The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-23
APpORTI0NMENT.
Thinks the Union Republicans Proposition
for rApp0rti0nment Of Delegates a
g. ---s
s.zx Fair One.


Editor Of tho DAILY REPUBLICAN,
SIR: The proposition to adopt the con.
stitutional npportionmert of representa-
tives for the General Assembly, for tho ap.
portionment of delegates in a proposed
extraordinary Republican State Conven-
tion, has caused considerable newspaper
discussion. The discussion, in view of the
fact that the regular" conferrees In tic
Dover Conference not only failed to offer
any plan or mako any proposition looking
to party unity, but confessed that they had
no authority to make Or accept any pro-
posed plan for party reorganization, ap
pears to bo II case of making much ado
about nothing. What sense is there under
such circuin stances in finding fault with
what other people do, or propose to do
Lot us see how this matter stands 1t is
agreed among Republicans that party
unity is the most desirable thing just now.
1t must follow that the parties making tho
first and only reasonable and practical
proposition for the attainment of that end,
have manifested tho best intentions, and
the best evidence of loyalty to the party.
1t cannot be truthfully denied that the first
and only proposition for u conference and
q convention-the only means by which
unity can be attained-came from the
Union Republicans. 1t Is also truo that
tho only proposition, at the conference, for
party unity was made by the Union Rc.
publicans. :
Why, then, all this adop The matter of
representation In this proposed convention
is noG ofvery great importance, unless there
is q desire somewhere to overthrow the
righteous rule Of majority control. There
is nothing in the Union Republican prop
osition to indicate IN attempt to do that.
Tho proposed submitting the adjudication
of tho whole controversy TO convention
chosen by the voters Of the party, disposes
of every objection that could be made ON
that score. AS we have already said tho
convention plan is the only right plan. IL
that was not true at the outset the action
OF the regular c0nferree5 in Juggling in tho
question of representation In their accept
ance Of an Invitation to q conference has
III ade it true. They demand that this e6
traordinary conference shall fix u basis Of
future representation i'll party conventions
and that State Central Committees, made
by party conventions, shall surrender
their functions to q state committee made
by these confcrrc6s.
II this Is not the avowed plan, 1t Is what
is current gossip about their intentions
and plans. This plan is not admissible.
1t would bc q SubvcrSion oil the authority
of the right of tho yOtcrs-t0 settlu qucs-
tiOnS OF party representation ana govern
ment at tho polls. These things aro SO
self evident that argument to sustain the
ulhmlssul OIL inc proposition " settie tlio
question ut issue out of convention, Is not
needed. There remains therefore only
three points for discussiok; tho basis Of
representation upon which the convention
of 1896 was chosen, tho now basis adopted
by that convention or the basis adopted
by tho constitutional convention and pro.
posed by the Union Republican conferrees
at the Dovor conference. The two first of
these propositions stand together. There
il no argument for one that is not equally
strong for the othor. They each have the
sanction of State conventions controlled by
the alherents of tho warning factions.
The adoption of either Of them would ap.
pear to be IL surrender of one faction to the
other, "a thing seemingly to DO avoided, IL
the result reached Is to bo permanent, Tle
only thor PROPOSITION having any authorl.
tative sanction Is tho one made by the
Union Republicans at Dover.
This proposition is a fair one to both par.
ties II reduces tho representation for the
purposes Of this proposed convention, (as
established by thu convention Of 1860 by
twenty five delegates; it reduces the repre-.
sentatiou Of Kent county ton, and of Sus'
sex county Twelve; it reduces New Castle
countys delegation by only three, and it
makes u fair distribution of tho delegates
between the city and rural New Castle
county.
If, however, there san appearance of
unfalrness in the apportionmont of dele
gates, 1t Il only temporary. The conven.
tlon, VIII Oh will bc n law unto itself can re.
adjust the distribution. or change the
number of delegates us shall seem best.
Again, unless some established basis is a..
ceptod there Is little probability Of party
unity as u result of this conference. 1t Is
very doubtful il there Is any authority for
adopting any numbcr,or apportionment Of
delegates not sanctioned bya convention.
The proposal to accept tho constitutional
apportionment was there on "a concession
on the part Of tho Union Republican con-
ferect Is wasa voluntary surrender of
twenty-five delegates out OF tho number
apportoned to Kent and Sussex counties
by the last State convention.
Having made this concession and proved
the sincerity Of their intentions in seeking
party unity through tho medium Of q
popular voto, the Union Republicans haze
done all that justice demands. We admit
that it cannot be truthfully denied. We
suggest however that they sc q step
further. We suggest the proffer Of the ap.
portionment of 1894, for the purposes Of
this extraordinary convention. The In
dications are suggestive Of desire Gu tho
part Of tho regulars to avoid tho submls.
sion of this matter TO the people. 1t s
good policy to hold them up to the mark
attained in their acceptance of the Invita-
finn to n rOnferRncs. A REPUBLICAN,