a county, thus securing
representation in the Legislature at least
eoInl to that Of rural New Castle county
and Kent and Sussex, respectively. ne
citv and county Of Wilmington would
undoubtedly sound very grand; II would
change local administrative conditions no
dolbt in 4 manner conducive to the m
terests Of Wilmington But i IS about as
understandable as a railway t. the moon
Verv ancient is this representation
question. Nearly a century ago the rural
staesment Of Delaware gazcd with Jealous
eyes on Wilmington. then a sturdy Dor
ouch Of less than 10000 population. and
made up their minds that It's progress
which they dinlv iorcsav, should never
be permitted to ovcrvhclm the rest oi the
State through anything Ike representa-
ton in the LEGISLATURE according 10 popu-
lation. And 80 the original system q equar
representation for the three counties was
continued ID the Constitution q 1851, and
the matter Of amending that instrument
thereafter was made 50 difficult, by reason
Of the yagueness Of the procedure set forth
- bring about changes. that John NJ.
CLAYTON. the ruling spirit Of the conven-
ton afterwards made his boast that II
respect al amending the Constitution he
had locked the door and thrown the
kew down the we'll And he was nearly
right. as ii required wears Of struggling y
bring about the Constitutional Conven-
tion Of 1897. which framed and promul-
rated our present fundamental law.
Mayor Taylor's suggestion Of creating
new county out Of Wilmington IS not
alfopetber new. One that was almost rs
equivalent division Of New Castle
county into two counties one comprising
the TERRITORY belcu the Christiana river
with the county seat Al New Castle. ane
thc other the territory north Of the Chrs
tana. with the county seat a. v lining
ton-chmed q large share q attention a
the session If Inc Legislature n 1873. ]
came very near 10 success, also, dc
terrnined effort by It's opponents a. the las
hours Of the session. backed By formld
able array Of facts showing the aliege'
great cost Of the undertaking. alone SUI
fcing to turn the legislative scales agalns
county division Looking back from TIN
distance. il seems most TegTettable tina
county division did not WIN At that time
- the scheme would have brought mucl
benefit to our city.
For the continuance Of the presen
situation. however, the larger share c
blame must rest upon the Republica
party. This is not meant as partisan re
Fiction. but as a statement Of fact. Tn
Republican party, as We have shown
recently. was very Jealous III the caus
of representation according TO populatlo
half century ago, and applied the prI
cjple to its state convention apportIor
ment But as time passed this zeal sui
sided. and for long time has not bee
in evidence Even the recent agitation {
the subject to a moderate extent has nc
had any effect upon party action. Demo
Gratis. in the main. always have been franz
" against any recognition Of the princip
Of representation according to Uopul;
ton. True, q Constitutional Conver
ton in which there was Democratic m;
ioritv made the slight concession Of tw
Senators and five Representatives
Wilmington under the old equal divlsiC
by counties Wilmington was allowed OF
member in each body only by party COZ
cession-but with almost uninterruptc
control Of the Legislature and the Sta
administration for about 3 quarter Of
century. the Republican party has doI
nothing whatever III the direction Of !u
tic for Wilmington
The truth is that public sentiment IN 8
Of rural Delaware, without regard to part
san divisions Of citizens, is soldly 81
resoIutely against the principle Of reDr
santation according to population. 7
day. such representation would pla