The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-17
N a tion al Committee
Takes Steps on Sew
eral Reforms.
CHANGE BASIS OF
REPRESENTATION
Southern States Will Be Greatly
A IF c C te d-Vote Is 35 to ID
Against Calling Special Con-
vention to Adopt Decla-
ration of Principles
and Policies.

Washington. December :6-Aftcr
five hours OF debate. the Republican
National Committee Tonight do
terrnined that it was clothed with
ample power to readjust the COMPOST
ton OF the party's national convcn-
ions, and had authority TO make re-
forms In convention rules and procc-
cure ina, have been demanded by many
clements since the convention of 1912
and the Democratic victory at the poIis
last November
With little bitterness and no tangible
evidence that differences which arose
over methods could not be reconciled,
the committee took steps which have
been agitated in the party for thirty
years. and which have been vital fac
tors In many exciting conventions in
its lattcr-day history
Without . dissenting vote ths com
mittee decided TO make n change in
the basis Of representation in national
conventions which will greatly affect
southern states: gave full recognition
TO the principle of the primary in the
election OF delegates to such convcn-
uons: approved laws regarding such
elections adopted by several states
which provide that all delegates be Sc
iected at large. and accepted the prin-
ciple that delegates properly accredit-
cd BY State authorities shall he placed
on the temporary convention roll In
formally il had been agreed that the
new basis Of representation should he
referred 10 the Republicans in the vari-
Gus States for ratification.
Opposed to Convention.
Tho only difference of opinion that
developed on the surface was over tho
question Of the machinery to be used
to effect the reforms. OF the forty
nine committeeman who voted on the
al
the calling OF n special convention to
bring about these changes. and thirty
Ave declared themselves opposed
This roll call by States resulted az
follows:
Nay-Alabama. Alaska Arizona, Ar
kansas. California. Colorado, Connecti-
cut Delaware. District OF Columbia,
Florida, Georgia. Idaho. Illinois. Iowa,
Kentucky. Maryland. Minnesota. Mis-
sissippi. Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,
New Hampshire. New Jersey. North
Carolina. Ohio, Oregon. Rhode Island.
South Carolina, Tennessee. Texas. Utah
Vermont. Virginia, Wisconsin and
Wyoming ST.
Aye-Indiana. Kansas. Louisiana.
Massachusetts. Michigan. Missouri. New
Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ok
lahoma, Pennsylvania. South Dakota,
Washington and West Virgnia-l4.
After this ballot progress was mark
eu ny al lTltHulE spirit, with an
pressed desire to harmonizc and TO face
the common political enemy" with n
reunited and soldincd party
Details to subcommittee.
me resolution adopted expresses the
party's faith in primary election OF
delegates and in the right OF II State
to choose them at large. but details OF
the method of reducing Southern rep
Iesentation We're left to Il special sub
committee composed of Chairman IIilles
and Committeeman Warren, OF Michi-
gan: Borah. Idaho; Smoot, Utah: Had
ley Louisiana. proxy; Howell. Ne
braska; Estabrook. New Hampshire:
Rarnes. New York: Sanders, Tennessee
and Remmel. Arkansas. The subcom-
mittee expects to make n report at Il
meeting OF the full committee to-mor-
row.
II WAS predicted tonight that II
would favor compromise between the
plan advocated by the Republican Con-
eressional Committee and by Chairman
Hillcs and other leaders. This plan
would provide for four delegates at
large from each State. ono from each
congressional district. and additional
delegates from each congressional dis
trict where the Republican vote bears
certain ratio to the total vote.
In bringing In a plan for reduced
representation the subcommittee will
Continued on Ninth Pace)