The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-02
TOO NAVY SOUTHERN DELEGATES.

TOO MANY SOUTHERN DELEGATES.
| There is q strong probability that South
! ern delegates will not play so important
a part in the next National Convention
Of the Republican party as they have in
the national conventions OF that party
| in the past. The Republican leaders are
about tired apparently Of having to show
so much consideration to delegates from
states which do not give Republican can
didates any electoral votes. In every Re
publican National Convention since the
franchise was given to the negro there
have been scandals growing out Of the all
legged purchase Of negro delegates.
One of the most prominent members Of
the Republican National Committee pro-
poses to submit, at the next meeting of
the committee. a plan for new basis Of
representation in the National Convention.
The plan IS to give each state four dele
gates at large and one delegate for every
10000 votes, or majority fraction thereof
cast for the Republican ticket at the pre-
ceding presidential election. In addition.
each organized territory, including the
District Of Columbia. is to be given four
delegates. on this basis there would be a
few more delegates In the convention than
there would be under the present plan,
but only a very few. Leaving out the
organized territories and the District of
Columbia there would be just one dele
gate more under the new plan than under
the old.
rr-a.- 49,. ..-ezz,.4 S-..z.e..- -,-Ltab
cast very few Republican votes, and
which never give the Republican candi-
dates an electoral vote, have more influ-
ence in the National Convention than some
of the rock-ribbed Republican states. The
Press of Philadelphia points out, for in
stance that Mississippi, which at the last
presidential election cast only about 5000
votes for the Republican ticket, had more
power in the last National Convention than
Inc city of Philadelphia, which cast more
than 10000 votes. AS a matter of fact
Philadelphia at the last presidential cleo
ton cast more Republican votes than the
states of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana
Florida, Georgia and South Carolina COM
bined
The Republicans of the Southern states
will of course oppose the proposed change
in the basis of representation, and they
may be strong enough TO defeat it in The
committee, but If 1t should be defeated
there the chances are it would be carried
into the convention. Apparently the Re
publican leaders are very tired of the pur-
chasable Southern delegates. OF course
all of the colored delegates from this Sec
ton are not purchasable, but unless re-
ports do them great injustice a very large
portion of them in previous conventions
was In the market. Some who did not
receive actual cash had their expenses
paid. The expenses of a delegate amount
to a very considerable sum.
The proposed basis of representation
would be good thing for the South. 1t
would result. in all probability in keep
ing negroes out of federal offices in those
sections of the Southern states where pub
lie sentiment is against negro Office hold
ers, AT present the Southern states have
so many delegates in the National Conven-
ton that candidates have to make pledges
to them in order to stand any chance of
getting the presidential nomination. A
President seeking a second term, and hav-
ing some opposition, depends upon the del
egates from the South to pull him through.
Relying upon them he has to give negroes
offices or take the risk of losing the sup
port of the negro delegates.
Under the present system, Georgia, for
instance, has twenty-six delegates in the
National Convention and Mississippi
eighteen. Under the proposed plan Geor-
gia would have ten and Mississippi five.
Other Southern states would lose in about
the same proportion. while the great Re-
publican states like Pennsylvania and
Iowa would gain in representation. A can
didate for the presidential nomination
therefore, If the new basis of representa-
ton were adopted would not have to curry
favor with the negro delegates to the ex-
tent he now does