The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-22
ALASKA MAKES TROUBLE.
Urged in Committee That She Has
Too Many Delegates.

Chicago, June 22.-There was quite a
flutter in the committee on rules and or
der Of business, which met after the first
days session of the convention adjourned.
when objection was ma de by some of the
middle west and eastern states over the
proposed increase of representation of
Aiaska IN the next CONVENTION. The com
mlttee selected Henry H bingham or
Pennsylvania for chairman, J. F. Man
ming of Vermont secretary and Reno
, Harp OF Maryland and j. NJ. stevens
of Idaho, as assistant secretaries. The
rules of the last convention, as amended
by the national committee. had been read
when c. Fred Nixon of New York object
ed to the amendment to the first rule
which gives as future representation for
Alaska six votes instead Of fouE. ut
present He was supported in his objec-
ton by the delegates from Delaware,
Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Minneso-
ia. Mr.. Nixon urged that the continued
increase in votes given to the territories
was simply throwing into their hands the
control of the convention in event of
close contest.
The Democrat convention of 1896. he,
said, was controlled on the silver quess
ton by the votes of the territories, and
to my mind it is high time that we cut
not only of the territories, where no cleo
tOral vote is registered, but in such states
the Democrat ticket Representation in
the convention should in reasonable
measure be representative OF the number
of representative votes cast and these
states and territories should not out of
mere sentiment be given as many votes
as states that always cast their electoral
votes for the Republican candidate
The Alaska member of the convention,
w. 2. Grant, speaking for the admins
tratiOn, said his territory, with its great
growth and shorn of much honor, asked
the extra representation to be a, foot
ing of equality with the other terri
tories
Mr. Nixon protested that his objections
were not raised against Alaska, but to
the whole system, which, If adopted
would give about - votes in the conven-
ton to the territories, enough to control
any close proposition i agree rather with
the late Senator Quay, he said, who be
Heved in reducing rather than increasing
the votes of those states that do little or
nothing to aid the party. Let the reward
for Republican maiorities be increas ed
representation and the punishment for
failure to assist, reduced representa-
ton
The speaker was vigorously applauded,
but the vote on the motion to allow Alas
ka in creased representation was q ayes
to 9 noes, the southern ana western STATES
voting SOldiy Tor H. Inc committee tiieH
adopted the rules of the last convention
and the 54th congress as the rules or the
convention with these amendments:
Rule 1 to read: The convention shall
consist of a number of delegates from
each state equal to double the number
of Senators and representatives in con-
gress; six delegates from the territories
Arizona, Indian Territory. New Mexico,
Alaska and Oklahoma, SIX from Porto
Rico with two votes. six from the Philips
pines with two votes SIX from f1aWali
and two from the District of Columbia.
Rule s. relative to voting, and ruless ~
and y are amended to mt the above con-
dition.
Rule p is amended so as to provide that
20 days before the date set for the ma
tional convention complete list of DEL
egates and aIternates, with notices Of
contests must be filed with the national
committee After the committee al
iolIrned Mr.. Nixon said that he did not
intend to bring the matter before the
convention, but he understood that the
Quay proposition to reduce the southern
states representation might come up, ana
if if did he would seek to amend II so as
to reduce the territorial representation