New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-16
DISTRICT REPRESENTATION.

The Republican National Committee, which
ia to meet in Washington tomorrow. is charged
with the performance of duty OF the first I'M
portance. It is the duty of prescribing and
making public plan for the selection OF dele
gates 10 the National Convention OF 1884
which shall provide for district representation.
The Convention that nominated Garfield and
Arthur was sc. profoundly impressed with the in
justice of thf unit rule that, not content with
abrogating it so far as its own proceedings
we're concerned, it wisely determined that 1t
should not remain as menace for the next
National Convention. Accordingly that Con-
vention Of 1880 passed q resolution instructing
the National Committee to devise plan tor
calling the Convention Of 1884 which, bring
ing the unit rule to naught, shOnld distinctly
provide for district representation. by the
terms of the resolution the Committee was to
perfect aud report the plan for district repre-
sentaton within one year. But although ndi-
vidual members of the Committee, as our col
umns have borne witness, have devoted much
thought to the matter, the plan still remains
10 be reported to the public. year or more
ago the Committee delegated the duty to sub
committee of five, consisting CT Mr.. Chandler,
of New Hampshire, Mr.. Plat, of New-York,
Mr.. Forbes, of Massachusetts, Mr.. Martin, OF
Kansas, and Mr.. Filley, of Missouri. This
subcommittee has not been able to reach an
agree ment. Mr.. Chandler has a plan, Mr..
Forbes has plan, Mr.. Martin has plan. The
consequence is likely to he that the sub-com-
mittee will be compelled to report to the full
Committee that they have been unable to reach
any conclusion.
g,.f, Of fha gtl.- fan IN npran
does not matter, however, so far rs the securing
of district representation is concerned. The
full COMMITTEES can be relied upon TO provide
for that beyond peradytnture. The esolu-
ton of the Convention of 1884 Convention
of last resort-was mandatory; and we believe
that no intenticn-even dispOsitiOn-exists on
the part of any member of the Committee
to act Contrary to express party orders. But.
as our Washington dispatches have shown,
there is danger that the disagreement in the
subcommittee may defeat all the suggest Ons
that have been made TO secure additional rep
resentatOn for Republican districts Is it right,
is it expedient, does it make tor the growth
and health OF the party. to base representation
in Conventions on the population of States
rather than on their relative Republican
strength? Will it not tend to discourage the
Republicans of the working States-that is, the
States in which Republican battles are lost or
WON'T the present system, which has plainly
outived its usefulness, is continuedY These
are salient questions. Republicans from Maine
to Oregon are asking them to-day, and are look
ing to the National Committee for wise an
swers.
1t is pretty well understood that the bosses
will use their influence to prevent any alteIa-
ton in the system, arguing that freer represent
alton means scantier opportunity for them to
have their own monopOlizing way. But the
National Committee was not elected to serve
the bosses. 1t proceeded from Convention
which will forever remain heroic and historic
because of the havoc it made OF the best-laid
plans and am bitions Uf bosses. The eyes of the
rank and file of the Republican party viii he
fixed upon the National Committee Tomorrow.
The popular expectation Is that they will do
their whole duty. Any failure will be fatal to