The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-25
pRoPoRrIONArE INSTRUMENTATION.
Tho Question to he Considered by tho
Republican National Committee.

Republican National Committee.
WASHINGTON. Nov %. When the Republic
can National Committee meets in Washington
next month to nx the time and designate tho
place Of the 1900 convention. there will be
brought 10 its not &c again. II IL announced.
the question OF rrorortionate representation
In Republican National conventions hereafter
The motion Ia to be m dc by the Iowa me mber
OF the committee. Mr.. Cummins Of Des
Moines. who. in n published interview. Il re-
ported as declaring that he favors a
change OF Representation. based on tho
votes cast for Republican Presidential
candidates. In preference to the present
method of divisional allotment according to
the number OF Consressmen. The question Is
not nsw one. having been taken up. without
any positive action. by the Republican
National Convention of 1892 at Minneapolis.
but the reasons for It's more serious considera-
tion. especially In year ~ a National census.
are much more urgent than they were seven
years ago. and II 10 natural that the sus gestion
for change In representation should emnnats
from the committee member OF so stsadiast
n Repu bican State hs Iowa.
The Republicans Of the Hawkeyo State. after
a clear-cut, straieht-out. incorporating and
courageous nght 10 support ~ every principle
Of established Repu blican policy. havo car
are represented. and have been for many
years. by two Republican Senators and by q
solid Republican delegation TO tho House OF
Representatives Iowa cast $4,000 votes in
the election OF 1896 Its quota 10 thirteen
electors, whereas the two States OF Mississippi
and Florida which cast In the same election
10000 and 1880 votes respectively Ia total
OF $4,000 votss). have the same electoral
representation. and tho same representation
In the Republican National Convention az
Iowa. or twenty-siI delegates.
In the recent election In Mississippi for a
Governor and State officers and for members
ofthe Legislature as well. to choose two United
States Senator's, the Republicans did not 60
through the formally Of either nom mating or
putting up any candidates. In Florida the
lethargy. indifference or helplessness OF tho
Republicans IL practically the same: even in
Presidential election Of some years ago they
did not put up Presidential electors. though
they had taken an active part in tho nominal
tlon Of the Republican candidates.
Under these circumstances 1t IL proposed to
consider n change In the basis Of representa-
ton In Republican National conventions now
fixed arbitrarily by tho mum Der o. Nom hers OF
Congress irrespective OF the sire OF the State
or OF the constituency. or Of the disaualinoa-
tons i'm posed upon its citizens. which seems
~
The demand for a change seems likely to be
considered. perhaps more favorabiy. In view Of
the fact that 10 many States icons picuously
New York; tina former method OF slecting
delegates by political divisions has been dis
carded In favor OF representation based upon
tho vote cast by Republican candidates at
the last general election Thus. In electing
delegates to tho New York State convention
next year TO nom nate n Governor. the basis OF
representation ~ be tho nun Der q votes cast
for MIR Roosevelt in 1873, while in the election
Of delegates to the National Convention from
New York. the Congressional districts will he
taken instead. a strong Democratic and an
oyerwbe,m ingly Republican district havln the
same representation In the nomination OF a
President. but not In that Of 30, ernor
Usually the chief obstacle encountered to
any change in the metho oil elec' Ing or In tho
allotment OF delegates To nom ing conven-
ton Is to be found IN the opposition OF candi-
dates appreh"nsivc Of the loss OF vote, or in
huanca thereby, The present political situa-
ton, however, Is such that u change OF repre-
sontntion may he disrasSionately con sidsrsd.
but tho powers o; tn. National Committee ARA
merely advisory. and the members could do no
more than make recon- endation to the Ma
tional convention for such action as n majority
OF it, members would approve, that action to
affect future Republican conventions and to
alter radically tho method OF electing delegates
IN than