The state journal., 1884-02-02

| conventions, called on similar notice and
held in the districts at any time within the
fifteen days next prior to the meeting of
the State Convention, or by sub division
of the State Conventions into district
conventions, and such delegates shall be
chosen in the latter method If not elected
previous to the meeting of the State Con.
ventions. All district delegates to be ac-
credited by the officers Of such district
conventions. y
Mr. Martin, the Secretary of the Ma
tlonal Republican Committee, said Mr..
Quay Inadvertently made slight omis-
sion IN the rule as he gave it to the press.
What have given you is the correct
copy The rule is the offspring of the
resolution Of the Chicago Convention of
1880, which was intended to wine out the
idea that q delegation to the National
Convention represented State and to
substitute the idea that each individual
member Of the delegation represented
Congressional district. What l have
given you is the National rule, formulated
by Mr.. Secretary of the Navy Chandler
at the meeting of the National Commit
tee on December 12 1882 1t provides
two methods for the selection Of National
delegates The first is by popular dele
gate conventions A popular delegate
convention is a convention of delegates
elected by the people. No conference can
intervene between the delegates chosen
by the people to this popular convention
and their choice for National delegates.
For instance, it would not do for each of
the counties of Dauphin, Lebanon and
Northumberland to hold each its popular
convention, and choose each its conferees
at that convention, to meet together and
select delegates to the National Conven-
ton. What is contemplated is a CON
vention OF the delegates elected by
the people throughout an entire
Congressional district to meet together at
some central point in the district and
elect the delegates. There is no pro-
vision now in any district in Pennsvlva |
MIA for the organization of such a con-
vention, and it is not likely, nor in my
Judgment would be prudent at this time, |
for the State Committee to attempt to |
formulate plan ofsuch organization. A |
natural method in Congressional districts |
composed of more than one county is to |
permit the delegates 10 a State Conven- |
ton from each Congressional district, |
under the second branch of the National !
rule, to elect the delegates to Chicago |
One or two questions have been raised |
by the Philadelphia Press, for which |
L have very high regard as a newspa-
per, but which in this instance is
troubled with the cGcOetheS fdciendi
One, which is material, relates to the or
ganization Of the delegates to the State
Convention at home before coming to the
{ IN &c Al
National delegates there There is no
objection to this, except that it contra
venes the National rule, which provides
in the alternative for the election of Ma
tional delegates by sub divisions of State
Conventions. There can be no sub-di-
vision OF State Convention until there
Is a State Convention, and the rule clearly
the Illinois plan for the
election OF delegates. Furthermore, every
state Convention must be the judge ofthe
qualifications of its own members, and
10 one can pass upon the question Of the
power under this rule until
he State Convention has determined who
lre the delegates TO it. Where counties
iesire to indicate a preference for parlicu
ar gentlemen for delegates to the Ma
ional Convention, they can instruct their
delegates to the State Convention accord
ng to their wishes. According to the
National rule the election of delegates to
he National Convention by a popular
,ote, as provided for in Lancaster and
,ther counties of the State, would not be
recognized. They must take their Gre
lentials from a delegate convention or
rom subdivision of State Convention
nd from no other quarter.