The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-17
After Long Debate Decides
1t Has Right TO Readiust
Convention Rules of
Procedure
SOUTHERN STATES
WILL BE AFFECTED
GREATLY BY CHANGE
Little Bitterness Evident During the
Meeting-Express Desire to Har-
monize and Face Common
Political Enemy" With
Reunited Party


Washington. December fG--After five
hours of debate. the republican nation
al committee tonight determined TINT
Ii WAS clothed with ample power 10
readjust the composition of the party's
national conventions and had author-
ity 10 make reforms in convention
rules and procedure that hive been
demanded by many elements since the
convention of 1912 and the democratic
victory at the polls last November.
With little bitterness and no tangi-
BILE evidence that differences which
arose over methods could not be recon
ciled, the committee took steps which
have been agitated in the party for 80
years and which have been vital factors
in many exciting conventions in its
latter day history.
Decide to Make Change
without a dissenting vote the cont
mittee decided to make change in the
basis of representation In national con-
ventions, which will greatly affect
southern states. gave full recognition
to the principle OF the primary in the
election of delegates to such eonven-
tlons, approved laws regarding such
elections adopted by several states
which prodive that all delegates be
selected at large. and accepted the priu-
ciple that delegates properly accredited
fn.s s.I,a l, Il
the temporary convention roll Infor-
ma1ly 1T had been agreed that the new
basis of representation should be re-
ferrod te tpsFepphheaps in the various
states for ratification.
The only difference of opinion that
developed ON the surface was over tile
question Of the machinery to be used
to effect the reforms: OF the 40 commit
teemen who voted on the one roll call
taken. IA favored the calling of spe-
elal convention TO bring about these
changes and 30 declared themselves
opposed.
This roll call by states resulted as
follows
Nay-Alabama, Alaska, Arizona. Ar
kansas. California, Colorado Connects
cut, Delaware District OF Columbia,
Florida, Georgia Idaho, Illinois. Iowa,
Kentucky Maryland. Minnesota, Missis-
sippi. Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina,
Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Caro-
lima, Tennessee, Texas, Utah. Vermont,
Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.-3J.
Aye-Indiana Kansas, Louisiana,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New
Mexico. New York, North Dakota, Okla
homa. PENNSYLVANIA, South Dakota,
Washington and West Virginia.-1i,
Friendly Spirit Evident
After this ballot progress was
marked by a friendly spirit, with an ex-
pressed desire to harmonic andto faco
the common political enemy" with
reunited and soliditied party.
The resolution adopted by it's own
terms, expresses the party's faith in
primary election of delegates and in
the right Of a state to choose them at
large, but details of the method of
reducing southern representation were
left to a special subcommittee COM
posed of Chairman Hilles and Commit
teemen Warren OF Michigan, Borah OF
Idaho, Smoot of Utah. Hadley tLouisi
ana proxy, Howell of Nebraska, Esta
brook of New Hampshire, Barnes of
New York, Sanders of Tennessee and
Remmel of Arkansas. The subcommit-
tee expects to make a report at a meet
Ing of the fun committee tomorrow. II
was predicted tonight that it would
favor a compromise between the plan
advocated by the republican congress
sionaI committee and by Chairman Hill
les and other leaders. This plan would
provide for four delegates at large from
each state, one from each congressional
district and additional delegates from
each congressional district where the
republican vote bears a certain ratio
to the total vote.
With the adoption of the report Of
this subcommittee, the national COM
mittee VIII adjourn probably until
1916.
In bringing in a plan for reduced
representation the subcommittee will
suggest how the plan shall be ratified
by the republican voters in all states.
The much talked of referendum re-
quiring that the plan must be approved
Continued ON Page Thirteen.)