Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-06-09

bodied the plain and undisputed precedent and
rule of previous Republican conventions into a
clear statement. (This is the clause abrogating
the unit rule.) The minority report from MEM
bers of several states recommended the reten-
ton of rule as used at Cincinnati. (This does
not abrogate the unit rule.) The minority con-
slider the majority report on this question as
tending to delay and as casting reflection on
the chairman of the committee.
There being no other business before the con-
vention, the chair asked Sewell On. j. to notify
the committee on credentials that the convention
was awaiting their report.
At the expiration of half an hour the chair
man called the convention to order, it being now
one o'clock. He Immediately introduced Hon.
Omar ID. Conger, chairman of the committee on
credentials, who on behalf OF the committee
apologzed for the delay in deciding the cases
before them. He represented the difficulties
under which they labored. They had been al
most continuously and laboriously in session for
over two days. The committee had considered
all the cases with candor and fairness, and with
out dispute except on the merits of the various
questions. The committee report roll of
members. In the Louisiana contest they
recommend the admission of the War
mouth delegation and the exclusion Of the Beat
tie delegation. The report discusses the
organization of the convention of the state of
Louisiana. They find that the bolt was with
out cause. They recommend the admission of
James T. Rapier in the Fourth congressional
district of Alabama. This case is also
traversed. They also advise that Smith and
Warner who were duly elected be admitted in
place of Arthur Brigham and r. A. Mosely Jr.
of the Seventh district of Alabama. In the
Illinois case the committee recommend the fol-
lowing changes In the nine congressional dis
ticts the contestants are admitted in place of
the sitting members. In the second congress
SIGNAL district (West Side, Chicago the delega-
ton remains unchanged
i'm VIII phanUpS in
Illinois are the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth,
Sixth, Ninth, Tenth. Thirteenth and Seven
teenth. The committee report in favor of re-
tanning the four delegates at large from Illinois,
In Kansas four district delegates are reported
in place of the sitting members. In Pennsyl-
vania the Ninth and Nineteenth district sitting
members are recommended entitled to hold
their seats. In West Virginia the sitting MEM
bers are entitled to their seats in the contested
case. The committee rehearses the call of the
national committee as the basis for their action
on all cont ested cases and refer to paevious
calls to sustain their position and to show the
justice of their decision. The calls of 1856,
1861 1864 and all others down to the present
date were the same in this respect as the call of
this year, and all were adopted with purpose
to remove doubts and make district representa-
ton principle that could not be controverted or
disputed.
The committee also say the state conventions
too have in almost every case decided that con-
gressional districts should have representation
in the national convention as they have elected
them. The rights Of representatives so elected
have ever been regarded as sacred and should
not now be invaded for the first time in the his
tory of the party by this convention. The
committee declares that the purpose of the con-
ventiOn is to select candidate most likely to be
elected, and the nearer we get to the true feel
ing of the people the wiser and safer will be
that election. If state conventions may select
delegates to a national convention who do not
represent the feeling of the people, then those
state Conventions might as well select all the
delegates from single district in the state.
This overriding of the viii of the people cam
not be too severely censured. In the Utah case
the committee favors retaining the sitting MEM
berS as being IN accord with these principles.
Mr.. Conger said Mr.. Clayton, (Ark. would
present the minority report of the committee
on credentials.
This report differs from the majority on the
application of the principle of district represen-
tation. They declare the majority offer an ex
post facto rule to be applied in this convention,
and one which will work great injustice and
subject the convention to the criticism of chang
ing delegates for tho pur Euro- of offuUti1Is tae
nomination. They find that there is a vacancy
in the Alabama delegation in the district from
which the maj crity report Rapier entitled to a
seat. They find that Warner and Smith are not
entitled to seats from the Seventh district and
that Brigham and Mosely are. The facts in
these cases are reviewed IN ertenso, and the re-
port of the minority justified thereby.
In the Illinois case the minority find that
sweeping and positive charges of fraud, etc.,
have been made by the side in favor of which
the majority report, and that there was no basis
whatever for such charges. No evidence of
fraud was produced, but on the contrary there
| is weight of evidence on the other side to show
| that there was great amount of fraud on the
side of the contestants. This was freely ad-
mitted by the friends of the contestants before
the committee. The committee first take up
| the Cook county primary election and the con-
| vention and make the point that the Grant
chairman of thatconvention, just before leaving
| Ghat Is, when the alleged bolt occu1Ted), had
adjourned the convention. This point had not
previously been made by the friends of the
Palmer house delegation. The committee justi-
ry the bolt chiefly on this ground. They then
allude to the action of the state convention in
instructing delegates to vote for Grant and claim
that the state convention was competent to so
instruct. The argument is strong for such
right in convention as against district
Instructions. The Utah case is discussed more
briefly, but the conclusion is reached in favor of
the contestants. The West Virginia case is
considered with the same result. The reports
are differently signed. Some of the minority
dc not sign the report on each case. Their con-
illusions are that the regularly elected and sit
ting members should retain their seats, that the
others should not.
After considerable discussion over the two
reports, it was finally agreed to take recess
until 700 P. NJ.
The convention reassembled at 1888. The
Louisiana delegates took their seats. The chair
announced that the question was on the adop-
ton of so much of the report of the committee
on credentials as related to the state of Ala
bama.
Mr.. Harrison, of Indiana-Before entering
upon the discussion of this question, think the
convention should fix some limitation of time
for its consideration. [Applause.] Itwas agreed
that each side in the Alabama contested case
have 20 minutes. Mr.. Conger spoke in favor of
the majority report allowing Rapier to take the
seat. Mr.. Turner followed on the other side,
Gen. Tracy, of New York, supported Mr.. Tur-
ner's views. Mr.. Bateman, of Ohio, favored
the majority report. Mr.. Conger moved as a
substitute for the pending motion on the adop-
ton of the minority report, that Mr.. Rapier be
admitted as delegate, but withdrew it
The motion to substitute was lost, and the re-
port of the committee adopted. One hour was
allowed for discussion in the Illinois contested
cases. A motion that the minority districts be
substituted for the ma jority report was lost, and