Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-06-13
BASIS OF DELEGATES.

Fair Play" in the Journal complains of
the basis of representation in the State
Convention, as interpreted by the Secreta-
nv of the State Committee. There is no
other reasonable Interpretation of the rule
laid down by the committee and published
in the call. In that rule there are three
classes of delegates.
/. Each city, town and plantation is
entitled to one delegate. That is for the
organization without any regard to the
Republican votes thrown in 1868. They
are entitled to one if they threw no such
votes. s
2. An additional delegate for every IS
votes cast for the Republican candidate for
Governor in 1868. That is to say, one for
the seventy-fves.
8. An additional one for fraction of
40. rr..... -.ss.r .tt s.t
Thus there is one delegate for the Or
ganization one for each of the seventy
fives, and one for the fraction. Each class
is entirely independent of the other, and
stands on its own basis.
Now the argument of Fair Play" is that
if towns have none for the second class,
they shall have none for the third? Why
don't he say also they shall have none for
the first. There would be the same force
in the argument.
Secretary Smith is not alone in his in
depreciation of the rule. ~ '-@ cas-
In the call for the Kennebec County
Convention the same rule is adopted, and
the number of delegates reckoned for each
town by the committee. Belgrade. with
PIP votes, has one for the organization,
two for the seventy-fives, and one tor the
fraction of fifty-one. a~.
Manchester, with 1872 votes, has for the
organization for the seventy-fve, l;
for fraction of forty-two, /. s.. =
Farmingdale is the same, except the
fraction is only forty.
Now, if the organization is represented,
and the fraction of forty is represented in
places that have seventy-fives, why should
they not be represented in places that have
no seventy-fves?
The basis of representation in the call
for the Congressional Convention of this
district is the same as IN the State Conven-
ton, except it adopts 100 votes instead OF
the Is, and the committee have reckoned
and assigned the number to each planta-
ton. Benton is allowed 8 delegates with
1872 votes, one for the organization, one
for the 100. one for the 81. the majority
fraction. Rome is allowed two, with 70
votes, one for the organization, and one
for the 10Th fraction. Friendship, with So
votes, has one for the organization, and
one for the fraction of53. Somerville with
60, Southport with 50. and Westport with
So, have each delegates, one for the or
ganization, and one for the fraction. Wal
doboro with 261 votes, has four, one for the
organization, two for the hundreds, and
one for the fraction of 81. Where is there
any inequality in these different cases ?
And so far from adding 68 votes to the
eastern Countess" there are only Sc votes
in the whole State, that we can find, added
in places where there are none for the
seventy-fives, distributed into II counties.
In Androscoggin 1, Franklin 5, Knox 2.
Lincoln 8, Oxford 5, Piscataquis 8, Saga
dahoc /, and Somerset 5, making twenty
five not in Eastern counties" In Aroos-
took 10, Hancock 4 Penobscot 9, Wash
ington 8, making 81 in all in the Eastern
counties. A difference of 6! Hurrah for
"Grim Outraged" Q.