Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1922-03-31
HYDE FORCES PLAN INITIATIVE
IN MOVE FOR REDISTRICTING-

MetnO0 DeC}ueu Opoh AW S-"o
Out State Senate System Shaped
By Governor. Would Make 20 OF
81 Seats Republican. Petitions to
Be Ready for Circulation in IA OF
16 Districts Soon Must Carry 8
Per Cent of Voters. isi
Jefferson City, March 25.-Repub-
lican leaders friendly to Gov. Hyde
and his administration have decided
to rearrange the senatorial districts
of the State by initiative. The re-
districting which they will try TO car
ry into effect by the method is that
shaped, last April by Gov. Hdye, At
torney-General Barrett and Secretary
of State Becker, with the aid Of Lieu
tenant Governor Lloyd, but which
was held invalid by the State Su-
preme Court Dec. 8, last. The Repub-
lican districts, should they ever be
adopted, are expected to render ~
of the "a seats in the State Senate
safely Republican, as against the
overwhelmingly Democratic complex
ion of the present gerrymander which
has been in effect since 1901.
The decision to make another eff
fort to redistrict was reached after
conferences which have been in prog
ress here several days and in which
have participated DR.. E. B. Clements,
chairman of the Republican State
Committee, City Collector Edmond
Koeln of st. Louis, chairman Roy
Monier of the State Tax Commits
sion; James "A. Finch of New Ma
drid, State Oil Inspector and others.
Frequent consultations have been
held with the Governor. Forms for
the petitions which are to be circu-
lated in probably Ia of the 16 con-
gressional districts have been drawn
and will go to the printer today. Cir
culation petitions will be begun with
5ri a week or two, it is stated.
sPer Cent Vote Required
To enact legislation or constitution
al amendemnt by initiative petitions
bearing eight per cent of the voters
in two-thirds of the congressional
district must be fled with the Secre
tary of State four months prior TO
regular State election, at which th'
proposal is then voted upon by th'
people, the measure being enacted O.
rejected by their action at that time
This means that the Republican
must obtain signatures of 8 per cen
of the voters in at least IL congres
sional districts, which is expected tt
mean between 10000 and 7o,o0'
names. These petitions must be file'
with Secretary of State Becker b.
July Z, as the proposition would b
voted upon at the election Nov.
next. No petitions probably will b
circulated in the Fifth Congressiona
District (Kansas City, or the Tent
(St. Louis and St Louis County,, be
cause those districts are so large tina
obtaining signatures of 8 per cen
of their votes would be considerable
undertaking. Democratic partisan
who instituted the court attack ,upo
the Hyde Becker Barrett redistrict
ing which proved successful, are no
expected to take legal steps to bloc
the Republican iniatiative efforts, a
Democratic leaders feel REASONABLE
confident of victory at the polls
Missouri in November and are pei
fectly willing to let the redistrictin
go to a vote.
Redistricting Attempted in 1872
Republicans on one previous OF
casion attempted to redistrict by in
tiative, in 1912, and completed pet
tions from about nine districts, br
party dissention on the "Bu
Moose" issue prevented success
the venture.
Keen disappointment was felt b
Republican partisans when the 81
preme Court held that adoption {
the iniatiative and referendul
amendment to the State Constitutio
had taken from the elective State o.
ficers power to redistrict, and the
leaders since have been castin
about for another way to redistric
Though not especially sanguine as
their chances in November. the
have about determined that the in
tiative offers the only avenue "
open to them on redistricting, hens
their decision to follow it.