The sun., 1899-09-26
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL DELEGATES.
To Make the Vote Cast tho Basis of Repre-
aentn alton, Not the Electoral Vote.

sentntion, Not the Electoral Vote.
At each Of the last three Republican National
conventions there has been brought up and
then deferred until the next the question Of
making future representation dependent not
upon the electoral vote OF the several States.
but upon the Republican vote cast In each.
The matter was brought to the attention Of
tho Republican Convention OF 1892 at MIN
nenpolis, but II was thought at that convention
unvise to precipitate the determination OF the
question. which might give offence to the
Southern Republicans in those States which
voted solidy for and practically secured the
denomination OF President Harrison.
Representation at Republican conventions is
based upon the electoral vote OF the several
States. and by multiplying the number OF
United States Senators and Representatives by
two the total Is obtained. The same plan Is
followed by the Democrats but In their case
there Is excellent reason for It's m maintenance.
In no State controlled by Republicans 10 thore
any disfranc chsement OF Democratic voters
and In ench State OF the country the Demo-
Gratis. even under the most adverse circum.
stances. constitute at least an appreciabe
factor OF the electorate Even in the disastrous
Bryan canvass the State. outside OF New
England. In which tho Democratic vote was
smallest was New Jersey. and there the Demo.
Gratis poled 36 per cent. OF the vote OF the
State. the Republican percentage being
80 per cent. and the balance being divided
between the minor parties. In the second
place. the unit rule prevails in Democratic
National conventions, the rule OF the unani-
nous vote OF the delegates from each State. .
rule ahrogated by the Republicans In $780,
But while the Republicans In the Northern and
Western Statos do not disfranchlse the DEM
ocratic minority. the reverse OF this condition 10
true in the South and It Ia declared to be unjust.
even preposterous, that States in which Re.
publicans do not cast q solitary electoral vote.
or even. in some casea. any popular votes.
should have the snme representation as 10
given to States In which the Republican party
is well organized and in which its voters pre-
dominate. A fragrant instance OF this
kind 10 recalled in the case OF Florida.
Florida has not had Republican Senator
In Washington for a long numb Der OF years or
Republican Representative either, yet 1t has
eight votes In Repu blican National Conven-
ton In 1892 the eight delegates OF Florida
voted soldly for the renom ination OF Mr.. Har-
rison for President at Minneapolis. but in the
election succeeding the Republicans OF that
State ran no electoral ticket and as a conks-
quence polled no vote In the State. either for
| electors or for mem bers Of Congress. Yet their
vote was permitted in the convention to Offset
the vote Of Washington. which was $4,000 at
the succeeding election. OF which the Republi-
cans poed $4,000. carrying tho State.
Since 1892 there have been such advances
In respect to the Acknowledgement OF vot-
ers In Southern States that the list OF those In
which such Acknowledgement now exists or 10
in process OF establishment before the next
! national election. includes South Carolina.
Mississippi. Louisiana, Alabama. North Car
olina and Virginia In Republican State Con-
| ventions. notably in the State OF New York. the
| basis Of representation Ia the popular vote for
Republican candidates at the election preced-
| ing. and 1t Is urged that the application Of
the same rule in Republican National
| Conventions would abnte present cause OF
| complaint. while at the same time conforming
| with the Republican notion Of national con-
| vention. which is that OF a representative body.
In Mississippi. In 1896. despite the support OF
many Democrats. the Mckinley electoral ticket
obtained but Z per cent OF the whole vote OF
| the State. In South Carolina. in the same con-
| test. the Republican percentage was 13 only.
| and the adoption since then OF constitutional
amen iments In some other States must reduce
| the Republican percentage In these.
| Two objections. now no longer valid, have
operated to secure the postponement OF q
| revision OF the representation OF States in Re-
publican National Conventions The control Of
every Republican convention since 1872 has
not only been contested. but vigorously and
| often intemperately contested. by the friends
Of the rival candidates for nomination and the
|
| luctant to reduce the representation OF those
Southern States from which they had. or con-
sidered they had. any promise OF delegates
| support. Tho minor candidates for Republi-
| can nomination to the Presidency have usually
had the greatest measure Of dependence on
| the South. and the proposition made
| to reduce the Southern representation has
| been regarded. usually. rs an unfr!endly act
| distinctly In the interest OF the leading candi-
| dat In hN
dications, the Republican National Convention
| will he as thoroughly harmonious and en-
| thusiastic as that OF 1872 and the demand for
| revision OF representation will not incur the
| hostility Of any aspirant for the Presidential
| nomination In that year. For n second reason,
| the federal census will be practically completed
| and its results known so far as the enumcra-
| tion OF the inhabitants is concerned when C. 9
| next national convention OF the Republicans
meets to nominate candidate for President
| In 1900. Tho occasion. therefore. will lie
| seasonable for fixing il not tho detailed has =
| OF the next national convention. at least tho
| form OF such representation, by making a re-
| duction In the number OF delegates accorded
| those States in which either there is n whole
sale disfranchsemcnt OF Ropu bicans by con-
stttutional amendments or through the opera
| tion OF discriminating election laws esta hshcd
| by the Democratic majority party. In 1Sl3
| the matter was laid over until noxt year and
| next year it Is pretty lik ely to be taken up. in
compliance with the demand OF many North
ern and Western Republicans who aver that
tho present system OF representation has
| ceased 10 Le an equitable one.
GARDINER AND STIFF roo GOWyED