The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-17
PROPOSED NEW RULE.
Changing Basis of Representation
starts Heated Controversy.

Starts Heated Controversy.
Chicago. June 1.-THE question of
whether there shall be a reductlon IN
representation in future national he
publican conventions was discussed ior
two hours by the committee on rules
and order of business without result
an adjournment being taken In order
that the members of the commlttee
might confer with their deiesation.
The basis of the discussion was the
resolution offered on the MOOT by
REPRESENTATIVE Burke of Pennsyl-
vania, providing that hereafter each
state shall be entitled to four dele
gates at large and one delegate lot
each ten thousand votes or major
fraction cast at the last preceding
from each of the territories. Repre-
sentative Burke claimed, and other
members of the committee cor
roborated him that the sentiment was
strongly for his resolution.
At times the discussion waxed
warm. The opposition came entirely
from the southern states, H. H. My
ers of Arkansas, w. H. Lucas of
Florida, Samuel Davidson of Texas
and f. H. Angelic of Virginia vigor-
ously attacked the resolution claiming
that the Republican party in tn"
south was working under adverse cir
cumstances in order to bring that sec
ton into line. They were agreed that
the resolution If adopted would work
a great hardship and would dis
courage the organization. They
begged that the question might be
deferred They argued that the same
question had been brought up and had
been defeated at Philadelphia and
they pleaded with. the committee to
submit an adverse report. That sug-
gestion was voted down whereupon
the request to let the whole matter
Against their contentious, however,
Representative Burke and W. A.
Guthrie of Indiana, Geo. H. Sullivan
of Minnesota and C. c. Dawson Of
Colorado maintained the proposition
was fair. Delegate Dawson strongly
urged the resolution insisting that if
the south wanted an incentive to build
forded it because the larger the num-
Der Of votes cast for Republican cleo
ton the greater would be the Repub-
lican party in the convention.
In the explanation of how the south
will be affected by the resolution
Representative Burke said that taking
into account the delegates at large
South Carolina would have a vote for
every 500 votes cast whereas Penn
sylvania, Colorado and many other
states would have but one vote for ev
cry one thousand votes. North Caro-
Ina, ne declared, WOulO nave one NOtS
for every 500 votes, while New York
would have but one for every ten
thousand votes The representation
from the state of Missouri would be
practically unchanged.
Eighteen states and territories we're
not represented at the meeting owing
to the absence. of their delegates. as
follows: Alabama, Georgia, Illinois,
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire,
North Dakota. Oklahoma, South Caro-
lima, Tennessee. Alaska, Arizona,
New Mexico. the Philippines and Por-
to Rico.
The committee, with the exception
of rules one and twelve, adopted the
rules of the last national convention.
The rules reserved for further discus
sion have reference to the number Of
representatives and the manner Of
procedure in the election of delegates
to the national convention. This lat
ter proposition was placed in the
hands of a subcommittee composed
of Messrs. Sullivan Of Wisconsin;
Burke Of Pennsylvania; Moore of
Iowa, and Gilbert of Tennessee, who
will submit their report today. r r-.-.