New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-24
H|LLES CARRIES PARTY
APPEALS TO CAPITAL
Silent on Convention Plan as He
Goes to Meet with Republican
Executive Committee.
BARNES HEADS OPPOSITION
State Primary Laws Would
Hazard Regularity Of Special
National Gathering, Con-
servatives Point Out.

Chairman Charles ID. Hilies Of the Re-
publican National Committee left this
city for Washington last night to attend
tn, meeting OF the executive committee.
He said he could not predict what action
would he taken on the proposition or
ca lling tho national committee 20 meet
FOR the purpose OF sUmmoning an ex-
traordinary national convention To con-
slider changing the basis NJ Representa-
ton in national conventions.
There Is strong opposition to the propo-
sition in the national committee. al
though il has been decreasing gradually
Indeed William Barnes. who is not a
member Of the executive committee. has
been working rs hard as he could to
create sentiment against il. He had a
conference early in the week AZ the home
Of Ex-Governor Franklin Murphy in
Newark with Senator Penross. Of Penn
sylvania. and Fred W Estahrook, OF
New Hampshire.
chairman Hilles took with him 20
Washington a large portfolio full OF
resolutions and letters that he has re-
ceived in regard 10 the proposal for r
national convention. The resolutions all
favor convention and some o. them
60 81 far as to specify that il be held
this year The Massachusetts Republican
club. the most Influential organization Of
it's kind in New England has passed
resolutions calling for a convention ITO
do away with the irregularities in repre-
sentation I'm conventions"
The Grant club. Of Des Moines. Iowa.
asks FOR convention "as early as may
be practicable to consider the aivisa-
bIlity ~ changing the rules Of the ma
tional organization" The state commit
tees of Maine and Michigan. the New
York County Committee. the New York
Young Republican Club and the Young
Mems Republican Clubs Of New jersey
have similarly recorded themselves.
Some OF the letters are from men who
believe the pendulum Is swinging back
and that special convention this year
is unnecessary Those who are not al
together opposed n the idea ~ having
q special convention called say there is
possibility that the national commit
tee n called together. might not favor
holding such a convention ~ change the
basis - representation. They point out
that the committeeman from the nine
teen states which may he regarded as
surely Democratic would oppos. the
proposition. and that the representatives
Of tho five territories would add their
votes IN opposition. making a total OF
twenty four. : msjorty Of tho commit
toe is tventv-seven Those who look FOR
the defeat ~ the proposition II the COM
mittee f. called say the margin is too
narrow when II is considered that repre-
seniativcs of Northern states are known
n he unalterablv opposed 10 national
convention this year.
Another thing brought mp by the op-
ponents ~ an extraordinary convention
is the question as 70 how delegates would
he elected from those states that have
direct primary laws which specify iust
how delegates TO national convention
should he chosen. Among these states
arc California. oregon. Washington. Ne
braska Illinois. New York and both the
pakotas. There is no provision in some
states FOR selecting delegates TO other
than regular national conventions every
four years.
n delegates were selected in an extra
legal manner from these states. II IS
stated. there might be question as 10
whether a national convention i'm which
such delegates voted could properly
change the rules 81 tho organization. II
could hc done. 81 course. as # has been
hold that national conventions are laws
unto themselves. but there would be the
possibility OF endless dispute as 10 tho
irregularity o. whatever changes might
he made in the rules. according to these
conservatives in the committee.