The Washington herald., 1913-02-23

lican. votes, while the delegates from
other States each represented approxi-
mately 10000 Republican votes. The
inequality-not to say unfairness-of
this situation was forcibly presented.
On the other hand, it was urged that
the new system would make the Re-
publican party a sectional one; that II
might result in four or FIVE large States
controlling the. nomination and the
platform; that it was inconsistent with
the constitutional plan of elections by
States; that it would involve the Re
publican party in many difficulties; and
that, if the Federal government would
see to it that honest elections were
held, the Southern States would
eventually become doubtful, if not Re-
publican. In addition to this it was
also asserted that the Northern negroes
would resent the political slight upon
their Southern brethren.
At any rate, the resolution was de-
feated by vote of AL yeas TO 500
nays, a narrow margin of IS. The
Southern delegates. of course, voted
solidly against it, while it is a matter
of unwritten history that Mr.. Roosc-
vent, then President, used the weight
of his position to prevent the rcsolu-
ton from being adopted. The time is
coming, however, and it is not far
distant, when the agitation for change
will be successful because sthe5 present
system is manifestly unfair to the
great bulk of the Republican party.
1t is not yet evident, however, what
plan will be substituted. 'h =
In the main, some method will be
devised whereby the. number OF dele
gates from each State will be based
upon the Republican vote in that State.
Mr.. David w. Mulvane; of Kansas,
who was in charge of the, Western bu-
rcau of the Republican National Com
mittec in the last campaign, has made
a suggestion which has in it much TO
commend. He proposes that each
State shall have four delegates-at-
large, and at least one delegate for
each Congressional district. An addi
tiorial delegate could ba elected in
each district where the Republican vote
was OF "A certain numerical strength.
This would insure universal representa-
ton. with preponderance of votes
from Republican strongholds. and yet
there would be many districts north of
Mason and Dixon's line which, like the
Southern districts, would have only a
single delegate.
In a Republican national convention,
under the present system, the States OF
Alabama, Arkansas. Florida, Georgia.
louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and
Virginia, which have not cast a single
Republican electoral vote. since 1876,
are. represented by. no less than
252 delegates, or about one-fourth of
the entire number. Its very easy to
see how this number of delegates could
become an important factor in decid-
ing the outcome of a convention. In
South Carolina. at the last election, the
entire Taft and Roosevelt vote ag-
gregated only 1890 and yet South
Carolina has eighteen votes in i ma
tional convention, two more than New
Hampshire and Vermont combined.
The total Republican vote for Taft and
Roosevelt in Mississippi last year was
about 5000, although that State sends
twenty delegates to national con-
vention. And Texas has forty dele
gates-more than are given to Connec-
ticut, Delaware, Maine, and Wyoming
and vet Texas never did and never will
give ono electoral vote to a Republi
can Presidential candidate. Upon the
basis of one delegate for every 10000
Republican votes cast, Texas would be
entitled to five delegates.
And Florida, instead of having
twelve delegates would have one!
These are the conditions which I'M
derlie the present movement for Re-
publican national convention in the
near future.
Besides taking up this question of
Southern representation the gathering
of Republicans would have some value
in infusing spirit of encouragement
into the party. The Progressives arc
living up to their name. They are dis
playing much activity, with State con-
ferences in frequent session, and the
rank and file contributing generously
to the propaganda of the organization.
The Democrats have no occasion to
proselyte. They will stand or fall
upon the record thieh they make while
in power,