The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-15
Committees to Control Methods


tion, is to provide In the call that the
various state committees shall control
the method of selecting delegates except
where there are state primary laws COW
ering the subject.
| This plan, If adopted, would be the first
step toward one of the changes in rules
demanded by the so-callad progressive
| faction of the party, that the district
unit" system of scattering delegates be
abandoned and the primary laws of va
| rious states be recognized as final by the
national committee.
While the formal committee session does
not begin until Tuesday ,4orning the fight
over the convention will be inaugurated
tomorrow night at "a dinner to be given to
the committee members only by Chairman
Hilles 1t is expected that the real is
sues of the convention will be settled at
the dinner. The committee session of Tues
day probably will be held with open doors.
The prospects of fight in the conven-
ton for the adoption of platform of
party principles has been an important
factor in strengthening the opposition of
some committeeman who do not favor the
project. Senator Cummins, former Gov
ernor Hadley of Missouri and other lead
ers of the progressive republican forces
the adoption of platform of marked pro-
gressive character
Several committee members insist that
the summoning of convention would re-
open party wounds that might in time be
closed, and would not operate to draw the
divergent factions of the party together.
Law Committees Decision
The law committee, through Chairman
Warren, has made public its decision that
the national committee may change the
party rules without reference to a con-
vention, but that the reapportionment of
delegates can be made only by a conven-
ton This decision probably will play an
important part in the committee delibera-
tons, and has already brought about a
pronounced demand that the committee
should register its decision as to the
recognition Of state primary laws, the
form of service of national committee
members and the REIMBURSEMENT of the
power held by the national committee 20
make up the Temporary rolf of the ma
tional convention
Senator Borah one of the "insurgents"
| in the stormy sessions of the national
committee at Chicago last June, issued
statement tonight demanding that the
committee go on record to the pro-
posed changes in rules, whether or not it
decided to call convention.
Committee Voices Party
"rhe committee is just now the voice
of the party and the members of the
party generally expect positive declara-
tion on these and kindred matters from
this body" said Senator Borah. a hope
to see the national committee at its com
ing meeting whatever else it may de-
eide to do or not to do, with reference to
the calling of a national convention, show
that the committee Itself has some view
upon these questions and not afraid to
declare them in unequivocaf terms.
'It should declare i'm favor of proper ap-
portionment and In favor of primary elect
ed delegates. 1t should declare it's posi-
ton upon the entire proposition of the
reconstruction of the party machinery We
can at this meeting place the organiza-
ton of the party upon record upon these
vital questions.
1T is the organization, the machinery of
the party, that we want to know most
about now The whole trouble has. been
and still is as to the attitude of the or
ganization."
Southern committee members. including
Alyah H. Martin of Virginia. Newell San
ders of Tennessee and Senator jackson Of
MARYLAND held a conference today, as
result of which some support is expected
for the convention plan from the southern
states.