The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1882-05-04
Col. Martins Plan.

Col. John A. Martin sends us a copy Of the
plan he submitted to the National Republican
Committee. for choosing delegates to the Natiou-
al Convention, and says it is the same as pro-
posed by him long ago, and has never been
changed. We do not now remember that we
ever before saw a statement of the plan. II js,
in substance, that each State Convention shall
choose four delegates at large, and each Con-
gressiOnal District delegate; and then, IN
addition. each State shall be entitled to one del
egate for every y. 900 Republican votes east at
the previous general election, for fraction OF
onc-llaIf that number. These delegates, rs
matter of course, will lie chosen by the same
State Convention that selected the four at large.
This encounters precisely the same objection
we stated last week. 1t allows State Conyen-
tion to practically neuiralize the choice OF the
Districts, and defeats the object they had in
view in directing the COMMITTEES to devise plan
of representation. As we understand II, the
Chicago Convention, in l5sO, after repudiating
the unit rule directed the National Committee
TO devise plan TO secure to the people Of the
Congressional Districts the right to select their
own delegates This plan does not do it; for IL
allows the State Convention to override them,
by appointing L set of delegates to Offset their
votes Col. Martin says that it is impossible to
secure the adoption Of plan for purely District
representation. Why is it impossible' Because
the Bosses object to itf II the Bosses do not
mean to permit the Republican party to choose
its own delegates without their dictation, and if
the expressed design of the National Convention
cannot be carried out, because the Bosses, by
assassinating the President elected by the party,
n. i'll. of
fees, have secured control of the Committee, is
it not about time for the party to dissolvei If
such is the case, the party has fulfilled its mis-
sion, and outlved it's usefulness. As Col. Mar
tins plan was devised long ago, and as he has
not been appointed to Office, the imputation
of being bought up will not fit his case. But the
National Committee was understood to have been
made up largely of men who were opposed to
the unit rule, and to every manner Of Bossism.
What has changed their viewsf The chief hope
was placed in William E. Chandler. This gen
tleman, after having been defeated by the Stall
warts for confirmation TO a subordinate Office
under Garfield, has been appointed to Cabinet
position by the Stalwart President who climbed
TO the position over Garfield's dead body, and
the appointment received no opposition from
those same Stalwarts. 1t will be hard to make
the country believe that Chandler was not placed
there for the purpose of controlling him in the
interest of the Stalwart Bosses and to defeat the
design of the National Convention.
The main principle of Col Martins plan is
good, TO base delegates on Republican votes.
But why let State Convention control it Why
not do it on principle similar TO that Of the
Kansas Republican Committee, which gives
each County a representation for its own votes
There would be nothing ont of the way in plan
by which each State Convention should elect
four delegates at large; then let each Congress
sional District elect one delegate, regardless of
population or vote; and finally, allow each Dis
trict an additional delegate for a given number
of Republican votes, and fraction of over half
the number. That number could be placed at
5000, 10000, or 1000, any other suitable
number. All Districts having less than a given
number, to have but one delegate. In this way,
Republican votes would control Republican
nominations; but to place the whole number at
the mercy of wire pulling Bosses, would be no
representation of Republican votes at all. For
example, say that an extra delegate were allowed
for every 10000 Republican votes, or major frae
tion of that number In New York, the people of
the Districts would choose 30 delegates, while the
men who controlled State Convention by the
methods of Conklingism, would choose four for
the State at large, and sc on Republican vote,
making GO in ALL almost double the number
chosen by the Districts. Pennsylvania would
choose q by Districts, while State Convention
controlled by the methods of Cameronism, would
choose at large, and A on vote, making a..
This would be reform with vengeance. Far
better stick to the Bossism and unit rule that is
sought TO be abolished.