Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24

justification was not correct. The
census of 1920 was not materially un-
representative. The growth of cities at
the expense of farms and villages was
not a temporary condition due to the
war, and did not cease with the war; 1t
was growing condition, already long
under way, and having more momentum
right now than ever before. The wan
dering of agriculture was not temporary
and was not destined to be reversed.
II continues. in greater force. To do
something about it, through farm relief
and tariff changes, is the purpose of
the coming extra session of Congress
Whether the actions of Congress will
actually reverse the trend from farm
to city-whether Congress will sincerely
and intelligently and directly aim at
this specific purpose-that remains to
be seen.
In the coming reapportionment az
members will be lost mainly by farming
States; they will be gained mainly by
States having large cities. Twenty
three members of Congress who now
speak for farming communities will in
future speak for city constituencies.
What Change win Mean.
That will mean much on questions
affecting the relative interests of farm
ers and manufacturers. 1t will mean
much on questions within the field of
prohibition. 1t will mean much on all
the questions that involve diversity Of
interest between rural folks and city
folks. The aggregate shift in congress
sional roll calls will be. OF course, twice
%, or 49, And many an important roll
call is decided by much less than As
votes. THE total membership of the
lower house is 435)
But the consequences 60 much farther
They reach presidential elections in a
most important way.
In presidential elections each State
has as many electoral votes as its MEM
bers in the two branches of Congress.
Consequently, in future presidential
elections there will be % fewer electoral
votes from mainly rural States and %
more from States having great cities.
Presidential elections have been won
and lost with smaller margins than %
electors The election of 1916, between
Woodrow Wilson and Charles E. Hughes.
was decided by % electoral votes, Will
son having PIT and Hughes 254. A
change OF only IL electoral votes would
have reversed the outcome.
Makeup of Conventions.
And still that is not the end of the
consequences. Presidential nominating
conventions are made up. roughly. on
the basis OF two delegates for each
member of Congress. Consequently,
after reapportionment, In 1882 and
thereafter. there will be IS fewer dele
gates from rural States and As more
from mainly city districts. This APP.
plies to both the parties-Republican
and Democratic. 1t will mean some
thing. Particularly will it mean some
thing as between the strength of cities,
which are mainly wet. and the strength
OF rural districts. which are mainly dry
To paraphrase one of the most ia
miliar sayings in American history
"Cttyward the course of empire takes
its way"
What I have been trying to express
was said more forcibly by Representa-
tive Ralph F. Lozier of Missouri. He
was talking on different aspect of re-
apportionment. He was arguing for an
increase In the total number OF Con-
gressmen. That would partially, though
not greatly, modify the consequences of
reapportionment. But enlargement will
not take place 1t is agreed that the
number of members shall remain what
II now ts-43S. Everything that Rep
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