New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-12
Committee Cannot Change Basis
of Representation. Law
Body Decides.
CAN CALL SPECIAL MEETING
Only National Gathering Has
Power to Make Reforms
Desired in Party, 1t
Is Declared.
From The Tribune Bureau. !

Washington Nov. 1.-THE holding OF a
Republican National Convention. probably
some time next summer. IS foreshadoWed
by the decision IF the so-called law com
mittee' OF the Republican National Com
mittee to-day that the national commit
tee has no authority to change the basis
of representation In Republican conven-
tons
In view of the fact that majority OF
Republicans seem convinced that
change should be made and that the Re
publican vote cast. rather than the popu-
latlon. should be the basis OF representa-
ton. the conclusion is general that ma
tional convention will I've called.
The law committee" met here to-day.
with National Committeeman charles %
Warren. OF Michigan, presiding. lhere
were also present James a. Fowler OF
Tennessee. former Assistant Attorney
General: National Committeeman Sher-
man Granger. OF Ohio; Representative J.
r. Menn and National Committeeman
Roy O. West. Of Illinois. Senator jones'
of Washington. was unable to be present
and had given his proxy 10 Mr. warren
Marshall Bullitt. appointed to succeed ths
late Representative Olmsted. OF Pennsyl-
vania. telegraphed he was snowbound ahd
could not reach Washington.
The first question considered was
whether the Republican National COM
mittee had the authority TO change the
basis Of representation in a national con-
ventior. This was decided in the mega
tive 1t was further decided that the ma
tional committee has authority 10 can
special national convention. but must 90
so I'm accordance with the basis OF req
resentation heretofore prescribed by the
national convention.
The committee decided further that IN
states which have Congressmen-at-iaIhc
notably Iowa. California and North ia
kota. the same basis Of selecting dele
gates may be employed, but that othel-
wise the delegates must be selected ps
districts. in accordance with the ulhe-
bonored district rule OF Republican ma
tional conventions
The committee further decided that
where there were state laws proNid'hs
for the selection OF delegates To ms
tional convention they should be observed
but where there are no laws governing
rho selection Of delegates TO special
convention such as IL in prospect '"e
machinery for the selection of delegates
should be left to the central committees
Of the several states.
That is i'm substance. the report WhlCh
will be made TO the Republican Na'ioi'"'
Committee when IL meets here on Deceh-
her Il The law committee had Oi
course no occasion TO make any recon-
nendation regarding a call for a Speciai
convention. being confined to decis'oh
as TO the authority of the nauonal com
mittee. but il was generally assulh'u ~
the members Of the committee lha' NC
national committee would decide that Tue
calling OF a national convention Was 'o'h
advisable and necessary
In its formal report to the full commit
tee the law committee Will favor the as
trio, unit method OF selecting delegates
but 4, will take the position that the ma
tional committee has no power TO override
the primary laws Of any state, ana upon
this hypothesis 1t is practically certain
that the delegates from Iowa, California
and North Dakota will be seated In the
intermediate national convention.
Chairman Warren will write the report
of the law committee and It probably VIII
embrace a form of call for the extraor-
binary party convention. Chicago is now
talked of as the convention city. 1t ~
predicted that the Republicans VIII gather
not later than April next