The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-13
The Duty to Redistrict
(Minneapolis Tribune

AAASAANS
Unless the state legislature speeds up its work Of re-
ap~portionment, there is an excellent prospect that Min
nesota will have to elect nine congreSsmen-at-large
when it goes to the polls in November, 1882. The state,
of course, loses one of its 10 representatives under the
reapportionment act of 1929, and unless 1t chooses to re-
pattern its present congressional districts to allow Tor
this loss, the entire system of district representation Is
headed straight for the discard.
To us the abandonment Of that system, even for one
election, seems undesirable in the extreme. The election
of congressman by districts. like the election Of alder
men by wards, permits a representation OF local interests
and an expression Of local sentiment and opinion utterly
impossible where a choice must be made from the state
at large. At present the voters of Minnesota are called
upon every two years to cast an intelligent and informed
ballot for one representative, and it IS an assignment
which is, even under the most favorable circumstances,
difficult enough. To expect these same voters to cast
an intelligent and informed ballot for nine representa-
tiyes would be, of course, to multiply the difficulties and
uncertainties and inducements of q congressional cleo
ton exactly nine times. For every candidate. 1t would
mean the expense and labor of a statewide. instead OF
a district, campaign: and for every voter the necessity
of discriminating not between two or three candidates,
but between a score or more.
two senator's. There is no opportunity for local interests
or local sentiment to be expressed, as such, IN the upper
house, for senators are elected by the state at large ana
are expected to represent the state at large. It Is only TO
the lower house that the state can look, therefore, for
the opportunity of local self expression. and this op-
portunity is not one to be lightly brushed aside. To say
that Minnesota has sectional interests which deserve 70
be represented in congress does not mean. necessary
that they are conflicting interests, but merely that Sec
tional problems exist which are important enough, 70
warrant the special thought and attention which dlstl'cs
representation assures.
It should not be difficult for the state legislature to ar
rive at some fair and satisfactory solution Of the problem
Of redistricting. The temptation to gerrymander tne
state into trick districts for party advantage IS no doubt
. strong one in certain quarters, but those who attempt
It viii receive scant public sympathy. Minnesota wants
nothing more than an equitable and unbiased Gvlaon
Of the state into nine congressional districts and the as-
surance, as a result Of such division, that 1t VIII nos
have to elect its congressman from the state at large
ltn 1899. The state is entitled to representation by dis
| tricts and it should not be cheated of that representa-
ton by the legislature under any circumstances. It has
chaos and confusion which failure to redistrict would In
eyitahly create in 1892. The reapportionment duties Of
the legislature are SO plain and obvious that they need
hardly be pointed out. For the legislature to neglect
them. We are disposed to believe. would be unpardonahle