The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-24
REPUBLICANS OF
NEW YORK WOULD
ALTER PARTY RULES

CONTINUED from Page One)
! - ~----->------>---~-->---~-
| ciple received the unanimous support OF
| the delegation from the state of New
York at the national convention of 1908,
and,
-. TO amend the rules relative to party
procedure in such other respects as may
! be requisite.
The proposition developed a warm fight
before the committee, in which National
! Committeeman William Barnes was ar
rayed against United States Senator Root,
] Henry L. Stimson, former Secretary Of
| War, and Nicholas Murray Butler. presi-
dent of Columbia university. Mr. Barnes
| lost, but he said he was satisfied after
| the resolution had been amended so as
| to commend the attention Of the con-
| gressionah district as the basis of rep
resentatlon.
After the proposal had been adopted
| by the committee advocates of progress
sive IDEAS declared that the outcome in
| dicated a willingness to meet part way
| those who left the party year ago to
| follow Colonel Roosevelt and who wished
| TO return. The question was one that
1 agitated the republican national conven-
| ton in 1912, and the delegates who IA
vored Theodore Roosevelt at Chicago
urged change in the party rules sim
| liar in principle to that advocated to-
| day.
Not Practicable, Says Barnes
| Before the resolution was amended to
| indorse the present system of represent
| alton by congressional districts Mr.
| Barnes declared that the scheme was
not practicable. lie said that it placed
| too much power in the hSnds of the
parties dominant in the different states.
II will act in accordance with such
suggestions" he asserted, If | can. If
| cannot, ] will retire.
| /,
remarked: "Its satisfactory to me in
that form. but l don't see how thdy
are going to do it
Senator Root argued that the pres
ent rotten borough system gives undue
weight to the representatives of the
southern states which contribute moth
ing whatever to the election Of re-
publican Presidents. If you are going
| to change the rules YOU must do so
before you elect delegates to the next
national convention. We should de-
clare for the principle only and leave
the method and detail to the special
convention. I'd rather have the dele
gates from the different states come III
| their own way than stay away in ours. >
! The discussion recalled the fact that
| at Chicago last year the national con-
vention refused to seat delegates from
one California district which were
chosen at the state e-wide primaries un-
der the state law and accepted in their
| place delegates chosen under the party
rule of representation by congression-
al district Todays resolution Is in
| tended to prevent such conflicts in fu-
ture
| Mr.. Barnes said he did no. believe
! the national committee would abandon
the congressional district rule Never
theless he pointed out the danger that
would arise if individual states We're
allowed too great latitude.
Oppose Recall of Judges
The platfovn adopted tonight opens
| with plank against the recall of
! Judges and judicial decisions. 1t says
"The republican party condemns all
proposals to intimidate judges in tile
discharge Of their duty by threats OF
| a recall in case of an unpopular de-
cision and all proposals to nuiiify the
decisions of the courts at the viii Ct
a temporary popular authority through
the recall of decisions
State issues are dealt with a. length
and in this connection the platform
says: THE coming election Will have Il
special Significance because the cleo
| ton Of the republican candidates nov
presented offers the means-eand the
only means--for the people of the state
| to repel and reject the malign contrci
of Tammany Hall over the politics and
government of the state and over the
highest judicial tribunal of the state
Tammany is no longer a local issue; it
grasps the state.
| Charges of waste, ineffieieEoy and
corruption" also are made against the
democratic state administration.
| Reverting to national issues, faith is
reaffirmed In the republican principles
of protection to american workingmen.
American industries and the American
| farmer" Belief is expressed that demo-
cratic tariff reform will prove failure.
IA fcla tn
| platform adds;
Denounce Currency Bill
WE denounce the democratic banking
and currency bill as mepacing the busi-
ness interest of the country and mimi
| cal to the interests of the whole people
! because it rests upon and embodies three
| false principles.
81. That the interest of owners aud
managers of banks and those of business
| men and the public generally are in con
fict. In fact, all these interests are iden-
| tical.
40 That paper money should be issued
| by the government and should involve
| the governments credit. This is unsound,
unscentife and condemned by experience
| 1t is but "a short step from this to green
| backism.
-. That the control and administration
of the banks should be taken in large
part from those who have established
| and own them and lodged in "A board of
political appointees. This is new. radi
| cal and most dangerous departure from
| American practice. 1t is unwise as IL
| is unnecessary. Government supervision
and inspection of national banks have
| been highly successful for half CEN
tury and have afforded ample protection
20 the public interests.
! Should this bill be enacted into law in
/ its present form, ii would be easily pos
7 ell bla fo 10 10 al l,at th.x.
gained by the Vetoes of imitation meas
ures by President Grant in 1874 by Presi-
dent Hayes In 1875 by the successful
| fight against the compulsory purchase OF
| silver led by President Cleveland in 1896,
and by the victory OF President McKin-
ley on gold standard platform in 1896
| The powerful support of William Jea-
nirgs Bryan has been secured for this
pending bill by the surrender. in form or
| in fact, of the sound money principles for
| which President Grant. President Hayes
! Cleveland and Mckinley stood and IN
| favor of the initiation doctrine which Mr.