Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-14
AIM. BLOW At SOUTH
"AI|ieS" Draft Resolution to
Reduce Representation.
PARTY VOTE TO BE BASIS
Representative Burton to Offer Plan
on Floor of Convention.
CONTESTS POORLY PRESENTED
Members of Committee Opposed to
Taft Declare Many Complaints
Were Frivolous.
CONTESTS POORLY PRESENTED

to reduce the representation of southern
states were made public. today by Repre-
sentative James Francis Burke of Penn
sylvania. manager for Senator Knox.
The resolution agreed upon by the
allies" and which will be offered on the
floor by Mr.. Burke. is follows:
That the basis of representation in the
republican national convention hereafter
shall be follows:
Each state shall be entitled to four
delegates at large and one additional
delegate for each 10000 votes, or major
ity fraction thereof. cast at the last pre-
cedinE presidential election for republican
electors. and two delegates from each ter
rtory. the District of Columbia. Alaska
Hawaii. Porto Rico and the Philippines.
and that
Methods necessary for the enforce
ment of this rule shall be provided by the
republican national committee chosen by
the delegates. to this convention
Reason for Resolution.
This proposed resolution is the direct
outcome of dissatisfaction felt by repre-
sentatives of the allies with the man.
ner in which the recent contests before
the national committee were decided The
charge was made freely by the allies
that the rights of northern states. neces-
tary to republican success. were ignored
In the interest of gaining the delegations
from southern states. which never give
the party any votes i'm the electoral COL
lege. to the candidate who exercises con-
troll over federal patronage.
If the resolution should be adopted il
would result in a reduction of about 100
delegates from southern states which in
variably go democratic. An increase of
nearly 40 would be made in the delega-
tions from northern states.
Thus would be destroyed the possibility
of few northern states, aligned with the
solid delegations from southern states.
controlling republican conventions in the
future.
Mr.. Burke said:
THE necessity for this change has be-
come apparent in the light of recent de-
yelopments. In the present convention
go delegates will be seated from states
which. in twenty years, have not even
pretended to engage in q contest for the
election of a republican candidate for
the presidency.
More than that, the republican vote in
these states is rapidly disappearing.
while their representation remains
large as ever. South Carolina is now
entitled to national delegate for every
1876 republican votes it casts, while Penn
syNania receives but one delegate for
every 1887 republican votes. Illinois one
for every 11,I16. Indiana one for every
Colorado one for every 1364S republican
votes -. -.
The plan proposed by Representative
Burke is in all essentials the same as
that introduced in the republican conven-
ton at Philadelphia in 1890 by the late
Senator Quay of Pennsylvania. No action
was taken upon it at that time. the reso-
luton being withdrawn by Quay before it
reached vote.
Taft Forces Fight Contests.
Preparations made by the allies to
carry to the credentials committee of the
convention the fight for the seating of
their contesting delegations. in spite of
their defeat before the national committee,
is stirring the Taft forces to unusual care
In the selection of members of the Gre
dentials committee from state delegations
In their control They are sparing no. eff
fort to prevent the overturning of the de-
cisions of the national committee.
Frank II. Hitchcock. who had charge of
Taft's interests before the national COM
nit &C. said today he was not apprehen
sive of the result. but at the same time
he would deprecate renewal of hostili-
ties which savored in the least OF bitter
ness and fractional feeling.
The selection of chairman of the Gre
dentials committee is given careful con-
sideration. Harry NJ. Daugherty of Ohio
was believed to be the candidate of the
Taft management
Opposition to his selection developed
today. 1t is based principally upon the
fact that there are contests from Ohio
and the argument that it would be bad
politics to name as chairman a man who
is prO-Taft as Daugherty confesscS to
be.
Another reason given is that DauShertY
Is mentioned as possibility for the Sen
ate to succeed Senator Foraker His Sc
lection might engender the Ill feeling of
those who are favorable to the reelection
Of Foraker.
II Daugherty is eliminated II is believed
the Taft forces will give their support
to Senator Charles W. Fulton. who heads
the delegation at large from Oregon.
Fulton cannot be charged with being
unfriendly to the interests of the "allies.''
He has not been regarded as An admins
tration senator. Neither has he incurred
the disDleasure of President Roosevelt
and members of his cabinet by his atti-
| tude on administration questions which
have come before Congress.
Senator Scott's Views.
| No question has given SO much worry to
the management of Secretary Taft's can
didacy for the presidency as the criticism
that the Taft delegates were placed on
the temporary roll of the convention by
the steam roller" process. The steam
roller as applied to the decisions of the
national committee, is resented alike by
the members of the committee listed
against Taft and for Taft.
| Senator Scott of West Virginia who ha s
been as much opposed to the nomination