New-York tribune., 1912-01-13
PACKERS TO SHOW BOOKS TO MEET IN ROCHESTER
Ren,JbIjcans to Hold National
DeIeoate" Convention Upstate.
SAY ALDRIDGE WANTED IT
Relief That Mr.. Barnes May
Better Garry Out Desires in
"Old Guard" Environment.

The Republican State Convention to Sc
Iect delegates to the national conVch,'o"
,ilr no held I'm Rochester on Wednesday
AnriI 2 This seemed assured last night
although the state committee Will no'
meet until noon to-day to formally rX the
date and place. The meeting will he hc'"
here I'm the Republican Club.
In past wears it has been the almost
universal custom to hold tho spring con-
vention I'm Presidential years in this city
and the decision TO go TO Rochester '"l'
wear will be a surprise to many Po'i"
clans. The explanation given TOT wv
move last night was: George AIdrI'Bf
wanted the convention in Rochester anu
,yo decided to let him have it
As matter of fact, it is unders'oon
that william Barnes. jr., tho chairman OF
the state committee, thought he would pe
able to carry out his desires better in an
"old guard" environment like Rochester
than In this city, where the orsanlza''o" -
controlled by the Progressivcs.
Mr. Barnes wants 20 have the delesates
IN tho national convention go uninstruct'
cd and bound by platform or the most
conservative character. Samuel 5. koenlg.
president of the New York County Com
mittee on the other hand. wants the del
eeates instructed for Taft and Progress
sive platform.
II is not at all unlikely that Mr.. Barnes
will make a fight at the spring primaries
here I'm March on the issue Of instruction
or non-instructon for tho delegates AS to
Just how tho instruction may be accom-
sho lt-Ep
rect primary law Is still question to most
OF the politicians. A conference to try 70
untangle the mysteries Of that law was
held a state headquarters yesterday AFTER
noon In order tha" the law might be eX-
pounded to the members of the state COM
mlttee at the meeting to-day.
As to what other matters might come ip
at the meeting Chairman Barnes was
strangely silent. He was sure he had MOTH
ing else to propose. but as 10 what any one
else might want 10 bring up he had no in
formation. He has not decided yet whether
he wants any amendments to the primary
law attempted at this session OF the Legs
Iature or not The New York organization
is anxious to have it amended so as 10
make IL more representative for the Votet
Speaker Merritt was in town last night for
the purpose, it. Is understood, OF talking
that question over with the state chairman
Another thing that IL likely 70 come up
at this meeting to-day Is the question OF
changing the basis Of representation IN
the state committee. At present the com
mittee f. based on one member for each
Congress district and one at-large. There
are now thirty-seven district members on
the committee. based on the old Congress
apportonment OF that number New YORK
CIV has seventeen. The new apportion-
ment has added six Congress districts IN
tho state-nve IN this city and one in Erie.
II the present basis OF representation in
the state committee is maintained, 1t
would mean that New York City would
have twenty-five out OF forty-three MEM
bers in the committee, giving it majority
Upstate Republicans declare that this
would be an unfair representation, In vie"
OF the greater Republican vote upstate.
They want the basis of representation
changed to one member for each Senate
district. as IL is I'm the Democratic State
Committee
As new state committee is elected at
the April convention, the question OF rep
rcsentation is one that will have to be set
tied before that time.