The Washington times., 1912-07-05
CONGRESSMAN HAS
| IDEA TO Reform
PARTY CONVENTIONS
Judge Norris Introduces
Measure Which Reduces
i Number of Delegates.


Providing for a Presidential primary
which, under certain conditions would
do away with national conventions Tor
nominating Presidential candidates; and
which, In his opinion, would cure some
of the apparent evils of existing pri-
mary laws, Congressman Norris today
introduced a measure that would re-
duce the size Of conventions, provide
for governmental payment Of delegates
expenses, and would eliminate the dis
proportionate representation of the
South in Republican conventions.
The effectiveness of the law would
depend upon the fact that before 1t be-
came operative at least twenty States
must indicate their intention to pass
laws substantially in line with the Nor
ris bill. How closely the State laws
approached the Norris bill would be
determined, under this act. by the Sec
retsry of the Interior, an appeal from
his decision to lie to the Supreme Court
OF the District of Columbia.
Cure for Present Ills.
The fraud at Chicago, the bowling
mobs at both Chicago and Baltimore
and the quick violation of instructions
at Baltimore are convention and pri.
mary election evils that are apparent
in the opinion of Judge Norris, and he
: believes h,,, his bill would cure these Ills
have one delegate in the national con-
vention, together with as many more
as there are Congressman from thai
State affiliating with the party holding
the convention. This would reduce con
ventions from their present unwield,
size to one-third or less of the number
The conventions are to begin on the
same day, the fouth Monday In June O
the Residential year.
The restriction of delegation to a basi,
OF Congressional representation woult
wipe out the large proportion OF South
ern Republican delegates which anti
machine Republicans have periodical!
objected to.
The electors of State, under tn,
ner determined by the State. Congress
man Norris has TAKEN advantage OF thi
provision to lay the burden Of operation
on the States, the Secretary of the In
terror being given the right to deter
mine whether the acts passed by State
to conform with the national act reall
DO conform to 1t.
Two Choices Allowed.
These laws must provide for both
first and second choice for President. Il
the event that a majority of the dele
gates are instructed in primaries 70
any one candidate, that candidate !
nominated without further formalit,
The only business remaining for a ma
ticpal convention is to write a platfory
and name Vice President
Ihe results of primary elections ar
TO be certified to the Secretary of the Ir
terror and by him to the national cor
ventons The selection Of the conver
uon city is left to the national con
mtttee.
1T really makes no difference
whose hands the formal administratio
OF the law is placed" said Judge MOI
ris. in reply to a question why the Sc,
retary OF the Interior was given supel
Vtsory authority.
The author of the bill feels confider
that when twenty States had adopte
measures conforming to this act praC
tically all other States would be force
INTO line. There is nothing. in the az
to prevent States naming delegates q
eiectors as they please, but public opir
ion, In Judge Norris opinion, would fore
compliance If the initial force Of twent
States was obtained.
Pay for Delegates.
Mileage at the rate OF cents d.
milo and a per diem of SO per day IL
not exceeding six days is provided Il
in the measure. to be paid from tt
Federal Treasury. II more than fol
parties hold national conventions pr,
ference shall be given to those castir
the largest vote in the previous Pres
Dental election.
Relief expeditions. were formed
Chicago and Baltimore this year to tit
over delegates who went broke becaui
Of the prolonged sessions and the hig
prices which every commodity sudden
attained in the convention cities. tt
payment Of mileage and expenses by II
Government is intended to obviate
repetition of this and the per diem
kept low so that the avarice of no pro
pective delegate would be aroused.
Friends of the primary system we
disappointed at what they saw in bo
national convention cities this year, b.
most Of them believe that only II
method and not the principle has be-
injured. The Norris bill is the fir
measure drafted so far to get aroul
some Of the apparent evils.
Would Avoid Crowd.
After four or FIVE days of riot
Baltimore the suggestion was made :
riously that future national conventio
should be limited to delegates, alte
mates, and newspaper men, the pub
to be segregated in some other hall
building, where the prominent men
the convention could address them wit
out having the clamorous crowd bre
in upon the business of the conventio
The presence of newspaper men ecu
in number to the delegates would assu
now given conventions, where desp
the admission Of the public. much lie
than / per cent of the voters are eV
able to gain admission, and whe
hardly a tenth of l per cent Of I
population % the country ever ent
/ even If a new crowd attends each 81
sion.