Omaha daily bee., 1912-06-03

big political parties, upon which devolves
the duty of making up the temporary
roll Of the delegates. Where there are
many seats contested, as there were four
years ago and as there will be again
in the republican convention, with newt
able charges and countercharges Of bias
or favoritism or so-called steam-roller
committee takes on altogether dispro-
portionate magnitude in the public mind
In point Of fact, passing on contests
constitutes but an incidental part of the
committees work, which would be al
together eliminated If the party machin-
cry in the various states and territories
We're in normal condition of stable
equilibrium But the provisional deter
mination Of the contests arouses an in
terest that justifies an attempt to ans
wer the question of the how, why and
wherefore of the national committee.
PartiesFolIowOnePI
1t just happens that in the makeup Of
their national committees the two great
parties follow one and the same plan.
The committee comprises one member
from each state, territory and insular
possession. In numbers therefore 1t
varies, just now counting up fifty-three,
exclusive of officers, who are not neces-
sarily members. This formation of the
committee dates from the inception
Of the national convention system. Copy
ing the custom of the party organization
In the separate states, the first conven-
tions saw the need of permanent body
OF duly accredited representatives au-
thorized to act for the party in the inter-
walls between the sittings of successive
conventions which are supposed to be In
possession of plenary power, such per-
r1anent body exercising delegated au-
thority within specific and specified limi-
tations. The immediate purpose was to
take charge and conduct the campaign
for the presidential ticket just put in the
field, which explains why it was origin
ally called the National Executive COM
mittee. 1t was perfectly natural too. in
those days when states rights ideas were
dominant, that the equality of the states
should be recognized, and the committee
made up from one member of each state
gates present from that state. When the
territories were accorded voice in the
nominating conventions, they likewise
acquired representation in the national
committee. and the same is true with
reference to the much later advent Of the
insular possessions. Whether this equal
representation plan is good or bad, war
ranted or urwarranted, l do not venture
to discuss; strong arguments can be ad-
duced for and against it; 1t is a fact
only that I wish here to recite.
Creature of the Convention.
Let it be understood. then, that the
party is the creature of the convention;
that the convention prescribes the num-
ber of members, how they shall be
chosen, what powers they may exercise,
and imposes duties to perform. The
charter or fundamental law of the COM
mittee. then, is to be found in the resolu-
ton, or rather in the rules adopted by
each succeeding convention. Reverting
to the convention proceedings, taking the
republican convention as the type merely
because it goes more into detail, we find
these salient points:
Its Part in Campaigns. o.
shall be appointed to consist of one mem
Der from each state, territory, Alaska,
the District of Columbia, Porto Rico and
the Philippine Islands. The roll shall
be called and the delegation from each
state, territory, Alaska, the District of
Columbia, Porto Rico and the Philippine
Islands shall name, through its chairman
person who shall act as member of said
committee. Such committee shall issue
the call for the meeting of the national
convention within sixty days at least be-
fore the time fixed for said meeting and
delegates to the national convention shall
be chosen in such manner as the national
committee shall provide. An alternate
delegate for each delegate to the national
convention to act in case of the absence
of the delegate shall be elected In the
same manner and at the same time as
the elegate is elected. Twenty days
before the day set for the meeting Of the
national convention the credentials of
each delegate and alternate shall be for
warded to the secretary of the national
committee for use in making up the tenn
porary roll of the convention. Notices
OF contests shall be forwarded in the
same manner and within the same limit
of time And when the convention shall
have assembled and the committee on
credentials shall have been appointed, the
secretary Of the national committee shall
deli ~ he coid ,f,aift 0ra6op-
tials all credentials and other papers
forwarded under this rule
XIII-The republican national commit
tee is authorized and empowered to select
an executive committee to consist of nine
members, who may not be members Of
the national committee.
Between Times.
For several months after its creation
the national committee is actively en-
gagged In the management of the cam
paign. Yet here attention is devoted ex-
clusively to the national standard bearers,
although in close cooperation with the
state committees and other constituent
party organizations, but leaving to them
the untrammeled direction of matters
relating to candidates within their res
pective jurisdictions. The national COM
mittees do not take within their pur-
view the election even Of congressman or
senators. another set of committees,
known as the national congressional COM
mittee, being charged with this special
province. The actual planning and exc
cution of campaign plans really goes to
| still smaller body consisting of the
| chairman and his executive committee,
and the other members Of the committee
for tho most part confine their labors to
their own states for which each is usually