The Washington herald., 1912-05-30
THE CRUCIAL POINT In THE
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
What VIII Happen if the Precedehts of the Past Are
Followed at Chicago as to Contest
ing Delegations.

question Of adopting the majority re-
| port as whole, States with contested
delegations voted solidly and without
protest. This may have been because
no division Of the question in their cases
was asked. The precedent established
seems to be that In cases where a vote Is
demanded upon a division OF the report
In Individual cases, the persons directly
concerned do not respond, but all the
other delegates seated by the National
Committee may vote, even though their
cases are still in dispute. This gives 70
the delegates seated by the National
Committee direct and active participa-
tion in determining the personnel Of the
convention.
1t Is this fact which makes the action
OF the National Committee so important.
and which also makes the control of
that committee such a vital factor.
In view Of the fact that there may be
night at Chicago over the temporary
chairman, II Is worth while to refer 70
the remarkable thing that happened at
the Republican convention In 1896 That
convention proceeded to the election Of
q permanent chairman before the COM
mittee on credentials had settled the
legality OF the delegates participating In
the proceedings.
In one OF the early sessions OF the con-
y
not being ready to report, the report OF
the committee on permanent organiza-
tion was presented for adoption. Mr..
Littiefield OF Maine, then In the House
OF Representatives. at once insisted that
the committee on credentials must first
report. but Senator Fairbanks. the tenn
porary chairman, replied that this was
not necessary, precedents being other
wise. Mr.. Fairbanks Immediately put
. ~ - 80 ka
report and declared il carried by a viva
voce vote. Then this dialogue occurred: ::
Mr.. Mudd: make the point OF order
now that while this temporary conyen-
ton has voted to receive the report on
permanent organization, this temporary
convention cannot act upon that report
until We shall have asCertained the mem
bership Of this convention by means Of
the report OF the committee on creden-
tials.
The Chairman: The chair overrules
the point OF order.
Mr.. Mudd VIII you hear me upon
the point OF order first?
The Chairman: The question Is upon
the adoption OF the report.
So the question was put and decided
viva voce. without the formallty OF a
roll call. The demand for a division was
declared by Mr.. Fairbanks not to have
been sustained. The permanent chairman,
Senator Thurston, was theTeupon es-
corted 10 the platform.
And all this notwithstanding the fact
that while these proceedings were going
on. the seats OF $50 delegates were in
dispute!
These precedents establish the fact
that the initial control OF a convention
means everything.
The National Committee makes up the
temporary roll and the delegates upon
this roll select one member from each
delegation to compose the committees
on credentials, permanent organization,
rules. and resolutions.
The committee on credentials consists
OF fifty-three members. one from each
OF the fOrty-eight States and one each
from hawaii, Alaska District OF Co.
lumbla, Philippine Islands, and Porto
Rico. a majority OF hfty-three is
twenty-seyen. With 80 contests at Chi
cago, including several entire State dele
cations. II is easy to see how the de-
cIsions OF the. National Committee will
be an important factor In determining
the complexion Of the committee on
credentials. That committee is made up
from the temporary roll and the tenn
porary roll is made up by the National
Committee.
II is possible, OF course, for the con-
vention to REFUSE to adopt the report OF
the committee on credentials. There is
little doubt, however, that. as Mr.. Nc
Kinley stated at Minneapolis. the. dele
gates seated by the National Committee
proceedings until they have been un-
seated. It Is. not TO he supposed that
they will vote TO unseat themselves.
Upon the temporary roll as made up
by the National Committee in Chicago
much depends