Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-25
DISTRICT CHANGES
| BECLOUD POLITICS
Reapportionment Bringing
Strife of Uncertain Outcome
in 81 States.

~ the Associated Press
Geographical shifts Of political
strength are increasing difficulties of
party leaders in solving the 1882 presi-
DENTAL puzzle.
Both electoral college and national
party conventions are affected by the
congressional reapportionment involving
81 Representatives in 80 States and the
corresponding vote changes in nomi-
mating and electing the next President.
Prospects that internal quarreis over
redistricting may force a large number
of Representatives to run at large in
important States further cloud the
political horizon. In these States pro-
hibtion and Tumbles of insurgency fore
cast added complications.
II the national committees decide
that the next convention delegations
shall be chosen on the basis Of the
recent apportionment, Pennsylvania,
Missouri Massachusetts,, New York and
Minnesota may bring new Influences to
the nominating assemblies.
Pennsylyania DeadIocked..
Pennsylvania, dropping from IS 10 "a
Representatives. is deadlocked over re-
districtfng. Failure to reach an agree
nent before the next election would
force all "a to campaign the entire
Etntes jlkcWlSct ~ RIOUdQly WOulu
mean election at large of delegates to
the party conventions.
In Republican ranks 1t Is conceded
Gov. Pinchot, should he run on an in
dependent progressive platform. would
have more chance Of taking q "Pincilot"
Pennsylvania delegation to the Republi-
can convention If the delegates were
elected at large than If they ran in
congressional districts.
TAFT
passed by the Republican Legislature
without Gov. Roosevelt's approval, must
stand court examination. II declared
invalid, the alternative OF passing a
bill or running Representatives at large
would remain.
Il Should the Representatives be forced
20 run at large 1t would have to be de-
;cided whether this rule applied to the
two new members or the entire bloc
In the next Congress. The general
practice, however, is that when States
gain representation and fail to re-
district only the new members run at
large.
\ Prohibition Looms In Missouri.
X Missouri's Republican Governor We
toed the redistricting measure Of q
democratic legislature. Unless a new
bill Is agreed on, the delegation Of IS
will run at large. foretelling . prohi-
;bition fight between st. Louis and rural
areas. It may mean also wholly dry
pr wet convention delegations.
3 Farmer-Labor Gov. Floyd D. Olson
vetoed the redistricting measure of the
Minnesota legislature. Following New
Works example. some leaders claim the
Governor should not conStttutionally
participate In such legislation and that
the vetoed bin Is valid. Pending q
court ruling the entire delegation Of 81
Is slated to Ylm at large. thereby
Amending the opportunity Of Progress
sive elements in capturing delegates to
The national conventions.
Redistricting legislation Is pending In
Massachusetts, where Republican Leg
Aslature has found difaculty IN prepar-
ing a bin acceptable 70 q Democratic
Governor. Failure to act might mean
D congressional delegation controlled by
Democratic, anti-prohibition Boston.
! California ReapportIoned.
{ California passed a reapportionmen.
Saw. but q referendum movement ulti-
Jbers to run at large Indiana'S allOt-
anent of territory TO her IL Representa-
1ives is being fought In the courts.
Ten States In the solid South suf-
Ter q net loss Of one Representative
However, Texas, . strong Democratic
State, gains three, while Kentucky, on
the border line, loses two.
Counting New York's action as con-
gtitutional, IA States have redistricted
In addition to Indiana and California,
they are Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Maine,
Michigan, North Carolina, Nebraska,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington
and Vermont.
The question still Is under eonsideTa-
tion in Florida, Massachusetts,, Pennsyl
gania, Wisconsin and Texas Illinois
did not gain or lose by the last census.
but Il ef1deavoring to make places forI
two existing Representatives-at-lar large.
New Representatives will run at large
In Ohio, North Dakota, Connecticut and
Oklahoma. unless the States take spe-
cial action. States whose Legisla tures
viii meet in the future to consider re-
districting laws include Georgia, Ken
lucky. Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode
Island, Virginia and South Carolina.