Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-08-18
SOME MORE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
lsy a Member OF the Committee on New
Rules.

lsy a Member or the COMMITTEE on New
Rules.
James =. Barr, In Pittsburgh Post.
We propose to briefly note some Of the
changes we have heard discussed in our
methods of political work, in the line Of
greater efficiency, in order to stimulate
discussion of the subject, SO that when the
state convention meets at Williamsport
next month the delegates may be prepared
to act more intelligently on any plan sub
mitted by the state committee.
Tile State ConUentiOn.-As now consti-
tuted, it is equal in numbers to both
branches of the Legislature-that is 25l
members, and is BASED not on the Demo-
cratic vote, but ON an iniquitous Re-
publican apportionment, designed to
givc Republican counties unfair advan-
tages. Thus, Berks with 1900 Demo-
cratic votes and 7,70O majority, has only
seven delegates in our state convention,
while Lancaster, with 10, 7eO Democratic
votes and $500 Republican majority, has
eight delegates. Such comparisons might
be extended, but this indicates tho line of
argument of those who claim the state
convention, rs in Ohio, Indiana and Illi-
nois, and in most Of tho states, should be
based ON the Democratic vote, one delegate
being allowed say for every 500 votes. This
would largely increase the membership,
but with no inconvenience, for the vote Of
the convention on candidates or other
questions would be taken by counties,
and not by call of the roll and an aye
and nay vote. In Ohio conventions We
have attended with 700 delegates, repre-
senting eighty-cight counties, tho sense of
the convention was taken on q given ques
tion, by 4 call of counties in less than one
third the time it takes in our State Con-
ventiOns to call the roll of 251 delegates.
Each county delegation elects chairman,
who announces its vote as in the national
conventions the chairman of the delega-
tion gives the vote of his state. 1t not only
saves time, but is a more orderly and sat-
isfactory method. There is no use in the
ayes and nays in our conventions they
it is the only way, as the conventions are
constituted, an exact vote can be reached.
But if this is too sweeping change, it
is suggested senatorial delegates be
dropped, and representation confined to
representative delegates. AS no county in
the state is divided in electing representa-
tives, if this is done tho convention could
readily reach vote on any question by
call Of counties. The senatorial delegates
are surplusage. They merely represent
Republican ingenuity in a cheating appor-
tionment. For instance, Delaware and
Lebanon, with 1000 Democratic votes
have two senatorial delegates, while York
with 1000 Democratic votes has only
one. If the senatorial delegates are
dropped committees would naturally be
constituted of one from each congress
siOnal district and thus reduced from
the unwieldy number of fifty to twenty
seven.
To avoid the weary and profitlcss con-
test over temporary chairman-for it
really decides nothing-that officer should
be selected by the state committee from
tho list of uncontested delegates. Thus
the convention would at once be equipped
for its preliminary work, when called to
order. The congressional district dele
gates having previously met and elected
their committeeman, they would be an
nOunced, and the convention brought face
to face with it's important duties withouta
weary wrangle over unimportant matters,
that often provoke scenes of turbulence
and bad feeling. The fewer points Of COL
lision the better.
The State Commsttee, 1t is here rather
than in the state convention that greater
efficiency is requisite. Briefly We think
it should he changed in this direction: 1.
Constituted Of one member from each con-
gressional district 2. To elect its own
chairman, with an executive committee of
five with chairman (not necessarily the
chairman of tho state cOmmittee) and
treasurer, which committee shall be cllar:-
ed with the conduct Of the campaign }.
The executive committee to appoint per-
manent secretary Cat moderate salary
and establish permanent quarters at the
state capital, where the records of the
committees, its list Of names, ETC., shall
be preserved and transferred as the prop
erty of the committee and not cartcd off
as the property of Individuals; T. The full
state committee to fix the time aud place
for holding state conventions and to meet
the day before the state convention and
select it's temporary chairman and secre-
taries, and also issue tickets to delegates
who have the prima tacie right to seat,
what constitutes prima facie right and
what 4 bogus contest (now quite the
faShiOn) to be laid down in the rules.