The state herald., 1920-02-01
AN EXAMPLE OF WISE STATES
MANSHIP

The reapportionment bill which
has been introduced in the legisla
ture is bringing out some astonish.
ing arguments as TO why the meas.
ure should not pass at this session.
Not the least ridiculous Of these
arguments is the one that the east
end Of the state is inclined TO rsdi.
calism. and that Il would be unwise
TO grant the increased representa-
tion to which we are entitled by our
population. No part Of the state is
more free from the element which
has no respect for law and order than
are the counties comprising the east
end OF the state
The citizens are home-builders and
have the greatest respect for prop.
erty rights and laws which will pro-
tect them. Withholding justice and
the fair distribution OF law making
powers, however, viii have a tend
ency to cause a lack Of confidence
in constitutional authority. and a radi-
cal spirit encouraged.
The bill in question, which is based
on the population according to the
government census taken last year.
gives the agricultural counties OF the
state Z total representation in the
house Of thirty members instead OF
eighteen, the present number, or an
increase of twelve members.
At the present time. Gilpin, Clear
Greek and Douglas counties each have
a representative, with less population
in either OF these counties than there
is in Phillips or Sedgwick, while the
new bill combines these two last
named for the purpose of selecting
one representative.
The mining counties are so wrought
up over the possibility of their los
ing some OF the power to which they
are not entitled that they are making
threats. which denotes radicalism in
the extreme. The article which We
reprint below, taken from the Lead.
Vile Herald. indicates that II they
are deprived OF their unfair PRIVILEGES
they will secede from the balance OF
the state and set up government OF
their own. The article is as follows:
Reducing the Representation
The mining sections OF Colorado
will give full support and encourage
ment to Representative Dickerman in
his announced intention TO fight vi
gorously the proposal to curtail the
representation from the mining
counties. In the legislative report In
the Denver News we read:
The proposal To take from the
mining counties the representation
they now have is unfair. he declared.
because Of the low ebb in the mining
Industry at present, which has de-
creased the population IN these dis.
tricts,
Mining. he said. was the basis
for the states early-day development
and again will be the leading indus.
Try Of the state when normal eondi.
tions have shown what thay really
arc.
n the legislature sees IL to
change the representation. he added,
there are enough people left in the
mining counties in tho monnialna to
form a state OF their own"
"'Of course Il Is unfair 10 take ac.
ton at this time The mining In.
duEtry ia the Oldest, and was for many
years tho only industry In the state
To deprive Il OF the moager repre-.
sontation which II now has IN tho
state legislature would work ser.
ious hardship by placing the legis
latiye power almost wholly In the
hands OF the agrarian interests.
Representative Dickcrman raises
u very Interesting question as to the
possibility OF u new state. There are
those who seriously contend that II
geographical conditions governed the
boundary lines this section Of Colo
RADIO would not be In any way con
nected with tho country east Of the
Rocky Mountains. The present divi
son is an unnatural one. and there
are those who have contended tina,
this section more properly belongs "a
Utah"
Eastern Colorado will not secede
or Join on TO Nebraska II the prcscn,
legislature refuses to grant the ro
presentation TO which they are en-
titled. but win use every lawful means
10 secure just rcapportlonmont. In
the knowledge that we are right, and
thnt eventually right must prevail