New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-18
THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT
One View Of Its Relation to Rcpub-
lican Reconstruction.

I To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir The various plans for adjusting the
number Of delegates TO the Republican
! National Convention have the common
underlying idea that convention represen-
tation should be approximately proper
toned 10 the represented Republican vote
ers. The fallacy OF this idea has been
pointed out. as yesterday by Mr. Hilles.
who trenchantly shows that the new
slogan OF just and equal representation
will be misnomer" As long as the Re-
publican vote In some states is a wroug
index and measure OF Republcanlsm Re-
publican voters in fact and Republican
voters in will being as to numbers widely
divergent. representation should be based
not on the number of Republican voters
but on the number of Republicans When
Il is urged. therefore, that the State OF
Louisiana should not have as many as
twenty delegates. since it musters only
about eight thousand Republican voters.
a pertinent rejoinder is. Tell us now how
many Republicans there are i'm that state
and then tell us how it happens that they
do not vote" The answer must be that
In the South the mass OF the Republicans,
being negroes. are virtually disfranChised.
And here there may be examined what
seems To have escaped the notice Of tho
proposers OF the new method-namely.
the relation OF their proposal TO the cor
receive provision of the Fourteenth
Amendment. contained in its second sec
ton. This provides In the above connec-
ton that when the right TO vote at any
election for the choice of electors for
President and Vice-President of the Unit
ed States is denied to any of the
male inhabitants Of such state. being
twenty-one years of age and citizens OF
the United States. or in any way abridged.
except for participation in rebellion or
other crime. the basis Of representation
therein shall be reduced i'm the proportion
which the number Of such male citizens
shall bear to the whole number OF male
citizens being twenty-one years of age in
such state"
Now. the chief effect of the proposed
change OF rule would be TO reduce South
ern representation in the convention; and
the fact is a commonplace that this Is
what inspires the present agitation. The
right to vote for Presidential electors be-
ing denied TO large section Of the adult
male citizens OF the South. and the Re
publican vote In the South being. as "A con-
sequence, greatly impaired. a rule is pro-
posed TO work a reduction in the number
of Southern delegates TO the convention.
II Is as though the controlling element
In the Republican party should say 10 The
Southern Republicans our common po-
litical enemy deprives YOU OF your rights
at the polls We pronounce this a wrong
perpetrated on you. But throwing con-
sstency to the winds. We shall now our
selves take a turn against YOU and par
TALLY divest you of your rights in the con
vention.'
on the other hand. the Southern Repub-
leans may well say at the present junct-
ure: If you do not try To put in motion
the second section OF the Fourteenth
Amendment for our defence. with a view
to which it was particularly constructed.
al least refrain from fashioning an engine
our own party circle"
The conclusion seems legitimate that the
adoption OF the proposed rule for appor-
tioning delegates TO the Republican Ma
tional Convention would involve official
cognizance OF the plight of the Southern
Republicans. and that II would couple this
not with any compensation or prospect OF
relief but. on the direct contrary. with
new injury to the old burden.
NEAL ri. EWING.
Rosele, \. j.. Dec. Ii, 1913.