The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-12-19
aPvDLI,Aa1 MAY
RtfURM IN Nj IHODS
VI PARTY PROCEDURE
SPECIAL CONVENTION TO HAR.
MONTE THE WARNING FAC
TioNs OF PARTY.
COMMITTEEMAN IN CONFERENCE
May Change the Basis ,of Represen-
tation From Southern States and
Win Consider the Provisions of a
Harmony Platform.

WASHINGTON, Dec 15.-Leading
members of the republican national
committee, here to attend the com
mittee meeting here Tuesday, ex-
pressed the belief that a special con
vention Of the republican party would
be called to reorganize the methods,
change the base of delegate appor-
tionment and to consider the prepara-
tion Of a national parry platform that
would unite its broken ranks.
Among nearly a dozen committee
men who arrived today several were
of open mind" as to the convention
plan and one or two were outspoken
against it. Several conferences held
today, however, and the statements
Of committee members who have
been in communication with a major
ity OF that body indicated that plans
have been tentatively made looking
toward the calling of the convention
and that advocates of the plan believe
they have majority Of the commit
tee behind them. 1923
z Charles B.@Warren, sof Michigan.
: chairman OF the law committee of the
Republican organization, said he
thought a majority Of the members
would favor the holding of conven-
tion. Chairman Charels D. Hilles
has not yet indicated his own opinion
as4 to the wisdom of@a special party
scattering. John r. Adams. Of Iowa.
and F. W. Estahrook, OF New Hamp-
/ shire. declared + they had open
minds" on the: plan. II: B. Maxson,
sof Nevada, was openly opposed to the
'..convention., * ~
fndThsS plan now in contemplation, II
the committee decides to summon q
!eonvention, 10 to provide In the call
that the.SysriouA state. committees
iIshall control the method OF selecting
delegates except where there are
F, states primary laws covering the sub.
g3sceba sr@s .ssisF s,ge oil. sl5y sss:
Thisn plan. II adopted. would be the
first step toward one or the changes
lin rules demanded BY the so-called
progressive faction OF the party, tina,
the district unit system Of scatter.
ling delegates be abandoned and the
primary laws Of various states be re
cognized as final by the national com
imittee.
l While the formal committee ses-
sion does not begin until Tuesday
morning. the fight over the conven'
ton was inaugurated stoday at din
liner given to the committee members
given by Chairman Hilles. It is ex,
pected that the real issues Ut the con.
vention will be settled at the dinner.
The committee session OF Tuesday
probably win be held with open
doors.
The prospects Of fight in the con-
vention for the adoption of a plat
form Of party principles has been an
important factor in strengthening the
Opposition of the committeeman who
do not favor the project. Senator
Cummins, former Governor Hadley,
Of Missouri, and other leaders Of the
progressive republican forces have
laid plans for campaign to secure
the adoption of platform of mark
ed progressive character. a
Several committee members insist
that the summoning of convention
would reopen party wounds that
might in time be closed. and would
not operate to draw the divergent
factions of:'the party together. ast