The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-05-10
NATIONAL COMMITTEE CALL,


The call for the meeting of the Ma
tional Republican Committee Ia pre-
pare for the National Convention fixes
m earlier date than usual this year,
| eleven DAYS before the meeting of the
convention. This is because so many
moro contests than usual arc expected,
and also because the committee has
seriously in hand purpose OF amend
ing the method OF representation III
future National conventions.
II is stated that the National COM
mttce is about four TO ono in Favor
of President Taft, and suggestion
is made that by reason or this, ad-
vantage Will be had in the contests in
favor OF the President. We are con.
filent, however, that nothing of Tins
kind viii occur. The committee is com
posed Of shrcwd. able men, who are not
likely 10 lend themselves TO anything
that would give any reason or excuse
for disruption or iust complaint Al
though II rs stated that only u dozen
out of the forty-cieht members of the
committee arc for Roosevelt, il rs sfiIl
of the utmost importance that tho MA
iority deal with absolute fairness, and
in manner that can be fully and
equitably defended. There Will he, we
feel certain, no snap judgments taken,
but every case will be considered on its
merits, and those pressing it will be
given all possible opportunity and time
to present their cases This Will be al
once the Just method Of procedure, the
safe method, and the method that viii
lead to party harmony and add TO party
strength. The committee Will have in
view primarily the interests of the
party, its qualification, and such pro-
cedure AS will give the party nominees
the best possible standing before the
people.
The matter of representation in Ma
tional Republican Conventions is one
that has been brought before the com
mittce and before the convention it,
self, many times. The objection to the
present method of representation is
that the Southern States, having but
few Republican votes and the party be-
ing hopeless of carrying Southern
States, is still subject to having its
nominations dictated by the votes Of
Southern delegates, against the wish and
Judgment of the delegates from the
States that are to furnish the electoral
votes which will choose the President.
The uufairness of this has been sug-
gested many times. but thus far there
has been no actual case of such fore.
ng of a nomination against the will of
The Republican States, nor is it likely |
hat there will be such a case furnished |
,his year; nor could any change be
made this year, Still, the essential
justice Of having Republican votes
name the Republican candidate cannot
De disputed, and therefore Mr.. Will |
lam Hayward, Secretary Of the Re-
publican National Committee, an
nounces that he will present a plan
which will change the basis of repre- |
;entation in future Republican Ma.
,ional Conventions in this particular,
'ne that will preserve the Representa-
ave district system, and that will OBJ |
siate the injustice that has been 30 |
much feared and exploited It is TO
oe hoped that he may be able TO pre-
sent such a scheme, one that viii bc |
both to the committee and |
% the convention; for the present sys-
EN- is certainly provocative of discon-
;ent, whether any real injustice NAV
'esult from it or not,
The committee has very heavy and |
'esponslblc duty to perform in pass |
ng upon the numerous contests that
will be presented Many of these
will be in the nature of con. |
;entlous contests rather than meritori |
)us ones; but still, every one will have
10 be handled with care i'm order te |
give no reasonable ground for com
planning Of the committees decision:
and that the committee will rise TO the
responsibilities imposed upon il and
wall do Justice and advance the party <
ferests throughout, we feel fully as.
sured