Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-12-20

sentation in National Convention
Unanimous After Battle
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The Re
publican National Committee last
night concluded it's labor for reform
in party procedure and launched it's
campaign for a reunion OF warning
elements by adopting a resolution
providing for radical change in the
basis of representation in national
nominating conventions which would
reduce the quota of Southern States
from SO per cent to 16 per cent of
abe conventions total.
The action of the committee. criti-
cised in vigorous terms by several
of its members, was first approved by
vote of SO to Z, but was made I'M
animous before adjournment. 1t must
be endorsed by states entitled to cast
a mapority of votes in the Electoral
College before it becomes a party
law. In order that such action shall
be taken as promptly as possible. the
committee appointed a subcommittee
of three, consisting of Charles B. War
rem, of Michigan; Senator Borah, OF
Idaho, and Governor Hatfield, Of
West Virginia, to prepare an address
to the states, urging immediate rat
ification Of the proposal. This ad-
dress will be drawn up shortly after
the Christmas holidays, and leading
members of the committee express
ed the hope that 1t would be met by
early action. Approval by the states
will insure a call from the national
N committee for the national conven-
ton of 1916 along the lines laid
down
Details of Reorganization Plan.
The reorganization plan adopted
came as a compromise, which reflect
ed the views OF many committeeman,
that southern representation should
be reduced, but not brought to the
vanishing point It reads as follows:
Confident that the action of this
committee. representing as it does
practically the unanimous sentiment
of the Republican electors Of the
states, will be ratified by the Repub-
lican electors of the states.
Be it resolved, That this commit
tee shall issue call for the national
convention to be held in the year
1916, to nominate candidates for
president and vice president in ac-
cordance with the following basis of
representation: Each state shall be
entitled in such convention to four
delegates at large; one delegate at
large for each Representative in Con-
gress at large from any state; one
delegate from each congressional
district; an, additional delegate from
each congressional district in which
tibet vote either for Republican presi-
dental electors in 1908, or for the
Republican candidate for congress in
1919 shall have been not less than
$500, and that for each delegate
chosen, an alternate delegate shall
be chosen in the same manner and
at the same time to act in the abb
sence of the delegate.
Provided. however. that the above
basis Of representation shall not be
made the basis of the call for the
national convention to be held in the
year 1916, unless prior to January !,
1915, Republican state conventions
held under the laws of the statse, or
called by the Republican state COM
mittees Of the states in such num-
Der of states as are entitled to cast
a majority of the votes in the present
electoral college, shall ratify the ac'
tion of this committee in respect to
determining this basis OF representa-
ton.
According to Figures submitted by
the subcommittee the new plan
would reduce the total number OF
delegates from 1888, as in 1912. to
e93.
Under it these states would lose
delegates: Alabama y, Arkansas 3,
Florida 4, Georgia 10. Illinois ?. Ken
lucky 1, Louisiana 7, Mississippi s,
New York 4, North Carolina 3, Penn
sylvaria /. South Carolina z, Ten
nessee 8, Texas is, Virginia 8, and
Hawaii A. The southern states would
have l64 delegates in all The Dis
trtct Of Columbia and Alaska were
rr vided with two delegates each *
separate action, and the Philippines,
Porto Rico and HAWAII we're also
gwen two each, without the right to