Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-14
DELEGATES ACTIVE
Cities Working for the National
Republican Convention.
PHILADELPHIANS CONFIDENT
Part Being Played by the Payne
Reapportionment Plan.
w o r X 1 n G. Nj EN- H ER e

| publican national convention is getting
| into a merry whir as the hour approaches
| for the meeting of the national committee.
| The struggle seems to be with Chicago
| against the field Chicago's principal dan
| ger lying in apparently too much conf
| dence, while her rivals are putting in work
| every minute. All three delegations, Phila-
delphia, New York and Chicago, now being
| here, some lively electioneering is going on.
Philadelphia SIen Confident.
Members of the Philadelphia delegation
| express confidence that they have got we'll
| to the head of the running, and that they
are surely going to capture the convention.
| New York has other interests besides the
convention. The New York politicians
want New York man for Vice President,
and it may be that they can serve that end
better by not fighting hard against
Philadelphia. 1t is said that alliance
has been entered into between New York
and Pennsylvania, but that the New York
delegation naturally prefer to have the
convention go east and would like Phiia-
delphia to get it if New York cannot. the
Philadelphia people claim that they have
secured the pledges of a substantial ma
jority of the national committeeman now
in Washington, and that their proportion
of pledges increases as the number OF COM
mitteemen here increases.
AS foreshadOwed yesterday, the question
of the Payne reappOrtionment resolution Is
ngurlng to considerable extent IN tue
contest for the convention. The PennSyi-
vania people say that they have made 20
deal. but that the fact that close political
ties have always existed between the Penn
syIvana and the southern republicans. to-
gether with the fact that Senator Penrose
is known not to be favOrably impressed
with the Payne proposition, inclines the
southern committeeman toward Phlladcl-
pha Since the southern men are going to
act together, it Is probable that they vii!
all vote to send the convention to L nilddet-
phia.
Opposition to the Payne Plan.
The Payne plan is going TO meet with
more determined opposition apparently
than was at first anticipated, not only from
the southern men, but from others. II IS
held by those who .questionyits wisdom that
there are sound political reasons why the
representation of the south should not he
cut down. In the first place, it is said, the
situation never more promising .or the
development of the republican party in the
south than it now is, and that 1t would be
a mistake to discourage the southern re-
publicans by seeming TO abandon them as
the workers i'll hopeless cause. In spite
of all discoura cement for republicans in
the southern states, this one encouraging
sign is pointed to as promising important
results in the near future. In addition 10
the divisions among democrats in the south
on the money question, the new issue CT
expansion is again dividing the party, and
in both these separations on policy the re
publicans are finding in sympathy win
their policy many of the strongest and
most respected men of the south.
Question of Responsibility.
In the past the republican party of the
south has been attacked on the ground
that it lacking in respectability. But
in the development of new issues men of
the highest character and widest reputa-
ton for probity and ability have found
themselves in sympathy with the repuo-
licGn party in support OF the gold STANDARD
and OF expansion.
1t is pointed out that in Maryland and
kentucky the republican party does not
seem to be lacking in respectability: that
in Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana and MIS-
souri, there is very respectable following
Of the gold standard, and that the eXpan-
sion sentiment is strong in North carolina
and Georgia and extending into Texas.
While none of this may promise immediate
results, it is urged of sufficient promise
to cause the party to hesitate before Civ
ing any sort of encouragement to the re-
publicans of the south. In connection with
the charge of purchasabillty of southern
delegates, it is suggested that where there
is sale there must be a buyer and that
the man who buys cannot claim much
moral superiority over the man who sells
in such cases. Another argument against
reducing the representation from the south
is that, while coming from section of the
country where opposition to the gold stand
ard is supposed to be strong as 1t is in
any part of the west, the southern delega-
tions in national conventions cooperate
with the east in the matter of framing
policies. This fact, it is suggested, lessons
the opportunity for complaint from any
western quarter that the east simply
forces its policy down their throat.
Discomfort in the West.
While the reduction of the representation
of the south would increase the votes of
the eastern states in the national conven-
ton, it is held that it would not increase
their power since the southern votes are
now at one with them. The policy pro-
posed by Mr.. Payne, it is further urged,
would cause discomfort and discourage
ment, not only in the south, but also in
those western states which, though carried
by Bryan in 90. are expected to come back
into the republican lines hereafter.
Chairman Shields Philadelphia's
Prospects.
Mr. Shields the chairman of the Phila-
delphia committee now in Washingtor aid
with reference to Philadeiphia's prospects:
with the pledges which we now have
there is no question of doubt in my mind
that the convention will come to Philadei-
phia, but, of course this is only prediction
until after the committee has met and act
ed. The matter rests largely in the hands
of senator and representatives. They
are with u.s. and from the last consultation
l had with General Bingham this morning
what doubts l had were removed. Don't
be surprised to find the New York delega-
ton button-holing all delegates to the ma
tional convention coming to Philadelphia.
They pleased with having secured Mr.
Root for Vice President, and with the help
they have been given by Pennsylvania they
will in return be rooters for PHILADELPHIA
1 satisfied if Mr.. Quay arrives in time.
which ] assured he will do he can
secure the southern votes in a body. The
convention will then be unanimous for
Philadelphia
Mr.. ]. F. Mclaughlin of the Philadelphia
committee said: THE executive committee
under the guidance of its chairman Mr. w
I. S. Shields. nave not had an idle moment
since its arrival: the committee work has
been we'll and jucicicusly handled in man
ner characteristic of our beloved city
I'VE have been well received by every
member of the national committee that we
have come in contact with, and they have
unhesitatfngly expressed their preference
for Philadelphia. We have also been well
and Hospitality received by the New York
delegation, who will utilize what influence
they have for the benefit of our city.
There is no doubt in my mind that up to
the present moment everything points TO
III III. IL -