reason why the advocates of both plans agreed to refer the matter to
me for a final decision.

The Democrats heard what had been done. One of them, Hon. F.M. Goar, of
Lee County, called to see me so as to talk over the matter. He expressed
the hope that in drawing up the bill, one district would be conceded to
the Democrats.

"If this is done," he said, "I assume that the group of counties located
in the northeastern part of the State will be the Democratic district.
In that event we will send a very strong and able man to Congress in the
person of Hon. L.Q.C. Lamar."

I had every reason to believe that if Mr. Lamar were sent to Congress
he would reflect credit upon himself, his party, and his State. I
promised to give the suggestion earnest and perhaps favorable
consideration. After going over the matter carefully I came to the
conclusion that the better and safer plan would be to make five safe and
sure Republican districts and concede one to the Democrats. Another
reason for this decision was that in so doing, the State could be more
fairly apportioned. The Republican counties could be easily made
contiguous and the population in each district could be made as nearly
equal as possible. The apportionment could not have been so fairly and
equitably made if the other plan had been adopted.

After the bill had been completed, it was submitted to a joint caucus of
the Republican members of the two Houses, and after a brief explanation
by me of its provisions it was accepted and approved by the unanimous
vote of the caucus.

When it was brought before the house, a majority of the Democratic
members,--under the leadership of Messrs. Streeter, Roane and
McIntosh,--fought it very bitterly. They contended that the Democrats
should have at least two of the six Congressmen and that an
apportionment could have been made and should have been made with that
end in view. The truth was that several of those who made such a
stubborn fight against the bill had Congressional aspirations themselves
and, of course, they did not fail to see that as drawn the bill did not
hold out flattering hopes for the gratification of that ambition. But it
was all that Mr. Goar and a few others that he had taken into his
confidence expected, or had any right to expect. In fact, the one
Democratic district, constructed in accordance with their wishes, was
just about what they wanted. While they voted against the bill,--merely
to be in accord with t