South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-05
FAIRFIELD URGES
IMMEDIATE ACTION
ON APPORTIONMENT
Representative Says Several
States May Lose Politi-
cal Influence.
BY louis IUDLOW

By LOUIS LUDLOW
WASHINGTON. ID. g.. Nov -
IN an interview recently. Rep. Louis
W Fairfield. OF Indiana. the ranking
member Of the house committee on
census. issued a warning 90 the peo-
pie OF a number Of states that un-
less congress acts on apportionment
legislation these states Will be rob-
bed OF a good deal Of the authority
that would rightfully belong 70
them both ia the presidential con-
ventions that viii choose the next
candidates for the presidency and
IN the electoral college that will
elect the next president in 1924.
Mr. Fairfield declared that II Is
time the people should know what
the policy OF congressional procras-
tination is costing them.
The state Of Ohio" said he. lis
not only being deprived Of the full
representation 70 which Il is en-
titled In congress but the punish
ment that is being inflicted upon
the state goes much farther than
that use that state by way Of
illustration.
"The constitution OF the United
States expressly provides that the
number OF presidential electors 20
which a state is entitled shall be
equal 20 the number OF its senators
and representatives and shall be
based upon population. The custom
that has grown up in reference to
apportionment at presidential con
ventions provides that each state
shall be entitled 20 twice as many
delegates as IL has members IN the
two branches Of congress-
This creates a situation which
means that the state Of Ohio rs get
ting burnt any way you take H. II
is being robbed OF the influence II is
entitled 10 exert in making the laws
and IN deciding how the moneys
raised by taxation shall be spent and
unless congress does its duty and
passes superintendent legislation in
the near future IL viii be robbed Of
part Of the influence Il Is entitled
10 exercise in the presidential con-
ventions and the electoral college.
cit is a situation that calls for
action on the part OF Ohio members
OF congress, for the interests OF
their state are directly at stake. /
am satisfied that II the people of
Ohio knew how the state rs being
unjustly punished because congress
does not do its constitutional duty
public sentiment would become
alive at once and would manifest
itself with unmistakable force.
Every state is inherently entitled to
Hs full representation in congress, in
the presidential conventions and in
the electoral college. Ohio and
some other states are being denied
their rights"
Rep. Fairfield announced that in
his capacity as the ranking Repub-
lican member Of the census COM
mittee he intends to lead a fight to
the finish at the regular session
which begins IN December to secure
action by congress fixing the unit OF
apportionment so that the state leg
islatures which Will meet next jan
uary may proceed TO redistrict their
several states for congressional pur-
poses I'm accordance with the. num-
her OF members OF congress to
which they may be entitled under
the new unit
Some members are bent on fore
ing a delay at least until after 1925"
he said "Other members would
rather have no reappOrtionment leg
islation passed at all The mem
bers who would hold up the pro
cession are governed by selfish local
rrTF-
tain the status quo because the
changes in population that have oc-
CURED during the last decade
would be observation-disclosures 10 their
states. Some OF the members who
are baking fear that they would
lose out in the shuttle II their leg
islatures undertook TO change dis
trict boundaries 10 comply with a
new apportionment unit. But the
constitution says plainly that there
shall be a reapportiOnment after
every decennial census and congress
Is not doing its constitutional duty.
Mr.. Fairfield pointed out that
there are two schools OF thought in
congress. One school, 20 which he
himself belongs. opposes any in
crease IN the size or the mousse over
the ass members who now compose
that body. Another school would
increase the house TO a point where
only two states-Maln and Missouri
would lose representation by rea-
son OF diminishing population and
those states would only lose one
member each.
II the FIRST school wins. Ohio
would gain two members OF con-
gress. four delegates I'm each Of the
national conventions and two mem
bers or the electoral college.
II the second school wins Ohio
would gain three members OF con-
eress six delegates IN each OF the
national conventions and three
members OF the electoral college.
SO whatever happens, Ohio viii
gain substantial additional represen-
tation in congress. IN the national
conventions and the electoral col
iege. provided there Is any action
BY congress at all.
Some OF the Ohio members OF