Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-03-29
PARTY TO BE REPRESENTED.
Proposed Change in Assignment of Del
,rutxs an R,r,,I,ti,,,,, N.,li,,nnI enpx,nf IN,

Proposed Change in Assignment of Dele
gates to Republican National Conventions.
WAsBINGroN March 26.-Nuch interest
mas been manifested by republican senator's
and mombers of Congress in the commune
cation they have seyerolly received from
Chairman Joseph II. Mnney of the eXecu-
tive committee of tho republican national
committee, concerning the change that is
proposed TO be made in the representation in
the next national republican convention.
The present basis of representation is that
of general population This is the basis ON
which Congress is composed, and it gives to
democratic districts and democratic States
the Same strength, according to population.
that republican districts and States have.
1t is now proposed that the next conven-
ton shall represent tho republican party.
rather than the people without regard to
party distinctions. Two delegates are to
| come from ench state as dclegates-at- large
one delegate from each congressional dis
trict in the United States: au additional del
egate for each 1000 republican votes cast in
any Congress district at the presidential
election of 1892, and delegate for the
fraction of 1000 votes greater than one half
and two delegates from each Territory and
the District of Columbia.
If thi, schene of representation is carried
out the number of delegates in the conven-
ton will be increased from 9O2 to l6j. Il
net increase in the body of 263 delegates
Remarkable changes will occur in the
| strength of each State delegations Only
four States. Delaware Montana, North
Dakota and Rhode Island. will have the
same number of delegates which they had
under tile old basis of four delegates at
large from each State and two from each
| Congress ional district.
Figures show how radical will be the
changes if thi, new policy is carried into eff
feet. Those who favor it urge that the
more radical they will be the greater is the
proof of the desirabity Of the change. It
cannot be called discrimination against
| the South because the southern States of
| Kentucky, Maryland Missouri. North
Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia will
gain, and the Northern States of Idaho,
Nevada, Oregon and Wyoming will lose.
| making a total gain to the South of ~
votes. The loss to the South will be only -
delegates and the loss among the States will
| be heavy only where the republican party
| is. if not without an organization, at least
impotent and disorganized
Considered terrtoriallv. New England
will gain 20 votes by the proposed change:
the north middle States. meaning New
York. Pennsylvania New Jersey Ohio. In
diana, Illinois, Michigan aud Wisconsin,
will gain 2l9 votes, by far the largest pro-
portion of the total gain The south mid
die States Maryland, Virginia West Nir
ginia, Kentucky and Missouri, will gain 80
votes. The Western States will gain IS
votes The Rocky Mountain States will
lose five votes. The extreme southern
States will lose Sc votes. North Carolina be-
ing the only one that gains. And the Pacific
coast States will gain eight votes. 1t is in
this territorial aspect of the change that its
full Importance is seen and its quality of
justice made impressive. If it is adopted
the republican party will speak in the next
national convention as it has never spoken
in any previous one, and the voters who
must be depended on to elect the ticket will
be III due measure the voters who will nom
| mate.