The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-12-19
TRY TO REUNITE
ERtEHRGLlBB 4LlIGG.AllAE FORCES
MAsMINGrON, D. q. special.-

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Special
Realizing that the Republicans
arc certain so be minority
party for many years TO come.
unless the factions arc brought
together without mach delay, the
so-cailed Progressive Republican
members OF the United States
Senate have evolved "A proposition
which may result Iva rounding the
diScortianI elements OF the party.
After several conferences between
Senators ioOrah, of idaho; Cum
minis. OF Iowa., and Ia Toilette.
oi NiSC onSin, il was announced
that a get-together plan had been
worked out, and that It Was hoped
it would receive early cOnsidera-
ton from the sO-calIed Republican
regulars.
The plan Is to have the Re-
publican National Committee hold
meeting and devise scheme
FOR the reduction of Southern
representation in future national
conventions, and also TO take
proper cognizancc of the move
ment for the election Of Delegates
10 national conventions at pri--
Hlaries. This latter feature IN
wolves acknowledging the right of
each State to select its delegates
IN accordance with its own laws.
providing for such elections.
POWER OF NATIONAL COaf-
AIITTEE
Ihe national committee has
power to recognize this right on
the part of the States. tnasmuch
as I'm its quadrenniaI call for the
national convention IL prcscrfbes
specific ally the character of the
credentials which the delegates
must possess. But Ii can mere
~ recommend In the matter of
changing the basis OF represen-
tation, this being a matter over
which only the convention ITSELF
now has power. Nevertheless. a
recommendation by the national
omDaittee would have great IN
ffucnce with the next convention.
and IL is believed that any method
OF improving tise present system
which e may suggest would
eventually be approved In It's
general way from the ensuing
convention.
IL would seem at first blush
that this would not be a diff
cult basis upon which to har~
monte. and such Republican
regulars as have learned OF their
progressive colIeagues' plan are
disposed to take it up for serious
consiGs Slti0n. The present basis
OF representation in the South Is
the outssroxth of several decades
OF manipulation, for which no
man Or set of men Of this gen.
Grafton can or 0ugslt TO be held
responsible. Every successful cam
didate for the Republicans noini-
nation for President In this gem
Grafton has profted by IL.
it came as a heritage TO Prcsi-
dent Taft from the Roosevelt
regime. was passed along to
Roosevelt from the Mckinley adj
IninistratIon. and 50. on down the
line. Last summer President
Taft made the most possible out
OF a condition which he did not
create, Just as Colonel Roosevelt
had done before. and as the lat
ter's predecessor had done be-
fore him.
TIME AUSPIC1OUs FOR CHANGE.
- has come 40 be quite xencrnlly
admitted among Republican lena-
erS that u - eroteaque folly for
q group OF Southern states which
never choose Republican Dreni-
aenttai eieetor aHd seldom elect a
SenHtor. 70 cootrei between one-
fourth and onq-fhtrd OF the ntetn-
berN OF the Republican naflonaf
con> entions Time and aenln reao-
IutioDs have beer offered. only 20
BE defeated, creating a new hasfe
% representation for the no~cnlfed
solid south. Hut 81 II nrHued that
no ptoft Runrfcfoua season for pre-
phrinE for such chanEe could BE
found fban the present, when the
kepubstcenN have lost control or
the Federaf EeFcrumeuf. and Nll
candidates for She nreesHtnfinf
nosslinAffon 81 1910 nsuef sfaff aV4n :
~ and without fhn Hedernl on&nn9-
NnffnN ~ ~ Aoeft.
Tn afIpdsuK 81 sAfe plan ~ har-