New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-19
REPRESENTATIONS ~ CONVENTIONS.

The rearrangement Of the Senate and Assem-
bly, districts Of the State under the new Con
sttution has precptated the discussion OF an
exceedingly important question and one that
concerns every voter in the State. II Is this:
Shall the basis Of representation in Republican
conventions be arbitrarily fixed, or shall it be
according to the party vote? 1t has always
been held that the only equitable rule was that
which reflected the voting strength Of the party.
and this theory has been carried ont honestly
wear after year in the State conventions. but II
has long been dead letter in many OF the JUDI
clal Senate. County and Assembly district con-
vcntions throughout the State. and in conse-
0uence there is much unusual friction at present
over the nominations Of State Senators.
A few DAYS ago The Tribune called attention
10 the trouble in the Duchess district. when
consists Of Putnam. Columbia and Duchess
counties The Republican vote in Duchess is
larger than that Of the other two counties COM
bined For Morton it was 1902. while that OF
Columbia was 5.662 and Putnams only 2,oS'
Yet at the caucrses held to apportion delegates,
IL was proposed that Columbia should have just
AS many delegates in the Senate Convention as
Duchess. and Putnam with only one-hfth the
number of votes Of Duchess. wanted no less
than half as many as her big neghbor Inc IN
Justice of this scheme was so fragrant that even
Lou Pawn who was to be the chief beneficial
nv of IT, refused TO sanction its execution. ana II
is understood to have been abandoned.
Another case is that of the Madison Oswego
district Senator Stapleton appeared as can
didate for denomination He was backed by
the anti-Machine forces. His opponent, Mr..
Strannahan is known TO be a loyal friend OF
Mr.. Platt The friends of Mr.. StapetOn in
sisted that Madison County should have equal
representation in the convention with Oswego,
notwithstanding the fact that Madisons vote
in the last State election for Governor Morton
was only 6436 while that OF Oswego was 9,6l1.
on this contention Mr. Stapleton's canvass and
now that he has retircd-that Of his successor,
Mr.. Gates. rests While we believe that the in
terests Of the Republican party would best be
served by the election Of State Senate entirely
independent Of Mr. Platts dictation. we have
no hesitation in saying that Mr.. Staplctons
proposition is ndefensible Madison County
has no right To as many delegates as Oswego any
more than Columbia County can claim equal
rank with Duchess. No Republican convention
can afford 10 be so unfair. and certainly the Gle
mcnt Of the party that represents the best i'm
pulse for clean politics and honest methods
should not couDtenance such an idea for a
moment II Mr. Platt's candidate cannot be
beaten except by violating fairness. then Mr..
Strannahan should he nominated by all means.
In the NXXvllIth District Broome, Tioga
and Cortland counties Machine Is on the
other side of the question. Broome casts more
votes than Tioga and Cortland together but
the two minor counties insist upon having
equal voting power with Broome in the con
vention. II Is probable that they will carry that
point. inasmuch as the Plat people are sup
porting this view as vigorously as they are
advocating the other in the Madison Oswego
district, 1t Is with the Boss entirely matter
of convenience and advantage. Not so with the
reputable Republicans OF the state New-lork
is not North Carolina. and the Republican party
cannot afford 10 show any practical sympathy
with the Bourbon methods of Dixie, where del
egations and representatives are chosen regard
less of population or voting strength