The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-06-13
National Party Conventions.

termlned by doubling the electora
vote of the States, or, what amounts
to the same thing, doubling the
number of representatives Of the
States in both houses of Congress
The forty-fve States have four
hundred and forty-seven electoral
votes. Eight hundred and ninety.
four delegates therefore represent
the States In the conventions.
The Territories and the District
OF Columbia are also allowed repro.
sentation. The usual practice is
to allot two delegates to each, the
Indian Territory and Alaska in
ciuded. This would add twelve
delegates, and would make the to-
tai membership nine hundred and
SIX. But four Years ago the Dem
ocratic convention allowed to Ari-
iona and New Mexico six delegates
each, and the national Republican
committee this year recommends
the Republican convention 70 adopt
the same course with these terri
tories, and with Oklahoma as well.
II this advice is followed, the con-
vention will number nine hundred
and eighteen delegates On this
basis. four hundred and sixty votes
will be necessary for nomination,
except In the Democratic conven-
ton.
1t has been contended by some
Republicans that the basis OF repre-
sentation should be the party vote
in the States, and that it is unjust
that delegations from States which
are steadily Democratic, and where
comparatively few Republican
votes are cast, should preponderate
over delegations from steadily Re-
publican States of smaller popula-
ton. But nothing has come of the
agitation for change in this respect.
Democratic precedeuts require a |
two-thirds vote for a nomination. |
In convention Of nine hundred |
and eighteen delegates, six hun
dred and twelve votes would be
necessary to nominate. This rule
makes 1t possible for compact
if it numbers more than
one-third of the whole body, to
prevent nomination which it does
not favor. If such rule had been
operative, for example, in the Re-
publican convention Of 1880. the
three hundred aud more delegates
who voted for General Grant on
every ballot would have been able
70 prevent nomination except on
heir own terms.
Each convention makes it's own
rules, and it has been suggested
hat al effort may be made this
year to substitute majority for q
:wo-thirds rule in the Democratic
convention. The controversy Wit
n that party over the currency
question is SO sharp that it is rea-
oned that whichever faction car
les its point as to the platform
vill do 80 by no large margin, and
hat it will not wish to be depriv-
d, by the two-thirds requirement,
t the opportunity to name candi-
lates in accord with its views.
>ut the adoption of the two-thirds
ule in Democratic conventions
ates back to 1882, and SO old a
recedent Is not easily overthrow.
The attitude of the committee of
party toward candidates and to-
ard policies is a consideration of
tactical Importance. That COM
littee prepares the temporary roll
nd selects the committee on Gre
This year, in both con-
antlons, there will be contestipg
slegations from several States and
lstri0ts. The number will be
rger than usual because of the
.fferences over the silver question,
we'll as over candidates. Theo-
'ticaliy, all these contests should
> determined with exact justice;
at the committee on credentials a,
As neither time nor opportunity ia
II judicial investigation, and it's b.
'tion In some instances is likely a.
be influenced by its prejudices. Il
Sometimes rough kind of JUS an
re is reached, where conflicting be
aims cannot be harmonized, by eo
wing fractional votes to delegates.
nus in the last Democratic con-
ntion, the delegates from Indian =
'rrltory were allowed half a vote Ri
en-: La the hast Republican con- cal
ntion, the combination of one :
lrd and one-half votes, given to
delegates from North thu