The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-06-01
The First Question.

1t is conceded that the most important
question before the Chicago convention and
the one upon which the nomination turns is
| the question of the unit rule. In its decis-
| ion is involved the principle of district rep
resentation heretofore acknowledged by the
Republican party in its convention. 1t has
been repeatedly decided that a State Conven-
ton cannot bind district conventions by its
instructions. 1t may control tlfe delegates at
large, who are its own creatures; but it has no
right to dictate the course of action to be
pursued by the districts or.ther representa-
tives. This principle of district representa-
ton is distinctly recognized in the Chicago
call which reads thus: "Republicans and
all who will cooperate with them in sup
porting the nominees ~ of the party are in
yited to choose two delegates from each Con-
gressional district, four at large from each
State, two from each Territory and two
from the District of Columbia, to repre-
sent them in the convention"
It is upon this principle that the third
term men are making their assault. If they
overthrow it they can stihe the voice of
powerful minorities in State delegations and
probably nominate their candidate on the
first ballot. Should they carry the Conven-
ton with them on an untrammelled vote
they would of course be entitled to enforce
the unit rule, for each national convention
is a law to itself as regards fuch matters.
But an untrammeled vote is the very thing
they dread and so they are begging the
question at the start and demanding the
adoption of the unit rule in voting on that
rule. That is, they insist that New York,
Pennsylvania, Illinois and other instructed
States, must vote as a unit on questions If
organization For this claim there is no
reason. But six States have instructed their
delegates to vote as unit on all questions,
and the Grant men have not even a plaus-
bic pretext for binding other State delega-
tiOns to the observance of instructions that
were not given them. The States in which
unit instructions in some form or other " ere
adopted, are these:
To vote as unit for Grant: Alabama, 20; Illinois,
To vote as unit for Grant and Settle Florida %
TO use "united efforts for Grant, New York -. 20
kentucky, "a; Missouri 80; Pennsylvania
3d. South Carolina 14..............,.12G IA.
As unit for Blaine, Colorado. 49,. .............12
AS a unit ON all questions and for Blaine, Iowa,
as NeNdut u ...s,. 2S
To vote as a unit, but without other instruc-
tlons Iexas.. ........................16
Iii addition the following named states in
structed or expressed choice without
adopting the unit rule
Jnstrpcted for Grant ArI,ansos -,
Grant the first choice Mississippi. ppi..............16
Instructed for Blaine, Oregon, 6; West Virginia,
Requested to vote for Blaine Maryland 16
blame hrst choice Kansas. ........1O
Urging Dlaine, MAINE. ......-...............14 IA
Requested to vote for Sherman, Ohio. 40
Instructed for Window, Minnesota f. ..........lO
Presenting Edmunds favorably, Vermont .....IO
Recommending delegates to vote for Edmunds,
Massachusetts ............................
1t is not to be believed that the right of
districts 20 elect their delegates and the right
OF these delegates to follow the wishes Of
their constituents will be denied by the
Convention.