St. Paul daily globe., 1888-01-15
TO CRIPPLE Mr.. BLAINE.
What the Action of Wisconsin's State
Chairman Means.
HOW HIS SCHEME WILL WORK
fae Friends Of Blaine Inclined to Make
a Fuss About the
Matter.
Stecini to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
EAU CLAIRE, Jan. 1S.-Chairman
Taylor, of the Republican state central
committee, has promulgated from Hud-
Ser. in the form of a dispatch, recon-
nendation that one of the mandates of
the Republican national committee in
reference to the selection of delegates
to the national convention be disre-
garded in this state. The call for the
national convention requires that "the
congressional district delegates shall be
chosen in the same manner as the NOM
inatiOn Of member of congress is made
in said districts" Mr.. Taylor affects to
regard this instruction as only sug-
geStion and as ambiguous, and
he recommends ''that the con-
gresSi0nal district convention be
of the state convention for the election
of four delegates from the state at
large; ami when the delegates arrive
at Madison they can meet by congress
SiOnal districts and elect their delegates
either after or before the state cOnyen-
ton, and the same delegates that are
sent to the state convention can serve
as delegates in the district conventions"
Mr. Taylor adds that this will save the
trouble and expense Of holding con-
ventionS in the various congressional
districts" In this district, at least,
there are Republicans who think that
some other effects would be produced,
were Mr.. Taylor'S recommendations
followed, besides saving the
TROUBLE AND EXPENSE"
referred to by him as the basis of his
suggestions. Whether or not such
other effects are designed or fOreseen by
Mr.. Taylor and the rest of the state
central committee is only matter of
opinion, and not of certainty. A men,
Der of the committee of this congress
sional district said: Il have foreSeeu
that question would arise upon this
matter, and have given it some thought.
There can be no doubt that the inten-
ton of the national committee is to have
the district delegates elected by cOnvPn-
tiOnS held in the districts, and the COM
mittee expressly and explicitly directs
that this shall be done. This plan brings
the choice of delegates one
step nearer to the people. Mr..
Taylor'S recommendations would in
yOlve practically continuance of the
old plan. which the national committee
obviously seeks to change. Under the
system hitherto in vogue, the delegates
i'll this state from the senatorial and as
caucuSed by congressional districts at
Madison and selected in their caucuses
delegates to the national convention
whose names were then presented to
the state convention and who were Gus
tomarily indorsed by the state conven-
ton. 1t was the state convention which
| ruled the whole matter. Whence the
authority of the assembly and senatorial
district delegates to thus practically
constitute themselves congressional dis
trictS came do not see. Perhaps they
! have had the authority by
CUSTOM OR PRESCRIPTION.
Now the national committee seeks to
change this and to cause the choice of
district national delegates to be made in
the districts by conventions especially
| called for that purpose. | do not think
that the direction of the national COM
mittee, or the suggestion of the chair
man Of the Wisconsin state central COM
mittee, was made with the design of
aiding or in iuring any particular candi-
date for the Republican presidential
nomination.; but | am sure of this: :
That this is Blaine district and this is
a Blaine state, and the instructions of
the national committee, by bringing the
selection of district delegates closer to
the rank and file. would materially as
sist MIR. Blaine, while the adoption of
Chairman TaylOr's suggestions would
have an adverse influence. am not a
Blaine man myself. | do not believe
his nomination would be eXpedient. It
seems as though the state central COM
mittee ought to be guided by the ma
tiOnal committee, but of course it is
customary for the district committee to
pay heed to the suggestions of the state
committee. l do not know yet what
course we shall adopt in this district"
The question is: Why does Mr..
! Taylor take the trouble to cross the path
of the national committee, and is it
merely coincidence that Mr.. Taylor's
plan would have the undoubted effect
| OF crippling the Blaine movement?-in
when more enthusiasts are enlisted