The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-17
RADICAL CHANGE
 IN DELEGAT TONS Cut In Southern Representation
 Is Discussed 
 NO DECISION IS ARRIVED AT Pennsylvanian's Scheme Is Seconded by New Yorker, Who Submits a Plan for Cutting Down Dele
 gates to Conventions.
NO DECISION IS ARRIVED AT

Chicago, June 16-The question of whether or not there shall be a reduc- ton in representation in future national republican congeitions was discussed for two hours today by the committee on , rules and order of business without re- suit an adjournment being taken until morning.
 The basis of the discussion was the res- oiution offered on the floor of the con- venton today by Representative James Burke of Pennsylvania, providing that hereafter each state shall be entitled to four delegates at large and one delegate for each 10000 votes or majority fraction thereof cast at the last presidential elec- tion preceding, and two delegates from each of the territories
 At times the discussion was warm. The opposition came entirely from the south- ern states. H. H Myers of Arkansas ", H. Lucas of Florida, Samuel Davidson of Texas and R. H. Angel of Virginia attacked the resolution, claiming that the republican party in the south was work ing under adverse circumstances in order to bring that section into line. They We're agreed that the resolution, if adopt ed, would work a great hardship, and would discourage their organization. They begged that the question be de- ferred until the morning. They argued that the same questions had been brought up before, and had been defeated at Philadelphia, and they pleaded with the committee to submit an adverse report. That suggestion was voted down. whereupon the request that the whole matter go over until tomorrow was grant ed. Against their contentious, however. Representative Burke and c. w. Guthrie of Indiana, George H. Sullivan of Mime sota and c. c. Dawson of Colorado main- tained the proposition was fair. Delegate Dawson strongly urged the resolution, in- sisting that if the south wanted an in- centive to build up it's organ ization the resolution effected it, for the larger the number of votes cast for republican electors, the greater would be their representation in the convention. In explanation of how the south will be affected by the resolu- tion, Representative Burke said that talk ing into consideration the delegates at large, South Carolina would have vote for every 600 votes cast, whereas Penn sylvania, Colorado and many other states would have but one vote for every 10000 votes. North Carolina, he declared, would have one vote for every 800 voters, while New York would have but one for every 10000 votes. The representation from the state of Mississippi would be practically
 
 session, Representative Herbert Persons of New York was outside with a sub res-. olution which he thought should be adopted Representative Burke took copy of it in with him to be offered in the event. that his own resolution was vote1 down. The Parsons resolution follows:
 Hereafter the national convention shall consist of four delegates from each state, two delegates from each of the territories. 1A1 ba Dicfr nf al umbia: two delegates from Alaska two from Porto Rico and the Philippines and from each congressional district one dele gate for every ten thousand votes, and the majority fraction thereof cast for the republican party candidates for national electors at the last preceding presiden- tial election, provided, however, that no congressional district shall be without at least one delegate and that in states where all members of congress are not elected from separate districts there shall not be elected a greater number of dele gates than would be the case if all the members of congress therefrom were elected from such separate districts. For each delegate elected an alternative dele gate shall be elected to act in case of ab- sence of his principal.
 MT. Parsons was not afforded an oppor- tunity to address the committe but in an interview said his resolution was in line with what had been done in the state of New York
 '.The present method of electing dele- gates," he said, "borders on scandal.
 Eighteen states and territories were not represented at the meeting on account Of the absence of their delegates as fol- lows:
 V Alabama Georgia. Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi Montana, New Hampshire North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico and the Philippines and Porto Rico.