Semi-weekly herald., 1913-12-18

fight. The law committee reported
the committee appointed by Chair
man Hilles could not change the basis
of representation but could call
special convention of the party.
1t is urged, if special convention
should be decided upon, ito declare Its
convictions and establish new basis
of representation and prepare to re-
store the Republican congress to theI
country"
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 16.-l
The curtain was rung up here today
upon the biggest drama of big poll
tics" since the schism in the Repub-
lican party last year The Republic
can national committee-"the oil
garchy Of Republicanism"-met to-
day in special session to consider
plans for its rehabilitation.
Most of the SO national committee
men were present today when Nation
al Chairman Charles d. Hilles, sec
retary to former President Taft, call
ed the meeting to order.
Whether a special Republican ma
tional convention shall be called next
year, to provide new system of re-
apportionment of delegates to nation
al conventions by reducing the num-
Der from southern Democratic states,
was the principal question before the
committee. Party leaders predicted
that the committee sessions would
last three or four days and that a
convention would be called, probably
next spring. The national commit
tee meet today at the call of special
ways and means" Subcommittee, ap-
pointed last December, of which Sem
ator Cummins of Iowa was chairman.
Cummins is championing the special
convention plan.
| The law committee of the national
committee today presented its report.
That the national committee itself
does not have power to make new del
egate reapportionment rules, but may
call convention which can overturn
the present representation was the
finding of the law committee. Charles
b. Warren of Michigan, chairman of
the committee presented the report.
Its adoption by the committee SEEM
ed certain. A certain faction today
threatened, however, to fight for i'm
mediate reapportionment by the COM
mittee intself
Most of the Republican committee
men favored special convention, if
at all, next April. A few argued for
a later date. The former pointed out
an alleged strategic advantage in fav-
or of the earlier date. Many state
and county primaries and convent
ions will be held next spring. If the
convention is called early and adopts
some progressive" ideas, those fav-
oring the April convention believed
many Progressives would leave the
Bull Moose party and reassume their
| Republican affiliations.
The Progressive" wing of the ma
tional committee promised fight
over the question of deciding contests
of delegates at the proposed national
convention. Several plans of deciding
between contesting delegates were
under discussion. One was to give
the. convention itself and deprive the
national committee of the power to
decide contests as was done at the
1912 convention at Chicago.
| President Wilson'S plan for presi-
dental primaries, with national con-
ventions only for ratification pur-
poses and platform framing by the
senatorial and congressional cand-
dates themselves, also promises to be
aired in lengthy debate before the
committee adjourns.
If national convention is called,
the call will probably recite that its
purpose shall be to make new reap
lportionment rules and to prepare for
rejuvenation of the party, with the
aim of direct effect upon the con-
gressional and direct senatorial elect
ions next fall.
That Chairman Hilles will resign
was rumor secuted by prominent
committeeman today.
| Hilles is known to be anxious to
retire because of personal and busi-
ness reasons, however. But it is be-
lieved he will serve out his full term
until after the congressional elect
ions at least.
A new chairman will replace him
in any event for the presidential cam
paign of 1916.
| Resignation of William "Boss"
Barnes of New York from the ma
tional committee was a possibility
when the committee met today.
Barnes, conservative, is under in
structions from the New York state
convention to support many progress
i've policies adopted when Henry L.
Stimson, former secretary of war,
and other New York Progressives de-