New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-11
BASIS OF REPRESENTATIONS
REVIVING THE SCHEME TO CHANHE -

A WEST VIRGINIA ADVOCATE OF THE POLICY OF
ALLOWING REPUBLICAN STATES TO con-
troll REPUBLICAN NOMINATIONS.
Jsy TELEGRAPH TO THE Th1puNEJ
St Louis June 10.-N Is. Scott, National Oo'',
mitteeman from West Virginia, Is an araeh' au-
vocate OF the scheme, which finds more OF ies'
passing favor at each recurring conVeh'ion' -
change the present basis or delegate ieP'V
sanitation Four years ago at minneapolis
resolution was adopted referring the question U,
renresentation in the convention 10 the Na'ioi"i
C,n,ittee with the suggestion that report De
MAZDA to the convention Of 1890 on the advsa-
,iutv Of aprortioning delegate representation IN
.bo f,,urc ON the basis of the Republican vote
actually cast in each Congress district The Ma
t;o,,al Committee at Its session IN washington
last December decided TO take no action IN the
matter on the ground that its authority was not
nIenary enough to inaugumte so important re-
form in party methods. 1t was consequently
decided TO refer the question back TO the con-
yention Of this year without Recommendation Oh
any sort Representative Atcheson. OF fennsyi-
yonia and several other delegates have recently
announced that they will renew at st. LOUIS the
agitation for a change in the basis OF representa-
ton which will give q freer voice ana larger III
fuence in National councils to the STATES anu
Congress districts in which the great bulk OF the
Republican votes Is cast. MI scout heur'i9
seconds this programme. and hopes that the con-
venton can be induced to take the time 10 co"-
slider some scheme for the more equltapic oiS
tribution of representation arncng the H'"'es
Mr. Scotts own idea Is TO allow each Cons'es
district one delegate from each ',ooo hepuon-
! can votes or major fraction Thereon cast at 'iio
! PREVIOUS general election. Should TINS plin W
carried out It would result in net increase OF
100 in the number of delegates participating III
the Republican Convention Of 300
"It is the only fair way TO regulate the hunPer
Of Delegates" said Mr. Scott to-day. LAS things
are now. States that never expect TO so Repuo"-
can and IN which the Republican vote is very
light. are entitled to representation far ABOVE
their deserts In fact these States hold the balance
Of power and oftentmes succeed in nomina''ns
men against the wishes of the strongest Repuo-
ucon states IN the Union Now this is obviously
unfair ga the Southern states never contribute
an electoral vote to his support. and the Dig
BAnuhlican states. who would rather have had
| Soma other candidate are obliged to elect MN
unaided and alone.
.Nv scheme 70 change the system, 1t Will De
remembered. was introduced at the last FepuD-
| lcan Convention. and excited much IaNoI" t
( comment that time. since tHtI t"c ppm,
feeling for 1t has largely increased ana i,tril
TO bring II before the meeting or the NaVoh "a.
Committee. with some prospect OF success. vi
course II viii. be bitterly fought by representa-
tives Of the strongly Democratic states. Dul
they should be willing 70 make some cohces'S'
/ for the good Of the party. II the Natonal ON
! nittee resolves 10 report the schene iaNolap..
/ to the convention, there VIII De a'i't'e. "1''
against II but here the States In which the Re-
publicans are strongest are so much IA the ma
iority that believe notion TO au'hof.Le .nc
/ change in representation would carry. All inc
I States which cast large Republican Votes, sucn
as Pennsylvania, New York, ILLINOIS. etc-' "ouIu
undoubtedly vote for II. while the only Oppose
ton would come from States Ike Georgia, Ala-
hama and Florida whose chances for gong Kc-
nubpcan in the next 100 years are very slim, IN
deed. A..
Speaking OF the plans and preferences OF the
West virginia delegation, Mr.. Scott said: Ihere
are no contests in our State, and every HepuDi'-
can within It's boundaries Is for Mckinney loi
President first last and all the time our choce
for Vice President II he will accept the noInina
| tion IL Thomas b Reed, OF Maine Next 70 hir
we nrefer q A. Hobart of New-Jersey. who, you
remember Is the man who succeeded In wrestling
that state from the Democracy. He would un
doubtedly do so again should he have the secoho
place on the ticket. Our people are all right OF
the money question also. and IN TINS respect W.
will be aided materially in our coming lSht D!
the business men Of the Democratic party Inc
latter Dartv will declare for the free coinage o.
the white metal which will throw the votes OF tn
sound- money Democrats over 10 us we VIII loS
: no Republican votes in return. and unless some
thing extraordinary occurs between this anc
election time. West Virginia Will go 80 over
wheImingly Republican that there VIII be no pos
sible chance for the opposite party TO cheat Ill
out of our victory