Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-03-22
CONVENTIONS
This YEAR
Reapportionment Gives More
Party Delegates
REPUBLICANS FOR THE FIRST
TIME WILL HAVE MORE THAN
A THOUSAND PARTICIPANTS
IN HE WORK OF CHOOSING
THEIR CANDIDATE FOR PREsl.
DENcY.

WASHINGTON, March z2-For the
first time in the history of the repub-
lican party, the number Of delegates
at it's national convention this year
will exceed a thousand, thanks in
part to the admission of Arizona and
New Mexico to statehood, but par.
ticularly because of the reapportion.
ment act, which became law on
August IL of last year, increasing the
total representation in Congress from
4S3 to SCI. AS the number of dele.
gates from the states is, by the law Of
the party, twice the representation
in house and senate, the convention
total was increased automat ically.
The same is true of the democratic
party, save for a difference between
the two organizations in their treat
ment of the territories. Except for
Hawaii, which will send six delegates
the remaining territories Of Alaska,
the Philippines, and Porto Rico, and
the district of Columbia, will have
only two representatives each at the
Chicago convention. The democrats
allow six delegates to each territory,
and to the district. The samerule
held in 1908; so, because of that larg-
er showing, the democratic delegates
passed the thousand mark in their
national convention of tho- year.
The net gain for both parties is
shown by these totals:
Republican convention, 1908, 984
delegates; 1912, 1,07S, an increase of
81.
Democratic convention, 1908, 1908
delegates; 1912, 1,O94, an increase of
Sc.
In the Republican convention the
for presidency and vice
presidency are made by a majority
vote of all the delegates. In the DEM
ocratic convention two.thirds vote
is necessary for a choice.
Arizona gains four delegates in the
republican convention. Under the
party's territory rule of 1908. she
had only two. Her two senator's and
one representative now give her an
vote of three, and a conven-
ton delegation of six. In the demo.
cratic convention the new state Meth
which had only two delegates at the
er gains nor loses. Anew Mexico,
convention of 1908, and six at the
Bryan convention of the same year,
will have eight at both Chicago and
Baltimore next June.
This state, which now has forty
five representatives in Congress-, in
Guiding the two senators, is entitled
to ninety delegates to the convention
Of each party, gain of twelve over
1908 and 1904 and eighteen over her
at the Mckinley con-
vention in 1900.
In its official call for the conven-
ton on June 18, 1912, the republican
national committee explains the mat.
ter thus: 1.-THE national convention
shall consist of four delegates at
arge from each state. and two dele,
gates at large for each representa-.
i've at large in Congress, two dele
gates from each congressional dis
riot, six delegates from each of the
and two delegates each
rom the District of Columbia, Alas
"a, IOIlO NlCO, ouu Iuc AAAApp4uOl
Stands.
For each delegate elected to this
an alternate deleglte
hall be chosen, who shall serve in
ase of the absence of his principal"
The four delegates at large referred
o in the call are allowed, in theory
t least, because each state has two
enators, chosen at large without re-
ard to district lines within the state.
he provision for two delegates at
lrge for each representative at
arge," is special rule for this year,
esigned to cover such states as have
lot formed new congressional dis
ricts from which to send their newly
cquired representative to Washing.
On. '"s,.
To resume the official call-"The
elegates at large and their alter
ates shall be elected by popular
tate and territorial conventions
allied by the republican state or ter