The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-18
Republicanism and the South.

There is good deal of sound sense
In the proposition to alter the basis Of
representation in the next National
Republican convention. At this time
the basis is that of general population.
The south, for instance. gets twice as
many delegates as it has congressman
and senators. yet it altogether may not
cast as many Republican votes-or at
least get credit for casting as many
as are cast in any two of our smaller
northern states 1t is proposed now to
give each state two delegates rs dele
gates at-large, one delegate from each
congress district, and an additional
delegate for every 1000 Republican
votes cast In any congress district at
the presidential election of S92; also a
delegate for the fraction Of 1000 votes
greater than one-half besides two del
egates from each territory and from
the District of Columbia. Concerning
this proposition National Committee
man David Martin says:
/ am entirely in favor OF the proposed
change, aud have no hesitation in saying,
that my vote. II necessary, Will be cast IN
that way. Under the present system Of
representation we are laboring under u
gross inequality. and the sooner it is rem
rdied the better it will be all around.
Ito ujustico Of the thing must be apparent
Mt glance. Pennsylvania, which gives
royal Republican majorities,i is compelled at
national conventions to stand on the same
footing rs such Democratic states as Texas
and AlRbamG. The delegates from Texas,
for instance, will be quite vociferous In
proclaiming their choice of candidate
for the presidency, when the delegates
knew and everybody else knows that
Texas viii come up smiling with tremeud.
ous majorites in favor OF the Democratic
candidate. have the greatest regard for
tie struggling Republicans in hopelessly
Democratic states, and thev deserve much
encouragement and consideration. but
do not think 1t should be done at the tx.
pense Of royal Republican states like
Pennsylvania. For these reasons favor
a change in the rules.
Mr. Martin has gone to the trouble
to figure out that il the proposed
change is made the number Of dele
gates from Pennsylvania will be in
creased from sixty-four to ninety seven.
The whole number OF delegates in the
convention will DO increased from 9O2
TO ll6J. a net increase In the body Of
2G3 delegates. Remarkable changes
will take place in the strength OF each
state delegation. Only four states,
Delaware, Montana, North Dakota
and Rhode Island. will have the
same number they had under the
old basis Of four delegates-at-!arge
from each state aud two from each
congress district The representation
in all the southern states will be radi.
calIy decreased, while those Of tho
north will Oe increased New York will
gain the powerful number Of "a and
will have l26 votes in the next couvar-
tion, where In the lasJ she only had 72
This will be the largest increase OF all
If the proposition carries the R-publi-
can party will speak in the next con-
vention as 1t has never spoken before
aud the voters who must be depended
upon to elect the ticket will be the ones
that nominate it,"
The obvious advantage OF this M.
rqugemen; IL that II will cnt Of one
great and fruitful source OF scandal and
uncertainty In spars-ly settled com
muni,ies where republican voters are
Few 1t is comparatively easy matter
for a coterie OF scalawags to invest
themselves with fictitious titlos, as
sumo great importance and control
the politics OF their section. Thus thoy
come to national conventions rs dele.
gates virtually representing nothing
but their own conceit or greed and at
once proceed to open negotiations with
the managers OF the various booms. In
the case OF Republican presiden,
mp for nomination. they naturally
cling to the candidacy that OF.
fers greatest hopes of retention in
the post offices, and there have been in.
stances known when unpopular men
have thus been foisted on the party
through the interested gratitude" Of
these pooh Dlh southern placeholders.
All this is unRepublican and also un-
fair The honest element In the party
ought not TO bs made to tolerate it.
For deserving Republicans in the south
there will naturally be much kindly
consideration. But they will first need
TO dissociato themselves from the ia
mlisr type Of Southern Republicanism
which generally shows up resplsndsnt
at national conventions, before their
claims can be weighed with exact JUS
tice.