New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-04-16
CITY Large ENOUGH
FOR Two SENATORS
At Least One Would Almost
Surely Be Democrat

group Federalist strength so as to
limit the representation of that
party in the general assembly. will
lot be possible in New Britain when
tn" proposed new senatorial distric,
Is created, because OF the peculiar
distribution of party allegiance.
It will be remembered that Ell
bridge Gerry. when he was governor
Q! the Bay State. caused a new divi-
sion of the counties to be made. To
insure democratic strength the line
was made most irregular. reaching
far out Of its way to envelope coun-
ties with substantial Fedcralist
strength to prevent these electors
from Overwhelming the democrats
CT several districts.
One district under the new law
WIS so irregular in form that 1t
was not unlike some horrible ami
NAL. Nathan Hale an editor of that
day drew the geographical figure
and exhibited it at a dinner party.
Some said it looked like a sa!aman-
der. No" said another, 1T is Il
Gerrymander." For years the term
was used as q contemptuous eX-
preston when referring to demo-
cratic politics and Governor Gerry.
New Britain has had marked
growth In recent years, Yet it has
continued o have only one senator
In the general assembly at Hartford.
The last apportionmcnt was made
on the census OF 1920. At that time
the city's population was estimated
to be 59,3lG. whereas scmi-official
counts now place it at so, 900. There
is no district in the state having SO
great a population with one rcna'
tor, and in some instances New Brit
aims population is equal to the
combined voting strength OF several
districts having several senator's.
Waterbury has two senators, one Of
whom represents a district OF So,
sS4 electors. Hartford has three.
In Hartford's largest senatorial dis
trict there arc 1858 voters, while
1885 from another section send
senator. and A3,O03 in third have
the same representation as the en-
tire city OF New Britain.
New Haven has three senator's.
No one Of the three districts has 81
population half as great as that OF
New Britain, the census showing
3S,06S, 39,S32. and $3.50 rcspec-
lively.
On the basis Of the representa-
ton for Canaan and surrounding
towns, New Britain would be en-
titled to four senator's since those
towns have n combined population
Of 1885.
Districts having population
about one-third as great as New
Britain. but each having the same
senatorial strength. include Middle
town, Holland, Durham. LitchGeld
snd Ashford.
Should a new senatorial district BE-
created, it would be practically i'm
possible TO prevent the city from
having equal party representation in
Hartford. no matter what form OF
Gerrymandcr was attempted for
continuous line. perpcndicularly or
horizontally placed, would concen-
1rate minority voting strength in
such a way as to practically insure
q minority victory. If the line were
to be placed across the middle of
the third and fourth wards, repub-
lican landsldes in the lower half
would be a certainty but the fifth
and sixth wards now in control of
the democrats would probably give
that party a substantial majority.
We're the line to be placed on the
boundary separating wards l, and
s from wards ., 4 and 6, the lower
wards would ovcrwhclm the fifth,
but the sixth would have n great
lead over the small republican vote
in the second and fourth.
Re-apportionment by the general
assembly will be required before
new district is created. With q.
@. p. control in the legislature and
that body in a position to say wheth-
or there shall be a second senator
from New Britain, meanwhile aware
of the fact that such an official
stands a good chance Of being
democrat. local followers OF Thomas
Jefferson's principles are not count
ing their chickens.