Evening journal., 1913-12-16
PATCHING UP
DIFFERENCES
OF The COP.
Representative Question May
Be Left to the States for
Settlement
ROOSEVELT MEN
HAVE MUCH TO SAY
BY The United Press.

BY The United Press.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16-Advocates
Of states rights were claiming a
sweeping victory when the Republi-
can national committee formally con-
vened here today They insisted that
while the proposed national conven-
ton to reduce the Southern states
representation would be called, the
committee will not give It absolute
power. Instead, it was the plan to
have the program adopted by the
special assemblage ratified by the Re-
publican voters themselves.
The southern committeeman in
sist they had won by forcing this
compromise. The call for the special
convention will provide for its act
ing on the proposition to fix the basis
Of representation I'm the coming ma
tional conventions, the per centage
of party votes cast in the several
states. But this plan must be ap-
proved by the state conventions of
the states in which was cast two
thirds OF the entire Republican vote
polled a year ago last November.
This program involving as it did the
| referendum, was forced on the pro-
gressives by the conservatives within
the party. And the national committee
men from the states south "of the
! line" insisted that they would so pre-
sent their cases to the people Of the
northern states that it would be inn
] 20 raIn nad
The shadow of Theodore Roosevelt
hung heavy about the meeting. The
men who fought his battle in Chicago
were on hand to force things so that the
former president would be recalled to
the leadership of his old party. And they
were having Just as strong opposition
from many of the men who had defeated
them in that contest.
Ormsby McTarg, leader of the ROose-
welt fight. Senator Cummins of Iowa,
Senator Borah of Idaho, and former Gov
ernor Hadley OF Missouri were waging
1.-THE fight for the Roosevelt followers.
And strangely enough, they We're receiv-
ing aid from some of their most bitter
lenemies- Senators Penrose and Root.
The Roosevelt men used strong Ian
lguage. They demanded that the "stolen
goods" be handed back TO the Colonel.
Early today, a special committee ap-
pointed by Chairman HilleS met to pre-
sent these two distinct propositions TO
the committee;
A special convention.
Change of representation by the COM
lmittee subject to ratification hy S;a:e
land National Conventions.
Il think the committee viii vote
lagainst calling a special convention anc
the changing of the basis of representa-
tion itself. probably subject TO ratifica
ltion by the States" said Senator Borah
IA member of the special committee today
Presenting the law committees rt
port. which denied the committee powe
to change the basis of representation
but sustained its authority TO call
convention for that purpose. Chairman
Charles b. Warren Of Detroit SOUNDED
the keynote of the fight by saying:
'The problem is to prevent continued
division of the members OF the party.
eLet us administer our own correc
tive" he continued. "Lct us not permi
the Democratic party to use position
gained solely by division in our rank
to destroy the good our party has don
the nation
Warren said he favored a convention
to declare its convictions, establish
new basis of representation and prepar
to restore a Republican congress to
country already anxiously 1waltn;
it."