Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-10
MANY CONTESTS EXPECTED
How Matter of Opposing Delega-
tions Will Be Handled.
PROCEDURE IN THE PAST
Permanent Organization Completed
Before Report on Credentials
Was Received-Work of the
National Committee.

With the certainty that there will be a
large number of contesting delegations at
the republican national convention and
that the result of the conventions work
may turn upon the temporary orEaniza-
tion politicians are discussing with great
earnestness that preliminary feature.
They are barking back over the tail of
former conventions and stirring the ashes
of many a political campfire for presi-
dents.
Analogy is found between the present
and impending situations and conditions
which existed in other campaigns. From
present prospects it is possible. il the
opinion of some Of the political man
ayers. that there will be as many con-
tests in this convention as there were in
the convention of 1896. Then the seats
of 16S delegates were contested. 1t was
a rivalry between the Mckinley boomers
and the friends of other candidates. me
national committee. upon which deVoiVed
the duty Of making up the temporary roii
Of the convention, was in session several
days before the meeting hearing The argu-
ments of the contestants. The commit
tees verdict was regarded as so fair that
only one case was taken into the conVen-
tion-that from Delaware.
The Temporary Organization.
The national committee will meet a
week or ten days prior 10 the convention
next June and Will make up the tenn
porary roll of the convention. The COM
mittea will designate the temporary
chairman who will call the convention TO
order The first business will be TO ap-
point the committee on credentials. This
will be accomplished by each delegation
recognized on the temporary roll deslg-
| fFCan
has sometimes occurred that the desiG-
| nation of the temporary chairman by the
| national committee was not confirmed 10y
the convention. At Chicago in 1854 Gen.
Powell Clayton Of Arkansas, who was
| selected by the national committee for
| temporary chairman. was rejected and
| Mr.. John r. Lynch of Mississippi was
| named by combination of the anti
| Blaine vote. In 1SSS Mr.. John NJ. Thurs
| ton of Nebraska was named 10y the ma
| tional committee as temporary chairman,
and through inadvertence the convention
! was not asked to ratify the designation.
so Mr.. ThurstOn proceeded with his job
throughout the temporary proceedings
without ever having been technically
elected.
An Important Consideration.
| It has been the practice in recent ma
tional conventions to proceed with the
permanent organization before waiting
for the report of a committee on Gre
dentials. Strict parliamentarians have
contended that it is improper to go on
| with the permanent organization until
| the permanent membership of the con-
vention has been ascertaned. In 1850
points Of order were raised against this
practice, but they were overruled by vote
| of convention. In 1883 Temporary Chair
man Thurston decided the point of order
not we'll taken on the ground of prece-
| dent alone. Similar rulings were made in
| 1892 and 1896. In 1900 and 1904 the ques-
| ton did not arise.
| 1t is thought that there may be a
struggle over this point at the next con-
veation and that the decision may have
! important bearing. If the contest is
close there will be as bitter struggle for
the permanent organization as over the
temporary.
The Oficeholders' Influence.
Comparison is being drawn by some
| of the politicians between the present
situation and the condition in 1892. in
one respect. That is the alleged partici-
patton Of federal officeholderS. Every
| one recalls the bitter charges made in
the convention of 1892 of the influence
of the office-holding class in President
Harrison's behalf. 1t was said that near
| ly one-third of the convention member
ship was composed of federal office
holders. 1t was charged that while the
national committee prior to the conven-
ton was antagonistic to President Har-
rison, when the committee got down to
business a change had come over the
spirit of their dreams and their action
favored President Harrison. The change
was laid to the influence of federal
patronage. and the allegation produced
great bitterness not only in the conven-
tion. but throughout the campaign.
| President Harrfson'S friends!howeyer,
| Indignantly denied those charges.
1t was said today that the activity or
| federal Officeholders in state and dis
trict conventions thus. far. notably in
Missouri and Florida. has caused the
nInnarers to take notice. and that a close
tab will be kept upon the personnel of
delegations sent to Chicago with inquiry
INTO the official and business relations of
delegates.