An 1890 editorial explains the practice of gerrymandering and reports on two bills before Congress aiming to curb it — one sponsored by Senator Hoar of Massachusetts and another by Representative McComas of Maryland.
The piece describes how gerrymandering lets a party in control of a state legislature redraw voting districts to gain disproportionate political power, often securing more seats than their share of the vote would warrant. Pennsylvania is cited as an example where Democrats allegedly benefited from partisan districting. Both major parties have engaged in the practice, which the article warns a method of perpetuating power.
Notable Quotes:
“The result is that the party gerrymandering elects more members than it is entitled to by its voting strength, while the minority party, though having a larger popular vote, is left with fewer seats.”
“It is the practice of so arranging election districts as to get the most votes out of the fewest voters.”
“It is simply a method of perpetuating in power a party that may be a minority in actual votes.”
“Gerrymandering” Wilkes-Barre Times Leader – March 11, 1890 11 Mar 1890, Tue Wilkes-Barre Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com
