The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1913-05-30

meeting began that the question pre-
sented would be referred to the Ma
tional Committee. He was undecided
as to the right of the National Com
mittee to change the basis OF repre-
sentation In national conventions and
declared that 1t was legal matter
upon which he had secured no ad-
vice.
Senator Jones, holding a proxy from
Sam Perkins, National Committee
man from Washington, sat with. the
Executive Committee, and presented
the ideas of Senator CummiDs and the
Progressives seeking an early nation
al convention. Many Republicans of
prominence, including former Speak
er Cannon and former Representa-
tive Mckinley. manager of the Taft
campaign, gathered about the room
where the committee met.
The question of choosing delegates
by State primaries was not discussed
at great length. Chairman Hilles and
some others contended that a Con-
gressional district should be allowed
to choose its own delegates in any
way II saw fit, Notwithstanding pro-
visions for State primary.
1.-THE party has insisted upon the
right of Congressional districts to
select their own delegates and a re-
versal of that policy would fOist the
unit rule upon u.s." said Chairman
Hills. This was the point at ISSUE
in the California case in 1912. The
right of a Congressional district to
vote in Republican national con-
vention for the candidate of its choice
has never been denied. II was affirm
ed in the convention Of 1876 and
again in 1880. The latter convention
rejected the unit rule. This is the
fundamental question and not to be
confused with the recognition of dele
gates in primary elections"
The letter from the Cancellation
Committee, signed by Senators Cum
Minis, Jones and Crawford and Rep
resentatives Cramton and Rogers, and
joined in by Representative Ander-
son and former Gov. Hadley, OF
Missouri, sets forth the report OF
the Progressive Republican confer
ence in Chicago and asks for "a
meeting OF the Republican Committee
in the near future to act Upon The
suggestion made by a great many Re-
publicans that there lie held during
the present year a Republican ma
tional convention"
Setting forth the reasons for this
request the committee says: 1--WE be-
lieve that an overwhelming majority
of the Republican party have reached
the conclusion that the basis Of rep
resentation in our national conven-
lions is not only unjust. but contrary
to the fundamental principle of rep
resentative government. Assuming
that the will of the majority in any
organization ought to prevail. 1t must
be a real, not a fictitious majority.
An actual majority will not long sub
nit to an actual minority. The pres
ent system enables a minority of Re-
publicans to control national conven-
lions, dictate party nominations and
determine party declarations, and
however praiseworthy may have been
the motive for its original adoption
it is no longer defensible.
1--WE earnestly desire the restora-
ton of the Republican party to full
strength and power. Its principles
are sound, wise and patriotic, and
the body of the party will apply
those principles to the conditions OF
modern times in an enlightened, un-
selfish way II they have a fair OPP
portunity to do SO. To give them
this fair opportunity is the sole OBJ
jeot of our request. So long as the
voting Republicans in certain sec
lions of the country have from eight
to fifty times greater representation
in National Convention than the
voting Republicans in other sections
of the country. 1t cannot be said
that the act of the convention is the
act of a majority and discomfort fol-
lowed by revolt are the natural re-
suits"
"The existing rule promulgated by
a convention held more than thirty
years ago relating to the manner OF
selecting delegates needs revision.
Some of the States have passed pri-
mary laws and others will pass them
that are not in harmony with the
rule and some provision must be
made that will remove the conflict.
We content ourselves BY stating what
seems {, be an obvious conclusion.
That we must either accept these
primary laws or We shall have no
Ranuhlican folIoWing in the StateS