The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-29

DELEGATES TO NATIONAL CON
vENTlON.


The proposal to revise the method Of
apportioning representation In Republi-
can national conventions should be APP
proved. There IL always opposition to
any change which involves reduction In
influence. but the present conditions are
too unequal to be tolerated longer. The
fact has been apparent that the presi-
Dental nominee OF the Republican party
was named by states which could not
do anything toward eiectins him. 1t is
not proposed to disfranchise Republi-
cans in the Southern states. but the
present system Of apportionment gives
them an influence In the national con-
vention altogether out of proportion to
the Republican states.
The absurdity OF this method is shown
by q comparison OF the number OF dele
gates now permissible and the number
to which the favored states would be
entitled under the new plan. Alabama,
which could do very little toward elect
ing a Republican president. Is now en-
titled to twenty-five delegates, or four
more than California and four more
than Minnesota. In the new arrange
ment II will be entitled to nine dele
gates. Mississippi. far more hopelessly
Democratic even than Texas. now sends
seventeen delegates. and 50 more than
Offsets Oregon and Washington. which
are usually Republican. by the new
arrangement Mississippi will have five
votes. Georgia has twenty six, bu. will
be reduced TO ten IL the plan carries.
and South Carolina will come down
from eighteen to five. while Louisiana
will be reduced from sixteen to six.
Texas will have only nine. instead OF
twenty mine. but 1t may 10 necessary TO
increase the number for that state be-
fore long. because Republican gains
seem to be In a greater ratio there than
In any OF the Southern states.
Colorado. Idaho. Montana. Nebraska,
Nevada. Utah and Wyoming will, we
regret to observe. lose slightly; tat good
behavior will entitle them 70 higher
mark.
The state which will gain chiefly will
be Illinois, which leads with an in
crease OF seventeen. making sixty-fivc,
or one more than Pennsylvania has
now: whAe Pennsylvania will advance
thirteen points. or five more than New
York has. New York leads with an ad-
vance OF fourteen. making eighty six.
Ohio VIII have eleven more votes. max
ing flfty-ssven. Most OF the Northern
states make few gains
The national convention will, there
fore. he O. the same dimensions. but
the distribution Of influence In the con-
vention Will be- according To the strength
OF the Republican party In each state.
Under the proposed plan zach state wlll
be entitled 10 four delegates at large.
and one additional delegate for each
ten thousand votes. or fraction thereof.
cast at tho last presidential election for
Republican electors and fer delegates
from each organised territory and the
District az Columbia.
The state Of Washington should very
soon be entitled - u higher rank, hu,
the last presidential election the vote
for Mckinley was Ss.iss. 81 that we are
already close W t. our limit We
should add twenty thousand Republican
votes t. this number without difficulty,
and so be entitled 10 ten delegates and
pass Oregon.
The change cannot be INSIDE except by
authority ~ a convention. So that the
delegates fer 1900 win be selects! under
the present method.