The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-12-05
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE '-. !
WITHOUT AUTHORITY TO Make SHIFT

convention or with the authority. OF a
national convention"
The second question considered is:
"IIa the national committee the
authority to change the manne and
method Of choosing delegates to flu
ture national conventions so as to
provide (a) that delegates both from
the states at large. and from on
ErcsSionai districts. may he chosen in
such manner as'the laws of the sever
al states may from time to time pro-
vide: and so as to provide (h) that
all delegates from m state may he
chosen from tho state at large. or
from congressional districts. in con-
formity with the laws Of the state in
which the election %occurs:."
In considering subdivision "A" Of
the question. Rule IL. adopted by the
conventions of 1905 and 1912, is quot
cd as follows:
Such committee shall issue the
call for the meeting of the national
convention within sixty days. at least.
before the time fixed for said meeting.
and delegates to the national
ton shall he chosen in such manner
as the national committee shall pro-
vide"
Upon this point the committee says
u iS iIS oplillpH TILT IL is III tne pres
ent time within the power of the ma
tional committee. to prescribe. as did
tho call issued by the committee for
the convention Of 1912. the manne
Of choosing both delegates at large
n district delegates to the future
national conventions; and that the ma
tional committee may provide. in
calls issued for future. conventions
that delegates at large. and from con-
gressional districts. may be chosen in
conformity with the laws of the state
in which the election occurs. and may
alter the tanner of choosing such
delegates as occasion may require so
as To conform with sue laws as the
several states may adopt from time
to time"
Subdivision "B" of this second ques-
ton is:
Has the national committee au-
thority to change the manner and
mthod of choosing delegates to future
national conventions so as to provide
that all delegates from any state may
partly from the state at large and part
from congressional districts in con-
formity with the laws of the state In
which the election occurS?"
The opinion cites the rules adopted
oy past national conventions provid-
ing for the election of delegates from
each congressional district and says
no question would arise as to wheth-
er or not the national committee pos
sessed the power to alter the manner
OF choosing delegates to the national
sional district representation were it
not for the wording of Rule IL, as
adopted by the conventions Of 1908
and 1912"
THE provision Of Rule IL, now un-
der consideration. as adopted by the
convention of 1905 is (of1icial pro-
ceedings. p. 111):
Such committee (national COM
mittee) shall issue the call for the
meeting of the national convention
within sixty days at least before the
time fixed for said meeting, and dele
gates to the national convention shall
be chosen in such manner as the M.
tional committee shall provide"
The opinion continues:
The. facts recited from the history
OF the party show hat the position Of
the party is in favor Of representation
from congressional districts. Never
theless h elimination from the rules
adopted by the conventions of 1908
n 1919 of. all reference either to
delegates from congressional districts
or to delegates-at-large, and the elm.
nation Of the provisions. found in
former rules. prescribing the manner
OF electing delegates. left, according
to the terms Of the rules. the nation
al committee clothed with authority
to provide in the call the name Of
choosing delegates for a national con.
vention.
The convention undoubtedly believ-
ed. in view of the historic position OF
me party on the question of congress
sional district representation, that
the national committee would NOT is-
sue a call for a national convention
which did NOT provide for the election
OF delegates from congressional dis
trlcts in all states having ma laws
providing for the election OF all dele
gates from the state Al large; but the
convention evidently provided. by the
terms of Rule IL. as adopted. a meth
ID OF avoiding conflicts between the
a issued by the national committee
M the laws of the several states
ed" q
Under h terms OF the rule adopt
ed by the 1908 and 1912 conventions.
the national committee. can, the opjn-
ion says. avoid conflict between the
law Of a state n the rule ~ the
party by providing in its call that
delegates may be elected in conformi-
~ with the law of the state in which
the election occurs.
therefore. 1t is the opinion Of the
committee. in deciding the second
question. that the national commi,-
tee mas authority under the wording
OF Rule IL. adopted by the convex.
tons OF 1908 and 1912 to prescribe IN
its call h method Of choosing dele
gates to future national conventions.
including the authority to provide
therein that all delegates from. any
state may be chosen from the stats
at large. or part from. the state a,
tricts. in accordance with the laws ri
the state in which the election &c
curs." W.
Cpo the third question considered
mas the national committee authori.
fy to can a special national .conxenl
ton Of the party" the opinion saws
the national committee is the only
machinery provided by the various
national conventions 10 issue RI, cal
anu nat the dulles do not refer 10 q
special convention, nor to a conyen.
tlon for nominating candidates fo,
president and vice president. The
opinion declares: AK
me method provided can proper.
~ oe INVOKED for he purpose Of call.
ing q special convention. and it is the
opinion Of your committee thar In
national committee has authority to
call a special. national conventions
me fourth question considered "a.
II the national committee should
decide to call a Special convention,
wnat wouid 81 "a legal form for the
mittee?'" On this the opinion resds.
I'm such, case the national c,m mit
tee could direct the chairman and
secretary of the committao au eHo