The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-07-02
FOR FAIR REPRESENTATION.
AN APPEAL TO REPUBLICAN
 CHAfRMEN

I
 Strong Showing of the Present Requit-
 able System of Representation-Th
 Present Plan an Inequitable One-The
 Representation of Towns Out of All Pro-
 portion to the, Number of Votes Cast
 Revision Suggested.
 The following circular letter has been sent by Isaac M. Ullman of this city to the chairmen of all the republican town committees in the state:
 New Haven, Conn, July 1st, 1896. l Dear Sir--After consultation with a number of prominent members of the republican party--men who at all times nave it's welfare at heart-I have de- termlned to place myself in communi- i cation with the great working force of | the republican party in our state and | lnVlte rom them friendly discussion and interchange of views upon a ques- ton Which has already begun to ob- trude itself upon the surface of our po- litical affairs, and which will continue to increase in force as time goes on until the reform is in measure, at I proposition to bring about more fair and equitable system of representation at republican state conventions; in other words, the inauguration of sys- tenn based to some extent upon voting 1 population.
 | In touching upon this matter, know l am dealing with subject which in many quarters will meet with the strongest prejudice, yet have no hesi- tancy in advancing it, feeling certain that in the end the inherent justice of my position and of those who think with me, cannot but be apparent to every fair-minded, patriotic republican. l At present, as you are aware, repre- sentation at a convention is based upon representation in the lower house of the | general assembly, each town being en- l titled to double the number of dele gates that it has members in that body. Population, numerical voting strength, | count for nothing. Under this system, the 9, 556 republicans in the city of New Haven, or the 5,S31 republicans in the city of Hartford, who voted for Gov ernor Coffin in 1894, will be represented in the coming republican state conven- | tiCii oy T dCiCEd dLSo SGNii, WiiAO tAlC IT republicans in the town of Union and the 64 republicans in the town of Hart land who voted for Coffin will each have a like number.
 | In 1894 the entire republican vote in Middlesex county for Coffin for gover- nor was 4,79S. In the coming state convention Middlesex county will have A delegates, while the 9,556 republicans | in the town of New Haven will have delegates. Casting practically twice | the vote for the republican ticket which was cast in the whole of Middlesex county, the town of New Haven has one-eleventh the representation in the I councils of the party which Middlesex county has.
 | The two counties of Middlesex and Holland cast for the republican candi- 1 date for governor in 1894 total of 1895 | votes These 7625 votes will be repre- scented in the coming state convention by SS delegates, while the 9,556 votes in the town of New Haven, the 5,SS1 in Hartford, and 5,3S7 in Bridgeport, cast for the republican ticket, a total of %, ,724 votes, will be represented in. the same convention by F delegates. | AS6lIl, lllt ilillOCl ol sOtSS Se.s's AoA Coffin for governor in 1894 in the coun- ties of Windham, Litchfield, Middle sex and Holland, was 1S536. These | IS, 536 voters will be represented in, the next convention by 21S delegates, while the 20724 republicans In the towns of l New Haven, Hartford, and Bridgeport, will have 12 representatives.
 In 1894 the total combined vote for l Coffin in the counties of Middlesex, New London, Litchfield, Windham, and Tol- land, was 26,390. In the coming conven- ton these 26,390 voters will be repre- sented by 27S delegates, while the 26,909 republicans who voted for Coffin in the 1 towns of New Haven, Hartford, Bridge port, Meriden, and Waterbury, will be represented by 20 delegates
 | Turning now to the towns, we find a remarkable showing. As figures speak more eloquently than words, l | shall make them tell their own story giving here the official vote cast for {! Coffin for governor, together with the number of delegates each town is en- titled to in the state convention.