The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-03-01
REPUBLICAN kICkERS.
The Southern View Of the Carter Plan
of Representation.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 2S The Republicans
of the south, according to their representa-
tives in congress- will strenuously Oppose
the proposition of Chairman Carter of the
Republican national committee, to change
the plan of organization for the next ma
tional convention. Two plans We're dis
cussed at the meeting Of the executive
committee i'll W shlngtou, AS the cumi-
nation of the agitation that has been going
on for some time among northern Repub-
licans. based on the idea that as the south
gives Republican candidates no electoral
votes, il is allowed undue influence in the
nominating convention. One of these
plans is to allow one delegate for every
1000 votes cast for the Republican candi-
date in the preceding presidential election.
The other proposition Is TO continue the
present representation of two delegates
from each congressional district aud allow
an additional delegate for every 1000
votes.
Either proposition would materially re-
dnce the representation of the southern
states, The arguments against the change
were succi1ctly presented today by Repre-
sentative Thomas Settle of North Caro-
lima. the only Republican member from
the south now in the city, who Is promi-
nent in the politics of his state, and whose
father was IA leading southern Republican.
Said Mr.. Settle:
The southern Republicans will be un-
alterably opposed TO the change, aud l
think it very unwise and impolitic to
agitate the matter at this time. 1t is an
unjust and unfriendly blow aimed at
southern Republicans by their northern
hrethern. Just at this time. when the
Democratic party has repudlated its
pledges, made through the medium of its
state platforms in every southern state for
the last fifteen or twenty Years, to enact n
law for the free and unlimited coinage of
silver as soon as they came into pow er
nationally, and while they are waging IL u
relenting war on southern interests aud
resources in their proposed tariff legisla
tiOn, it seems that wisdom would suggest
it was time to extend "a helping hand to
southern Republicans rather than strike
them blow.
1--WE fight against odds to which north
ern Republicans are strangers. The enforce
menG of unjust election laws DISTINGUISHES
tens of thousands of Republican voters in
the south. lt would be ii strange proceed
ing, one not in keeping with the history
and traditions OF the party, to indorse these
election laws auu Democratic methods by
denying these disfranchised Republicans
voice In nominating conventions. This
is done if we are only accorded representa-
tion upon the basis of votes returned or
always protested against Democratic sup
preston of Republican votes in the south,
yet some of its leaders propose TO deny US
representation in party councils, just in
proportion as we are denied the right OF
voting, by Democratic chicanery and
fraud.
Acting under the advice Of northern
leaders we ran no election ticket ia Ala
bama at the last election, that The popu-
lists might, If possible, overpower the
Democrats. There are other instances OF
the same sort, yet if the proposed plan is
carried out such course would cut down
our representation in conventions. An
other argument against the change pro-
posed by Chairman Carter Is that it would
Increase the number of delegates in con-
Ventons, while IN the past the weakest
point in conventions has been that they
were too large for the practical working
OF parliamentary parties.n