The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-05-12
Of
The REPUBLICANS
Conference of Party Members From
Eleven States Called by Sem
ator cummins Suggests
a Plan.
TO REUNITE THE PARTY
Meeting Urged to Consider Changing
Basis Of representation In Future
National Republican
Conventions.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.]
CHICAGO, May 12.-Calling upon
the republican national committee to
call national convention of the re-
publican party to be held this year, the
progressive republican conference held
here at the instance of Senator Cum
Minis of Iowa, adjourned at noon today.
The conference recommended that
scheme Of changed apportionment of
national convention delegates to re-
duce the representation ce the south
in the party councils be considered
at the proposed convention and that
the party rules be amended to conform
to the primary laws of the various
states. The national committee was
asked to issue the call as early as
practicable.
The statement by the committee
| follows:
"At an informal conference of rN
4 publicans from eleven states held at
Chicago May 12, 1913, 1T was voted
! that it be submitted to the national
! republican committee as the opinion of
those present that national conven-
ton of the party be held this year, at
as early date as may be practicable,
4 for the purpose of considering the ex-
lpediency Of changing the basis Of rep
4 Presentation In future conventions, SO
4 that delegates shall proportio tionately
8 represent the republican voters and
Il not the general population, to the end
that the will Of the members Of the
party may be more accurately determ
ined; also for the purpose of chang
ing the rules relating to delegates and
members of the national committee
so that the primary election laws OF
various states shall be recognized
land have full force; and also for the
purpose of making such other changes
in methods of conducting national
conventions as shall conduce to give
, the utmost possible effect to the prin
!. ciples and policies of their party.
ut was further the opinion that
such a convention might properly anG
lusefully take any other action de
sirable to reunite the party and to give
assurance that it stands for conserv
ative and progressive activities In th'
affairs of government, to the end tha
! common welfare may be advanced
1T was the unanimous belief o
T those present that the changes sug
gested should be made forthwith ant
I that the national committee be urge
! to take such steps to such end
Prominent republicans who attend
ed the final session of the conferenc
were: Ex-Governor Hadley of Mis-
souri,; Senators Cummins and Kenyo
of Iowa; Crawford of South Dakota
!, Gronna of North Dakota; Sherman Q
Illinois; Bcrah of Idaho; former Lie,
tenant Governor Luce of Massachu.
etts: State Senator James of Mich
gan: State Senator Troutman of Kan
sas, and Illinois State Senators M;
gill, Hurburgh and Ettelson.
Medill Mccormick, Illinois nations
committeeman for the progressiv
iparty, was at the Congress hot,
where the conference was held, but b
said he merely dropped over to pay
! call on some of the senator's.
6. Senator Borah at first opposed til
% recommendation for the national CO.
il. Eyention this year. He argued tn;
- the same forces that controlled tt