Litchfield enquirer., 1879-08-21
Minority Representation at Conven-
 tions.

One of the reforms which will be effected
 by minority representation will be in the meth cd of representation at national conventions
 On the present plan each state is allowed {
 number of delegates equal to double it's con
 gressional delegation. Thus sure Republi
 can state, like Iowa, has no greater represen
 tation in Republican national convention
 than unanimously democratic Georgia Should
 this plan be continued, Arkansas, Alabama,
 Mississippi, Georgia and Texas-states ir
 that survives is an occasional antediluviar
 carpet-bagger in national of1ce-will exer.
 else an important influence on the destiny oi
 the party and of the nation It is not simply
 the injustice but the danger of such a system
 that is to be regarded Under as pure ar
 administration as the present, that danger is
 less, though we are not sure that MT. John
 Sherman may not bring some pressure to bear tute the Republican party South. An am-
 bilious and an interruptions president or cabi- net officer, however, could find it easy to organize an army of hundreds of Southern del egates in his interest. An ambitious and an unscrupulous rich man could, in like manner. buy up Southern delegations almost by the hundred. That Carpet -Baggery should thus be allowed to make bargain and sale of presi- dental nominations, is risk and disgrace that seriously threaten the Republican party and the country through that party. The influence of that corrupt element can be seen in the access of Stalwartism among the am- bilious leaders who are bidding in that way for the help of the most disreputable set of politicians known to American history.
 The true principle of representation in con- ventions as we'll as in legislatures, is that which bases influence in strict proportion to votes cast. A state which cast no Republican votes at the last general election is entitled to no in a national Republican con- vention. Tennessee, which casts respectable vote, is entitled to representation, not in proportion to the congressional repre- sentation of the state, but in proportion to the actual number of Republican votes cast. That state now casts scarcely as many Republican votes as Kansas, yet It will have, on the old plan of representation, A delegates in nation al convention to Kansas ten.
 The republican press of the north is becom- ing aroused on this subject as will be seen by the following extract from the Indianapolis journal:
 The basis of representation In the republican national convention should be changed. The basis of representation acted on for many years has been one delegate for each represen- tative and senator Tn Congress, giving each state the same number of votes in the conven- ton that it has in the electoral college. This rule is purely arbitrary, and without reference to the republican vote cast by the state. The effect of it is to give an undue weight in the convention to states which are solidly and democratic. The true basis and that which the national committee should adoot, is the republican vote cast either at the last national or the last preceding state cleo ton.
 Probably the old system of representation will be employed at the convention of 1900, but we imagine that the injustice and perhaps the risk of it will then become so obvious that 8 change will be compelled.