The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-01
GETTING TIRED OF sAMBo.
Negroes Constitute . DemOraIizing
Factor I'm Republican Councils.

Factor I'm Republican Councils.
II was on the whole. fortunate that
the Republican national convention
voted down the amendment to the
report of the committee on rules
proposing a change In the basis Of
representation in national conventioa.
In the first place the convention was
not prepared to take snap Judgment
on so vital an alteration in party
rules. The delegates had not studied
the question In all Its aspects. and the
resolution offered by Mr.. Burke, Of
Pennsylvania was defeated, both in the
committee on resolutions and In the
convention. bore decided marks Of
overhaste and unripeness. Mr.. Burke
seems to have forgotten entirely, in
framing his proposal to base repre-
sentation In national conventions on
the vote cast for presidential electors,
that In four states Of the Union-Col.
orsdo. Utah. Wyoming and Idaho
women have the suffrage az well as
men. and that under the terms Of his
resolution . practically double reprlIn
sentation might be given to the stateB
In which women vote. That would
be an unjust discrimination against
the other ~ States and would force
the politicians in less favored com.
monwealths to look with friendly
eye On an extension Of the suffrage to
women and to other possible recruits
to the army Of voters. Is Mr.. Burke
an advocate In disguise Of woman suf-
frage?
The idea of representation based
on voting power II within limits a
reasonable one. but IL ignores the ne
cessity Of proselyting and makes no
concessions to the complications OF
our system Of balances between the
States. as such. and the nation. The
principle Of representation on the
basis OF voting power can be applied
only to q limited extent, and II
should be carefully considered-since
Il must be accommodated to the over
ea;tension Of the suffrage in some
state a. well a. to the restriction Of
the suffrage In others-before Il 10
accepted as settled Republican pol
Icy.
The narrow margin by which the
Burke amendment was defeated
proves. however. that the Republicans
Of the North and West are thorough
ly dissatisned with the manner in
which the Republicans Of the Gulf
States are discharging their obliga-
tions to the party. The Tribune has
repeadiy said that the Republican
examinations Of those States have
failed In their duty and that the ac-
cumulation OF contests for seats from
the South has become . scandal. The
Gulf States are. In fact. heavily over
represented In Republican conven-
tions. They cast . meagre Republi.
can vote and they should try to be
modest and helpful instead Of q con.
tsntious and demoralising factor in
Republican councils. Above all. they
should settle their Quarrels at home
s.nd submit to the rule Of the ma
iority after the will Of the majority IL
clearly determined. We take It that
yesterdays vote IL Significant notice.
TO the Republicans Of the Far South
that unless they mend their ways and
put In operation some machinery to
show clearly the will OF the majority
she Republicans Of the rest Of the
country will see to It that perform
ances like the manufacture Of nearly
200 contests this year are ended. The
Republican leaders Of the Gulf States
ought to realize that the present basis
Of representation will not be retained
after 1912 II they do not mend their
ways and set their houses In order
New York Tribune.