South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-18
SOUTH To HAVE
SMALL VOICE IN
NEXT CONVENTION
Representation is Reduced
From Thirty-thr to Sixteen
Percent by the National Re-
publican Committee.

-
publican national committee Wednes-
day night concluded it's labor for re-
form in party procedure, and launch
ed its campaign for a reunion Of war
ring elements by adopting a resolu-
ton providing for a radical change in
the basis Of representation in national
nominating conventions which would
reduce the quota OF southern states
from 80 20 16 per cent OF the conven-
TONS total.
The action Of the committee. criti-
cdsed In vigorous terms by several OF
its members. but made unanimous
before adjournment, must be Endorsed
by states entitled TO cast a majority
OF votes IN the electoral college before
AZ becomes party law. In order that
such action shall be taken as prompt
~ as possible, the committee appoint
ed a subcommittee Of three, consist
ing OF Charles b. Warren Of Michi-
gan: Sen Borah of Idaho, and Gov.
Hatfield OF West Virginia, to prepare
an address to the states urging i'm
mediate ratification Of the proposal.
Expect Early Action.
This address Will be drawn up
shortly after the Christmas holidays.
and leading members of the commit
tee expressed the hope Wednesday
night that IL would be met by early
action. Approval by the states will
insure a call from the national COM
Inittee for the national convention of
1915 along the lines laid down We'd
nesday.
The reorganization plan adopted
came as a compromise which reflected
the views OF many committee men
that southern representation should
be reduced but not brought to the
vanishing point IL reads as follows:
confident that the action of this
committee. representing as il does
practically the unanimous sentiment
OF the republican electors of the
states. will be ratified by the repub-
lican electors OF the states"
Be IL resolved:
That this committee shall issue n
call for the national convention TO be
held in the year 1916 to nominate
candidates for president and vice
president I'm accordance with the fol-
lowing basis OF representation:
Each state shall be entitled in
such convention to four delegates at
large: one delegate at large for each
representative in congress at large
from any state; one delegates from
each congressional district; an addi-
tionaI delegates from each congress
sional district in which the vote eth
in 1905 or for the republican candi-
date for congress in 1904 shall have
been not less than 800 and that for
each delegate chosen, an alternate
shall be chosen in the same manner
and at the same time TO act in the
absence of the delegates.
Must Ratify Move.
provided. however, that above
basis OF representation shall not be
do he hos Of he col fnr
tional convention TO be neld in the
year 1916 unless prior TO Jan. 1, 1915,
republican state conventions held un-
der the laws OF the states or called by
the republican state committees of
the states in such number of states as
are entitled TO cast a majority Of the
votes OF the electoral college, shall
Tatify the action OF this committee in
respect TO determining this basis Of
representation"
The vote on the resolution was as
follows:
Aye-Arkansas, California, Colo
RADIO, Connecticut, Delaware, District
OF Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas. Louisiana, Maine.
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri. Montana, Ne
vada, New Hampshire New Jersey.
New Mexico. North Carolina, New
York. North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma,
oregon. Pennsylvania, Rhode Island
South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Yer
mont. Washington, West Virginia,
wisconsin-3S.
Nay-AIabama, Georgia, Mississip-
pi Nebraska South Dakota, Texas
Virginia.
According 10 figures submitted by
the Subcommittee the new plan would
reduce the total number Of delegates
from Loss as in 1912. 10 993. Under
It these states would lose delegates:
Alabama. 9: Arkansas, 8; Florida.
4; Georgia, 10; Illinois, 2; Kentucky,
1: louisiana. Z; Mississippi, s; New
York, 4: North Carolina, 3; Pennsyl-
vania. 1: South Carolina Z: Tennes-
see. 3; Texas. 10: Virginia, 3, and
Hawaii. 4.
Would Have 164 Delegates.
The southern states would have 164
delegates in all. The District OF Co
iumbia and Alaska were provided
with two delegates each 10y separate
action. and the Philippines Porto
Rica and Hawaii were also given two
each without the right 10 vote.
r. 3. Howell OF Nebraska, led the
fight against the resolution. He said
republican voters would not be salts
fled with a reduction OF the sort pro-
posed. and pointed out the cOmpar-
alive strength Of the delegations from
the northern and southern states un-
der IL, giving also the percentage Of
votes cast IN these states to show the
republican weakness below Mason and
DixOn's line, and strength above il.
He proposed as substitute one OF the
plans submitted by the republican ma
hona committee which provided for
four delegates at large from each
state and one delegate in addition for
each 10000 votes or major fraction
thereof cast for the republican can
didate for presidential electors in
1905
This plan would reduce southern
representation 70 10 delegates Mr..
Howell was opposed by Senator BO-
rah. former Gov. Hadley holding the
Louisiana proxy. Committeeman Rem
mel OF Arkansas. and McGregor OF
Texas and III. l.. Johnson District of
Columbia negro who held a proxy
from the state OF Georgia On a vote
Mr.. HowelFs motion 10 substitute the
congressional committees plan was
beaten 40 TO o. Nebraska, North Da-