The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-05-14
PO|hCQ| Comment.
State strength i'm Conventions.


State strength i'm Conventions.
A correspondent of a Boston paper
calls attention to the fact that in the
Republican national convention Texas
will have thirty-six delegates and Mas
sachusetts only thirty-two, Yet the cleo
toral vote of Massachusetts, always
goes to the Republicans and that OF
Texas TO the Democrats. In 1904 the
Republican vote of Massachusetts, was
257 SD and that OF Texas 51,242- The
correspondent then tries his hand at
suggesting wNlat he considers more
equitable plan, but not without strik-
ing fresh set of difficulties. He gives
two tables, one allowing a delegate to
each 5000 Republican voters, and the
other providing for four delegates at
large as now, and an additional dele
gate for each 10000 Republican voters.
but no State in either case 10 be depriv-
ed Of at least one delegate. Under
this second plan Massachusetts would
have about the same number of dele
gates as now, and so would Missouri,
but the less populous States would lose
heavily, while New York would 90 up
to 107. PENNSYLVANIA 20 105. Illinois to
80, and Ohio to 75. These four States
would cast more than a third of the
total convention vote, and four or five
more States added would constitute
majority.
The Boston Transcript, which gives
a place 10 the tables. is by no means
satisfied with them when analysed, re-
marking that it is not easy 10 take
away privileges once accorded, and
that THE colored people would look
upon such curtailment OF represent
alton of the South in the convention as
an acquiescence by the national party
in their exclusion from the ballot box.
This opinion is manifestly correct. A
large part of the vote in the South is
deliberately suppressed, an Republi-
can conventions will continue to con-
denim the unrighteous infringement or
the rights of citizenship. To cut down
southern representation in Republican
conventions because large body Of
voters are unfairly excluded from the
polls would be to play into the hands
of Democratic oppression The Tran
script says the present plan OF delega-
tons, based on congressional districts
and seats in the Senate, is simple and
familiar to the people. and not likely
to be changed. and il adds: Perhaps,
too, there will be Republican party
in the South some time. Then no mo-
tive for the reform would exist"
One danger is not touched upon. and
that is the selection of delegates in
the South by small groups of federal
ofliceholders, who may exercise a sup
preston OF another kind. and that is
to arrogate to themselves the action OF
the party. This matter might easily
become vital issue in a Republican
national convention before ii reached
the stage of adopting a platform and
naming a ticket. 1t must be dealt
with by the Republican national COM
mittee. the committee On credentials.
and possibly by the convention itself.
| AS numerous contested delegations
from the South will present themselves
at Chicago. the question OF what con
stitutes a truly representative c0nyell-
ton may take a more urgent form than
heretofore. There are many more ac-
tive Republicans in the former slave
States than they get credit for. With
i'm few years several have been re-
peatedly carried by the Republicans.
Tennessee is one OF them. though the
LEGISLATURE counted out the majority
| party North Carolina has a large
body of Republicans, and there is a
considerable and growing Republican
vote in Virginia, Alabama, Georgia,
Arkansas and Texas. The prospect of
a materially increased Republican vote
in the South this year is good. and the
party should work for it-St Louis
| Cloha neanocraf