The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-17
MIR. PAYNE TAKES TIP
DOES NOT PRESENT PROPOSED
PROPOSITION TO CHANGE BA-
SIS OF REPRESENTATION
Mr.. HANNA IS OPPOSED

Chairman Of the Republican Nation
NJ Committee Argues That That
Body Has No RtSht Nor Power to
Dictate as 10 Matter of Repre-
sentatiou ia National Convention
Mr.. Payne MaAes Explanation.
WASHINGTON. Dec 1.-THE members
of Tie Republican national committee
were received ,oday b. President McKin-
ley at tat White house. There was no
speech making TIE memb rs Of the COM
mittee simply Passing though the room
ana Shaking hauds with the president
After the reca ption the committeeman
were groure5 in front If the White house
ana photos .-fhed. While arrangements
We're being made for taking the photo
graph, President Mckinley entered his
carriage and was driven to the residence
OF The late Vice President Hobart, and
escorted Mrs. Hobart to the station,
where she took the train TO her New Jer-
sey home
The members of the committee returned
TO the Arlington hotel and assembled In
session.
prepared a resolution 10 change the basis
Of repre- sertation, said that he wtrid not
Offer it, but would make a statement to
the committee. Shortly after the meet-
Ing WIS & led to order Mr.. Payne made
his statement az follows:
Il ask the committee to honor ne with
its attention. for few minutes Tor
statement somewhat personal in its ma
ture.
1t is we'll known by members of the
committee, both from the public press and
correspondence with them, that l have 1u-
tended to offer and advocate the adoption
by the committee of a reso ution prOpos-
ing to the next national convention
change in the basis of representation in
subsequent conventions l some time since
gave to the press for publication and DIS
cussiOn the resolution which 1 had pre-
pared to present to the committee upon
the subject.
Briefly stated. it proposed to make the
national convention which dominates Re
publican tickets and fCrmulates Republic
an platforms fairly representative of
those who vote for Republican platforms
and Republican principles. The PROPOSE
ton has received the support of almost
the entire Republican press of the coun--
try, and I have reason to believe that
upon its merits, as well upon grounds
of eXpediency, it has the support Of
large number of this committee.
Il have not in the slightest degree
changed my conviction as to its justice,
nor have 1 the slightest doubt as to its
eXpedieacy. Within a day or two it has
encountered opposition which L had no
reason to anticipate, including that Of
the chairman of this committee. 1t is
sufficient for me to say that out of my
regard for his opinion and the opinions
and wishes of others high in the coun--
sells of the party, to which, as a loyal
Republican, l am proud to defer, L am
constrained not to offer the resolution.
Il thank the committee for their in
diligence and I have made this state
ment only in obvious justice to my
self
MIR. HANNA OPPOSES.
Senator Hanna took the floor and brief
~ discussed the Payne proposition al
though it was not formally before the
committee. He said that he did not
believe it was the province of the ma
tional committee to inaugurate any such
radical changes. The committee was ap-
pointed for the purpose of assisting in
every honorable way the election of the
ticket nominated and to arrange the
preliminaries for the next convention.
Changes in the basis of representation, he
to deal with He did not believe that
the committee should make recon-
mendations to congress as to legislation
In their individual capacity members
could ask their senators and representa-
tives to bring about such legislation as
they favored, but the committee, he
thought, should maintain its position as
an organization to conduct the affairs
of the party, under the instructions of
the convention. If it assumed more it
would be charged with dictation. Mr..
Hanna's remarks were cheered by the
committee.
None of the other propositions on this
subject were brought forward.
The subcommittee on arrangements for
the convention was announced as fol-
lows: Manly Me), chairman: Payne
CWis), Scott CIV. va. Kerens CNIo).
Kean N. j. with Hanna and Dick
chairman and secretary of the national
committee exofficio members. The selec-
ton of delegates from the District of
Columbia was referred to an election
board.
There was some talk about the large
representation from territories, but no ac-
ton was taken. The committee ad-
journed subject to the call of the chair
man, 1t being explained that it will as
semble a few days before the convention
meets to make up the preliminary roll
of delegates.