Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-15
CUMMlNS POINTS WAY
CONTINUED From Third Page,


would be still more striking. In 1908
the states of Alabama, Arkansas.
Georgia, Florida, Mississippi. South
Carolina, Texas and Virginia cast
about 10000 fewer republican votes
than Iowa alone, and yet these states
were represented in the convention by
204 delegates as against twenty six
for Iowa, That is to say, taking these
southern states together, one republi-s
can there has more than eight times
the influence In determining the polio
les and the nominations of the party
that one republican In Iowa enjoys.
1t must be apparent to every think
ing man that such injustice could not
endure and that whenever the repub-
Leans in such states. as ours saw their
will and purpose overthrown by the
over-represented states, rebellion
would follow. To me the only wonder
is that we have submitted so long. The
time has now come to amend our or
ganization SO that 1t will be fair and
right. and predict that until we do it
the republican party will not be re-
stored to the confidence of the people.
National Committee Should Act.
l am aware that great majority OF
the republicans have been insisting for
years that this wrong should be
righted, and frequent attempts have
been made, but these attempts have
occurred in conventions that were
called for the purpose of nominating
candidates for president and vice presi-
dent and amid the fierce struggles OF
such conventions it was impossible to
determine the question upon Its mer-
its. II we arc in earnest In trying to
make the republican party strong
again we must not wait until 1916 to
readjust the basis of representation, we
must do 1t now: and there is but one
way to do 1t. and that is for the ma
tional committee to call together ma
tional republican convention, and for
such convention free from the dis
turbances Of a campaign for nomina-
tons, to take up the subject and deal
with it according to the very right OF
the matter. II we fail to do this, the
door of opportunity will be shut In our
faces and the flood that ought to bear
us on to fortune will pass.
How can we invite the men who re-
belled against the outcome of the CHI
cago convention to again bear the re-
publican banner SO long as we ac-
knowledge that a handful OF republic
cans in certain states can neutraiize
the will and purpose of that great
army of republicans who made the
party what it was. and can make 1t
So again e they be given a chance to
do it. -te,--
Primary Law for Delegates.
This, however, is not all. Many states
have adopted primary laws for the Sc
lection of delegates to the national
conventions and for an expression OF
preference with respect to nominations
for president and vice president. Many
more will have adopted such laws be-
fore the next, national convention
Eventually every state will have such
a law, because the right of the indtvid-
ual voter to be heard in such matters
can not be questioned. and the only
way in which he can be ehectually
heard is thru the primary system. I'm
til. therefore, congress shall adopt a
national primary system for the noml-
nation of candidates for president and
vice president, or for the regulation OF
national conventions, the laws OF the
several states must be respected ana
obeyed by all good citizens. Long be-
fore these primary laws came into ex'
istence the republican party adopted
rule which required the selection OF
delegates to national convention by
congressional districts, and l suppose
it is the duty of national committee,
under strict Interpretation Of the
rule, to reject delegates that have been
elected in any other way. individually.
we may favor the district plan as
against plan which selects the dele
gates at large and instructs them at
large but that is neither here nor
there. These laws have been passed
and are being passed; they are founded
upon the best thought OF modern times
and they are with us to stay. If d
state under primary law of the char
acter have described selects its dele
gates to republican national CONVEX
ton at large and instructs them at
large, the national committee has the
power to reject; but 1t mag as well he
understood that when 1t exercises that
power 1t destroys the part in that
state. We must either accept the re-
suits Of these primary laws or we will
have no party In the states in which
they exist.
No Need to Hesitate.
We ought not to hesitate for mo-
ment in the national convention, which
should be speedily called. We ought
to declare in clear and unequivocal
terms that when delegates are selected
according to law they shall be accepted