The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-01-25
Republican Rules in National Con-

WASHINGTON, January 1.-THE members
of the National Republican Committee me-
this morning in parlor of the Arlington
Hotel, the following being present: Alabama
Paul Strobach California, John F. Miller
Connecticut, Marshall Jewell; Delaware
Christian Febiger; Georgia, James B. Deye
reaux Illinois, John A. Logan Indiana
John G. New; Iowa, John s. Runnels Kan
sas, John A. Martin: Kentucky. L. s. How
lett; Louisiana, w. P. Kellogg Florida, DR.
Hicks; Maine, VIM. P. Frye; Maryland, Jas
A. Gary Massachusetts. Henry Cabot Lodge
Michigan, E. s. Lacy; Minnesota, W. D
Washburne; Mississippi, George @. MCGEE
Missouri, Chauncey I. Filley; Nebraska, E
K. Valentine; New Hampshire, VIM. e
Chandler; New Jersey, George A. Halsey
New York, Richard A. Elmer; North Caro-
lima, w. P. Cannady Ohio, W. G. Cooper
Oregon, j. Fl. Mitchell; Rhode Island, VIM
A. Pierce South Carolina, Samuel Lee Ten
nessee, VIM. Rule; Texas, A. G.. Malley Yer
mont, George w. Hooker; Virginia, Samue
M. Yost; West Virginia, John M. Mason
Wisconsin, Elihu Enos; Dakota, r. G. Petit
grew; New Mexico, T. Luna /; Washington
Territory, Thomas T. Minor; Wyoming
Joseph M. Cary; District of Columbia, DR.
G. B. Purvls. o . "a 4ss ~
Mr.. Jewell, Of Connecticut, occupied the
| chair. He presented to the committee the res
| ignation of Mr.. Dorsey as secretary, and i
was accepted. III seis s8a ,el
George W. Hooker. of Vermont, was ther
nominated as secretary by Mr.. Enos, of Wis
consin, and John. A. Martin, of Kansas, by
Mr.. Pierce, of Rhode Island. , .
Mr.. Hooker, however, declined the nomi
nation, and then, on motion of Mr.. Chandler
Mr.. Martin, of Kansas, was unanimously
elected secretary. ae.63f
The chairman then called for the report O.
the special committee appointed year ago tc
present plan for the choice of delegates tc
the next National Republican Cow ention
Mr. VIM E Chandler, chairman of the spe
cial committee, stated that at a me citing last
night it had been decided to submit to the
full committee today a number of PROPOSE
tons to be voted on ,seraatipa He discussed
them at some length. He believed it better
to run the risk of having a convention o.
400 delegates than to reduce the number
The trouble was not in the number of dele
gates, but in the thousands with Which dele
gates had been surrounded in all the Ma.
tional Conventions from 1860 to 1880. He
favored the idea Of making the Forty-Seventh
Congress the basis of representation, and of
having the district delegates chosen at CON
ventions within these districts If not, they
should be chosen by subdivisions Of State
Conventions. He was of the decided opinion
that all conventions should be held at least 80
days before the national convention, and
within sixty days. s.n u +
Mr. Mitchell, of Oregon, inquired what plan
was suggested for attesting elections of dele
gates. 3ttf
Mr. Chandler said that the matter should
be left to the Republicans of the States and
districts. He did not believe it we'll to antic-
ipate contests. Usa 9sa $685.
MIR Gary, of Maryland, inquired who were
to determine whether the district delegates
were to be elected in the district conyen-
tons or in the State conventions.
Mr. Chandler replied that that would be
left for the determination of the Republicans
OF the district. 1t was a subject which he
thought this committee could not safely 90
Linte. 5,stisit..is... q
Mr. Washburn, of Minnesota. thought
there would be less difficulty if this commit
| tee would lay down the rule and mark
clearly and Enthusiastically what was expected
of every State and district, instead of leaving
everything at loose ends. FL, ,f5
Mr. Chandler-How would you do it in the
absence of knowledge as TO the manner OF
organization? ....,s,
Mr.. Washburn-Ifit cannot be done, it shows
that there is a fatal weakness inherent in the
scheme.
Mr. Gary-We should leave no option al
1 all, but lay down clearly what is to be done
\ Mr.. Chandler think it would be danger.
aus and impolitic for US to say who shall
represent the Republicans of State or dis
trict. The only safe way is to leave th,
matter where it is.
Mr. Martin OF Kansas, a member of III,
subcommittee, stated the views which he On
tertained as shown in the plan proposed BY
him.
Senator Logan moved as substitute fol-
all the new propositions that the basis o.
representation shall remain as it has hereto
fore been. This plan, he said, was based OF
the theory that the people are represented
| the theory on which presidents were elected
except that territories were included There
was no principle in the idea of having dele
gates chosen in proportion to the number OF
Republicans in a district. There might be
some advantage in it. but no principle. 1t
would be like the tide which Gibbs and flows
There would be no stability in it, The State
of New York would not at one time have
half as many Republican delegates as it
would ut another time. 1t was, to him, q
perfectly astounding proposition. His hon.
est opinion was that, if the principle of the
resolution adopted at the last national com
vention were carried out, the basis of repre-
sentation would not be changed 1t simply
meant equalization according to the districts
of the United States. Nobody was going to
be hurt by allowing the old system to stand
and somebody would be hurt if it were
changed Somebody would be disfranchised
to that extent, and heart-burnings and ill
feeling would be created. Every district
whether it could or could not elect Re
publican presidential elector, was entitled tt
| be represented at the National Republican
Convention. In conclusion he modified hi
motion, making it: That the basis of repre-
sentatlon shall be two delegates for each rep
resentative in Congress, two delegates 70
each territory and two delegates for the Dir
trict of Columbia. i a9sa Vai a
Mr. Enos, of Wisconsin, moved to amen
the substitute by striking out the WORD
"two delegates for each Senator" His prom
osition was simply to have district represen
tation fresh from the people. sl4 ,atsas
Mr.. Lacy, Of Michigan, proposed bod
consisting of four delegates at large from
each State, two from each Congressional dis
trict in which the last Republican candidate
for President received plurality of the vote
cast within the counties composing such dis
trict, also two delegates from each Territor,
and from the District of Columbia. He ex
planned his views, stating that his proposition
/ 4