New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-27
REPRESENTATION IN THE CONTENTION.

REPRESENTATION IN THE CONPENIIOf'
In the course of his speech on taking the
chair of the Republican State Convention OF
1883, Senator Miller submitted q proposition
designed 10 render future conventions more
trul, representative. To that end he proposed
that the size of the convention should be ma
terialy increased and that the delegates should
be chosen directly by the people at caucus or
town meeting without the Intervention OF the
usual minor convention machinery. Tho
nropOsition was well received and a motion
adopted instructing the State Committee to
mature plan in line with il for submission to
the next State Convention. At the Utica Con-
ventiop of last year, Mr.. Miller formally sub
mitcd his proposition and it was referred to q
special committee. That committee at mtet-
ing held in May last adopted n resolution
recommending that the State Committee III its
call for the next State Convention invite the
Assembly districts TO send one delegate for
every 500 Republican votes cast in the last
Presidential election and an additional delegate
for each fraction above $50 votes. The COIN
mittee also adopted resolutions recommending
that all primaries or cancns5s in the State be
held on the same day and reservinp for Il future
meeting the question OF recommending q
permanent plan for the election OF delegates
At its meeting on Tuesday last the State
Committee adopted "a resolution providing for
n basis of representation IN the convention of
next month, which is midway between the
basis heretofore existing and that which was
recommended by the special committee TO
which the subject was referred. The old plan
was based on 100 votes. Tho committee
recommended 500. The convention decided
in favor of 200. This will give us a conven-
ton of 600 delegatcs-an increase OF some 200
over last year.
There is reason for believing that the
change will prove marked benefit to the Re
publican party Of New York. IL il n well-con-
sidered attempt more fully to realize govern
ment of the people by the people. The larger
the nominating body tho greater the active in
tercst In its deliberations and the greater the
prospect that it will faithfully reflect public
sentiment Nor is there any danger that con-
veution 700 strong will prove unwieldy.
much larger convention has long been the rule
in Observation-Disclosures of last year contained
LIS delcgates-and has given general salts
faction. Sef-appOinted delegates, patriots
with personal axes to grind and the like prefer
the small convention, the smaller the better.
and thus circumstance is an additional argu-
ment in favor OF the change.
Now that this sensible step has been taken, it
ought not to DC long before the good work is
continued in tho same direction by proyid-
ing that Republicans all over Newly shall
directly choose delegates to represent them in
their State conventions. The practice that
now prevails is to call caucus and let the
caucus elect delegates who in turn elect the
State Convention delegates a better and more
business. like course would be- to allow those
attending the caucus TO decide who shall be
sent To the State Convention. IL is Il familiar
complaint that the caucus is not well attended
Increase its Importance and voters will have a
greater incentive 10 turn out on caucus lights
The intermediate body il worse thar useless
since beng very small it not unfIcquently is
the opportunity OF professional politicians who
are ID politics simply Tor what they can make
out OF them aud who ever stand ready To sacri.
flee the welfare OF the party to their own selfish
ends.
The State Committee has made good begin
ming aud is entitled to the gratitude of every
Republican in the State.