The Washington herald., 1913-11-12
CANNOT Change
DELEGATE BASIS
Law Committee Rules on Ma
tional Body's Power Over
Conventions.
EXTRA MEETING LEGAL
Following Decision, Call for Gathering
Next Year to Reorganize Party
Is Fully Expected.

The law committee a subcommittee Of
the Republican national organization
created at the time OF the meeting Of the
Republican executive committee in Wash
ington few months ago, at meeting ir
this city yesterday unanimously agreed
that there is no power in the Republican
national committee to cnange the basis
OF representation in the Republican ma
tional convention. This question arose In
connection with a demand by Progressive
Republicans that the basis of representa-
ton be changed to cut down the num-
Der of delegates from the South.
This question having been disposed Of
the law committee unanimously agreed
that there is a power vested in the ma
vention to meet at any time between the
regular Presidential conventions. This
decision, IL is thought will lend TO the
calling of a national convention. to meet
some time in the early spring or summer
Of next year. in time to have its influence
felt on the Congressional elections next
year, for. the purpose of taking steps to
reorganize the party.
Question of Representation.
This call probably will provide for dele
gates to be chosen in the usual way Of
selecting delegates for the Presidential
convention. and this convention is eX-
pected to deal with the question of chang
ing the basis Of representation. now that
the law committee has decided that
there is no power in the national COM
mittee TO make the change. The COM
nittee had before il the matter of the
form of call to be issued and whether IN
selecting delegates the district unit should
prevail. Iowa, California, and North Da-
kota have Presidential primary laws
which require that delegates to a national
convention shall be elected from the
State-at-large, which provision ignores
the district unit.
The law committee is of the opinion that
the time-honored practice of recognizing
the Congressional district as the unit in
selecting delegates to a national conven-
ton is the most desirable plan, but holds
that there is authority in the national
committee to frame call, so that in
such exceptional cases as are presented
by the three States mentioned delegates
chosen according to the statute may be
seated.
Members Who Were Present.
Charles B. Warren, of Michigan. pre-
sided at the meeting as chairman of the
Law COMMITTEE. He held the proxy also
Of Senator Jones Of Washington, who was
unable to be present. The other mem
DSAS VI lHc sherman GTan-
ger. Of Ohio; James A. Fowler, of Ten
nessee; Representative James r. Mann of
Illinois, and Roy o. West of Illinois, all
OF whom were present. After the COM
mittse was created NJ. z. Olmsted. of
Pennsylvania, died and Chairman War
ren had appointed former Solicitor Cen
eral W. NJ. Bullitt. of Kentucky, to sue
coed him. Mr.. Bullitt was not able to
reach Washington yesterday. -
Chairman Warren will prepare a formal
report to the Republican National Com
mittee, which will be submitted before the
meeting of the committee in this city on
December 16.
Among Republican leaders at the
Capital there is the keenest interest in
the forthcoming meeting of the Repub-
lican National Committee, and in the Ma
tional Republican convention that will
undoubtedly be called by the committee.
II is the opinion that the convention will
meet in Chicago, st. Louis, or some other
point in the Middle West
Coincident with the meeting there was
a little gossip as to a Presidential ticket.
The name of Charles f. Hughes. Asso-
ciate Justice of the Supreme Court. was
put forward for the Presidency, and the
names of Senator Cummins, Senator
Borah, and other Progressive Republic |
ans were mentioned for the' Vice Pres- !
dency. This ticket was being discussed |
as affording rallying ground for the dis |
cordant factions of the Republican party. |