New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-08-22
CONVENTION DATES FIXED
RESERVATION FOR CONGRESS
CONVENTIONS CHOSEN.

While the law committee appointed to unravel
the snarl in the primary laws agreed with the
contention of President Robert c. Morris, it rec
cn,rnended to the executive committee of the
Fsepublican County Committee. which met yes
,erdav the following of the Assembly district
basis Of representation for the Congress con-
confirms This recommendation was made only
bacause Of expediency and carried with 1t a
f,,rtber recommendation that the other plan be
a6onted directly after the fall election The
-e,o-t declared that had the question been re-
ferres to the law committee when first sug-
rested by President Morris the committee
would have recommended the adoption of the
election district scheme.
t-xnediency suggested the following OF a plan
which many of the committee believe to be not
IN strict accordance with the law. There re-
main only five days for filing with the Elections
BOARD the primary call The regulations gov
erning the Republican primaries, filed with
th,. board, require the pursuance of the Assem-
blv district plan If the primary call flied by
the Republican County Committee to-day
should be on the election district basis the
Elections Board would be in position refuse
10 receive il. Then there would not remain
sufficient time for the Republicans TO call an
other meeting. which requires a forty-eight-
hour notice under their constitution. and make
the change
II the board refused TO accept the call the
only recourse left to the county committee
would be TO apply for mandamus compelling
the board TO receive the call. But the board
might give bond and take an appeal to the Ap-
pellate Division. AS this court does not sit I'M
Ill the second week in October. 1t might be
necessary to call an extra session of the legis-
lature to validate the primary call
On the other hand granting that the inter
pretation of the primary law by President Nor
ris is correct, and that the Assembly district
plan is illegal, the Democrats have already filed
their primary call that basis and therefore
are not in a position TO take any action against
the Republican position. This was the deter
mining point with the law committee.
This committee consisted of Professor Will
lam A Keener and Paul d. Cravath. 1t was
originally intended that the committee should
have three members. but il was decided that IL
the two members should agree the third mem
Der would not be needed The unanimous re-
mort OF the committee adopted yesterday
and the call issued. The report, which is ad-
dressed TO President Morris. follows:
You have asked our advice to the course TO be
PURSUED by the executive committee and chairman
Of the Republican County committee WIN reiel-
Republican Congress conventions to be held TINS
some OF the questions presented exceedingly
dlrticult Had the subject been presented to us
Nav We should have advised the immediate amend
rns1t NJ and regulations by eninlfa
the provision which requires a portion OF an As
sembly district 10 De taken as unit OF representa-
non conventions W nile such an
smendment could have then been made in time 10
the present situation. your rules and resuIa
tons cannot this late day be amended IN t1ifl 10
regulate the primaries TO he held IN september
To change the present practice without sueh an
amendment might involve much hazard ano con-
fusion Therefore, after balancing the practlcai
as wei as the legal considerations. are disposed
10 advise compliance with the letter OF the last
paragraph Article 2 Of your rules ana re8ula-
tions and that. in the case OF the congress con-
ventions TO be held this fal Assembly oisIrlGos
and portions Of Assembly districts be taken as the
unit of representation
situation which now conf-onts your committee In
view of the serious question TO whether the rule
under consideration Is in conformity with the Prf-
mary Election law in far as il permits portions
reSenra-or strongly advise That after this falr
election the Republican County Committee amend
rules and regulations SO as to proVide mat IN
case Of Congress districts which include portions
of Assembly districts the unit OF rep
resentation shall he the election district
Of course this decision leaves an opening for
the Democrats 10 fight in districts where their
candidates for Congress are defeated, but ii is
remedy unlikely that they will do so.
The following dates for holding the conFen-
tionS selected:
For choosing delegates to the State ConVen-
ton September 10 at Grand Central Palace.
judiciary. September 80
Senate, October i.
Congress- October ..
Assembly. October 3
on October 3 will be held the special conven-
unexpired term of the late Congressman Amos
J Cummings IN the Xth Congress District
n