The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1932-11-17
STATE SUFFERS BECAUSE OF LEGIS-
LATIVE DUMBNESS.

STATE SUFFERS BECAUSE VI LEUlS-
LATIVE DUMBNESS.
Following the completion of Federal
census every ten years, where a state has
either gained or lost congressman, it is up
to the first session of the legislature follow
ing the Federal census to redistrict the state.
The last Federal census was taken in
1880.
Minnesota did not make as large popu-
lation increase as some of the other states
and the Congressional representation from
this state was reduced from 10 to nine.
Perhaps the most important committees
of the 1881 session of the Minnesota legis-
lature were those on reapportionment
The committee in each branch of the leg
islature were playing politics. 1t was quite
generally conceded that the Tenth district,
composed of few wards in Minneapolis and
outlying country, would be absorbed by the
other districts. Just how to do this was
problem.
The committees fddled around until the
last days of the session when reapportlon-
ment monstrosity was introduced. One in
each branch of the legislature. Both were
equally bad. Both bills passed their respec-
tive bodies and were sent conference for adj
justment The bill as finally amended
looked to the Herald editor like very bold
attempt to gerrymander to the advantage of
the Republican party.
Paul Kvale apparently had the Seventh
district pretty well sewed up for the Farmer
Laborites To cure this defect several
wards of Minneapolis were tackled onto the
Seventh making it unwieldly, particularly
from geographical standpoint
The new bill added part of Minneapo-
lis and Hennepin county to the Third dis
trict. This, the Sixth district, was rearranged
to include Anoka and several of the other
counties of the old Tenth district. Beltrami
and other northern counties were taken from
the Sixth and added to the Eighth and Ninth
districts.
When the reapportionment monstrosity
reached Gov. Olson it was promptly vetoed
The Governor claimed, among other reasons,
that the bill was unfair to Minneapolis.
Senators Rockne, George Sullivan and
other wise old heads in the Senate, insisted
that the legislature had full power to pass a
reapportionment act and that the signature
of the Governor was not necessary.
A gentleman from Minneapolis started
proceedings. The case was tried in Ramsey
county and the District Court held that the
bill was law without the signature of the
Governor and that his veto was null and
void.
An appeal to the Minnesota State Su-
preme Court was taken. This tribunal held
that the signature of the Governor was nee
essary and that the state had not been re-
apportioned.
The Senatorial wise acres figured that
oio1 fo oix,o
them another opportunity to redistrict the
state.
At the time the Herald stated that Gov.
ernor Olson would be a sucker to do so, from
political standpoint, because with the can
didates running at large there was strong
probability that his party would annex at
least four of the nine congressional seats.
What has happened? The Farmer-Lab-
critics have elected Magnus Johnson, Paul
Kvale, Ernest Lundeen, Lieut-Gov. Henry
Arens and j. F. Shoemaker. The Republicans
have elected former Gov. Theodore Christian
son, former State Auditor Ray Chase, and
probably Congressman Andersen. The Dem
ocrats have elected Einar Hoidale.
Of the Congressman elected, Minneapo-
lis has Christensen, Lundeen, Hoidale; Red
Wing has two, Andersen and Shoemaker;
Jordan has one, Arens; Kvale comes from
Benson; Chase claims Anoka as his home;
Magnus Johnson halls from Kimball.
Congressman Kvale is the most north
ern Congressman and the Northeastern part
of the state is entirely without representa-
ton.
Late returns indicate that the Farmer
Laborites will be in control Of the coming
session of the Legislature. They will have
lot to say about the reapportionment bill
to be passed at the forthcoming session.
The thought that the Herald editor is
trying to bring out is that the best laid plans
of the supposedly wise guys often times go
haywire.
THE CASE OF MIR. SHOEMAKER.