Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-12
PHiLADELPH|A'S PLAN
Effort to Secure the Next National
Republican Convention
HEADQUARTERS ESTABLISHED HERE
Congressional Delegation to Help
the City Committee.
CALL ON THE PRESIDENT


The advance guard of the Philadelphians
who are working to secure the republican
national convention of 1900 for that great
republican stronghold and center of Nc
kinley sentiment are making it apparent
that they are in earnest and are going to
get the convention if they can The repub-
lican national committee will assemble here
on the 18th for two days session, which
promises to be of unusual interest. There
will be an active contest among the several
cities seeking the national convention. The
Philadelphia people are the first on the
ground, and are preparing for regularly
organized campaign, with the Pennsylva-
mia delegation in Congress to help them.
They have taken a handsome reception
room at the Arlington, the hotel where the
national committee will meet, and are hav-
ing 1t decorated elaborately with flags and
banners.
The New York committee, who are going
to try to secure the national convention for
their city, have taken quarters at the same
hotel, which being fitted up for them,
but that committee has not yet arrived.
None of the other committees has yet taken
quarters. but all are delaying until the
arrival of the national committee.
Getting Down to Business.
ne r fHilttIeIpHlt ptOpIe TedClieu w dSli-
ington last evening. and at once got down
to business. A conference was held be-
tween the committee and members of the
Pennsylvania delegation in Congress, and
a plan of campaign was mapped out 1t
was decided that Senator Penrose should
work among the senators from the several
states to bring influence to bear upon the
national committeeman In the interest of
Philadelphia. and that the Pennsylvania
delegation in the House should work among
the members of the House to the same end
The few members of the national commit
tee who are now in Washington have al
ready been visited in the interest of Phila-
delphta. Of course, IT is impossible to get
commitments in advance of the assembling
of the national committee, when There will
be an opportunity to canvass the situation
and exchange views on the subject of the
availability of the several cities seeking
the convention, but Philadelphia people eX-
press great satisfaction at the manner in
which their arguments in behalf of their
city have been received. 1t is strongly in
dicated by what can be learned thus early
in the contest that Philadelphia will be the
second choice of number of those who are
working for cities of their own localities
The general impression is that the choice
in the end will lie between Philadelphia
and Chicago The latter city always has an
advantage in such a contest from the fact
that so many conventions have been held
there and some of the western men have
got rather In the habit of looking upon it
as the convention city; but the belief Is
quite general that If the Pennsylvania
congressional delegation are really deter
mined to have the convention go TO Phila-
delphia they will have influence enough to
secure 1t.
A Call on the President.
The Philadelphia committee called on the
President this morning, accompanied by
Senator Penrose and Representatives Bing-
ham, Young, Adams, Wanger, Butler and
Loudenslager. Mr. Shields, chairman of
the committee, was presented to the Presi-
dent by Senator PenrOse, and he in turn
introduced the rest Of the committee. Mr..
Shields, addressing the President, explained
that the committee, representing the, city of
Philadelphia, was here to try to arrange
for the holding of the republican national
convention at Philadelphia. He said that
they of course. understood that the Presi-
dent could not express any preference
among the several cities seeking the honor
Of being the place where Will be nominated
the next President, but that he wanted to
say that all the people of Philadelphia We're
Mckinley people, and that they were destr-
Gus of having the honor of being the place
of his second nomination.
The President replied with a pleasant
greeting to the committee and said that it
was manifestly improper for him to express
any preference as to place of holding the
convention. "Of course" he said, "it can
not matter to me where | am nominated" ="
big delegation from Chicago Is expect
ed 10 arrive tomorrow 10 open the night for
that city.
Changing the Representation.
Representative Acheson of Pennsylvania
has prepared a resolution, which he will
endeavor to get before the republican ma
tional committee as a substitute for the
Payne resolution, changing the basis of
representation Of the states in republican
national conventions.
Mr.. Acheson proposes:
THAT district representation in future
republican national conventions shall be
based upon the vote cast in each district
for the republican electoral ticket at the
preceding presidential election:
Provided, That each district shall have
at least one delegate and each state shall
have four delegates at-large The ratio for
district representation in the convention of
1904 shall be one delegate for each 10000
republican votes polled in 1900 for the party
electoral ticket, with an additional delegate
for a fraction exceeding half thereof. In
case any state entitled to more than one
member of Congress has not been divided
into congressional districts, Its representa-
ton shall be ascertained by dividing the
electoral vote for the entire state by 10 600
Hereafter each national convention shall
fix the ratio of representation for the sue
ceeding national convention
Such a resolution was offered by Mr..
Acheson at the national convention of 1895
and was favorably reported by the commit
tee rules.
A.