Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-27
THE SOUTH PROTESTS
Opposition to Proposed Change in Repub-
lican Representation
Chairman Carter Has Stirred Tn the
Southern Members of His Party
vigorous Utterances.

The republicans Of the south, according
to the statements Of their representatives
In Congress. will strenuously oppose the
proposition OF Chairman Carter of the
republican national committee TO change
the plan Of organization for the next
national convention. Two plans were dis
cussed at the recent meeting of the execu-
tive committee in Washington as the cul-
mination Of the agitation which has been
going on among northern republicans for
some time. based on the argument that as
the south gives the republican candidates
no electoral votes 1t Is allowed undue in
huence in the nominating convention. One
OF these plans is to allow one delegate to
the convention for every 1900 votes cast
for the republican candidate IN the pre-
ceding presidential election; the other
proposition is to continue the present rep
resentation Of two delegates from each
Congressional district. and allow an I'D
ditional delegate for every 1000 votes
Either system would materially reduce the
representation of the southern states
Inc arguments against change were sue
cinctly expressed today by Representative
Thomas Settle OF North Carolina the only
republican member from the south now In
the city. who is prominent in the politics
OF his state and whose father was also a
leading southern republican. Said Mr..
Settle:
opPOoeo 10 Sn0nge.
1.-THE southern republicans will be un-
alterably opposed to change and think it
very unwise and impolitic to agitate the
matter at this time. 1t is an unjust and
unfriendly blow aimed at southern republi-
cans by their northern brethren. Just at
this time when the democratic party has
repudiated its pledges. made through the
medium Of its state platforms in every
faf he
ty years. to enact a law for the free and
unlimited coinage OF silver as soon as
they came into power nationally, and while
they are waging unrelenting war on south
posed tariff legislation, IT seems that wis
dom would suggest II was time TO extend
a helping hand to southern republicans,
rather than strike them blow. We fight
against odds to which northern republi-
cans are strangers. The enforcement Of
unjust election laws DISTINGUISHES tens of
thousands of republican voters in the
south. It would be a strange proceeding.
one not in keeping with the history and
traditions Of the party, to enforce these
election laws and democratic methods by
denying these disfranchised republicans a
voice in nominating conventions. This is
done II we are only accorded representa-
ton upon the basis Of the votes returned
or actually cast
"The republican party has always protest.
ed against democratic suppression of repub-
lican votes in the south, vet some of its
leaders propose to deny us representation
in the party councils just in proportion as
We are denied the right OF voting by demo-
cratic chicanery and fraud.
An Injustice.
acting under the advice OF northern
leaders we ran no electoral ticket in Ala
bama at the last election. that the populists
might. IL possible. overpower the democrats.
There are other instances of the same sort.
yet If the proposed plan is carried out such a
course when taken for the interests of the
party would cut down our representation in
conventions. Another argument against
the change proposed by Chairman Carter is
that II would increase the number of dele
gates in convention, while in the past the
weakest point in conventions has been that
they were too large q u ct cn ll,,,