New-York tribune., 1884-02-20

THE INDEPENDENCE or THE DISTRICTS.
Those who fear that any recommendation by
the Republican State Committee, such rs has
been suggested regarding basis of representa-
ton in Congressional District conventions for
the election of delegates to Chicago, might
involve some danger to the rights of the Dis
tricts, do not seem to consider how well the
independence of the District is guarded in the
rules adopted by the National Committee Each
Congressional District stands by itself in this
matter Of choosing delegates to the National
Convention. Neither the State Convention nor
the State Committee can control its action, or
venture to dictate to the delegates whom it
selects. This complete Independence of the
District is illustrated in a single detail. which
does not seem to have attracted much attention.
The rules adopted by the National Committee
at Washington, in January, 1888, after giving
the Districts the option of choosing their dele
gates at home conventions, or by subdivisions
of the State Convention, say " All district dele
gates to be accredited by the officers of such
district conventions" This provision places
each Congressional District in direct relations
with the National Convention. If Il home
convention is held, and delegates are elected
they will be accredited directly to the National
Convention, "a we understand it, by the officers
of the home convention. So, also, if the district
delegates are elected at the State Convention,
they will be chosen by the subdivision of the
State Convention representing that District,
and the officers elected by that subdivision i'll
meeting assembled will accredit the delegates
elected to the National Convention. This puts
the District in position of absolute sovereignty
over its own affairs with nothing to fear so
long as it chooses to protect itself, either from
State Convention or State Committee.
In the Districts which remain as they were
under the old appOrtionment, there need
not be the slightest difficulty about going on
with the preparations for holding home con
ventOns. All that is needed is to know the
date of the State Convention, so that the home
convention may be held within The fifteen days
next preceding it and this will soon be fixed.
The existing committee can call the convention.
In the Districts which are altered under the
new apportionment, and where there are dis
putes between the counties as to the relative
weight they should have In such conventions,
and the Committees are necessarily dissolved. it
0 ught to be possible by conferences and
mutual interchange OF opinion to reach some
agreement Certainly much more difficult
than this have been successfully me
in this way. The true basis for representation
in such conventions, as it is in all conventions
is the Republican vote actually cast and this
point once conceded, the rest should be easy.
If the State Committee should suggest a definite
plan of representation applicable to Districts
throughout the State, it could and would do 50
only in the way ofadvce from the single central |
authority the party has and ii does not seem
possible that such suggestion could embarrass
Or hamper the party in the Districts, or do any
harm whatever, so long as it is an honest at
-empt to set up standard by which differences
may DO reconciled.