Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-12-05
state, each entitled to one vote?'
continued from Page one,)

oninton ii is necessary to ascertain eiie
source and extent of the powers OF the
national convention, and to determine
whether the various national conVen-
,,ons have determined and fixed the
tosis of representation and voting In
national conventions, to be changed
Only by a national convention.
.aThore is no federal law providing
<,r tho election of a national commit
4ea while il is true that in limited
number of states a method is PROVIDED
, hu statute for the naming or nominat-
inc of a member of the national com
roittee II is nevertheless, true that the
members of the national committee
have invariably been elected by the ma
ttonaI conventions If the party since
the election of the first committee ps
the convention of 1856.
"Wnatever method the law OF any
state provides for the selection OF
pcrsou TO represent the Repuolcah
electors of that state on the national
committee. such selection is, N fact,
only q nomination properly TO oe ac-
cepted by the delegation from such
state in presenting to the next nation
al convention the name of member
from such state of the national com
n1ittee.
THE nomination of members OF the
rational committee has uniformly been
made in national conventions by the
delegations from the several states
and territories, but the election
of such a committee has IN
variably been by the national con-
Yention.
"The national committee is then the
creature OF the national convention. II
possesses no authority derived from
e,v other source whatever. It obtains
all its powers from the national con-
vention. and derives no authority
whatever from any federal or state
law"
After examining the proceedings OF
mast national conventions, this concius-
ion is announced:
1T is the opinion of your committee
therefore. that the national conVen-
tjons of 1908 and 1912, as did former
conventions, begin with that or 1851,
prescrfb the present basis of represen-
tation and voting in national eonven-
tions of the party. that is. that the
number OF delegates from each State
should be double the number Of Sem
ators and Representatives in Congress
from the state. each entitled TO one
vote, and that any change therein must
be made by a national convention or
with the authority Of national con-
vention.
The second question considered is:
Has the national committee author
ity to change the manner and method
of choosing delegates to future nation
al conventions so as to provide ta) that
delegates both from the states at large,
and from congressional districts, may
be chosen in such maner as the laws
of the several states may from time TO
time provide; and 50 to provide Cd
that all delegates from any state may
be chosen from the state at large, or
mart from the state at large and part
from congressional districts, in con-
formity with the laws of the state In
which the election occurs?
In considering subdivision "a" of the
question, Rule II, adopted by the con-
ventions of 1908 and 1912, is quoted as
follows:
the meeting of the National Convention
within go days. at least before the time
fixed for said meeting, and delegates to
the National convention snail be chosen
in such manner as the National Commit
tee shall provide
Upon this point the committee says 1t
is its opinion that it is at the present
time within the power of the National
Committee to prescribe, as did the call
issued by the committee for the con-
vention of 1912. the manner of choosing
both delegates at large and district dele
gates to the future national conventions;
and that the National Committee may
provide, in calls issued for future con-
ventions that delegates at large, and
from Congressional districts, may be
chosen in conformity with the laws OF
the state In which the election occurs
and may alter the manner of choosing
such delegates as occasion may require
80 as to conform with such laws as the
several states may adopt from time to
time"
Subdivision 'B" of this second ques-
tion is:
Has the National Committee authority
to change the manner ana method OF
choosing delegates to future national
conventions so as to provide that al
delegates from any state may be chosen
from the state at large, or part from the
! state at large and part from congress
sional districts in conformity with The
laws of the state in which the election
occurs?"
The opinion cites the rules adopted by
= past national conventions providing fol
the election of delegates from each con
gressional district and says no question
- would arise as TO whether not tn,
National Committee possessed the powe
to alter the manner of choosing dele
gates to the national conventions so al
TO abolish Congressional district repre-
: sentation were ii not for the wording
of Rule Il as adopted by the convention
of 1908 and 1912.
''The provision of Rule Y, now unde
consideration, as adopted by the con
vention of 1908 is (OfficiaI proceedings
? p iii:
q such committee National Committee
shall issue the call for the meeting o
< the national convention within 60 days a
least before the time fixed for said meet
ing. and delegates to the national con
vention shall be chosen in such man