Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-07
SENATOR CERTAIN CONVENTION
TO REoRoANIzE PARTY WILL
e. De HELD.
WILL OF RANK AND FILE
TO RECEIVE RECOGNITION
N ational Committee TO Meet in csesm.
Der to Take Steps Looking Toward
Party Rsjuvsnation = Oictation and
Control to Be Taken Out Of Hands
Of Bosses.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, Oct. I've are con-
fident there will be nasicnal meeting
publican party to consider the welfare
Of the party and to make it clear and
unequivocal that whatever is done in
the future shall be the will OF the men
Of the rank and file Of the party. we
shall insist that this policy. not as to
matters Of legislation, bu, as to the
party organization and machinery by
and thru which those who compose the
party express their wishes, shall be
made so plain and definite that there
can not be d particle OF doubt about
it. We want the republicans OF the en-
tire nation to be able to control their
party for the nation as fully as the
republicans of Iowa are able to make
their voices felt in party councils Of
the state"
These were substantially the decia-
rations of Senator A. e. Cummins as
he took his departure ror Washington
after week of rest at home. He had
been even while here working on the
plan for the calling Of the national
committee to arrange for this national
conference of the representatives of the
party. Senator Cummins and Senator
Jones had been designated asa COM
mittee to take care of this work. They
recently held a conference with Chair
man HilleS and another was planned
as soon as possible.
Committee Meets in December.
AS the result Of this pl assure, and
in accord with an understanding ar
rived at last May in the executive COM
mitree OF tine national con,Inittee, the
whole committee has been called to
meet Dec. Is in Washington. There is
no doubt the committee will arrange
for the national conference as pre-
liminary to the campaign next year.
The calling Of this national meeting
is the direct outcome of movement
started last fall by Senator Cummins
and others. Senator Cummins had out
lined some Of the things needful to put
the republican party in position to
command the respect and confidence of
the people. among them:
basis of representation in national
conventions according to the party
strength in different states.
Restoration to the republicans Of the
several states the authority and power
over their own delegations which had
been taken over by the national COM
mittee.
Recognition of state laws for selec-
ton of delegates where such laws exist
and acceptance Of the primary election
method of handling party affairs.
The demand for change in the
basis of representation was not entire
~ new. Efforts had been made along
this line without avail. but last year
for the first time the abuse OF the old
system has become so fragrant that
1t was plain to every one that 1t could
no longer be tolerated. A merely nomi-
nal republican in a southern district
had the power of half dozen or more
real republicans in a northern district.
Continuance OF that condition meant
party dissolution for it was in viola
ton of the foundation principle of the
party.
For State Control.
In very recent years the republican
national committee had taken over the
power of determining who should sit in
national conventions and by exercising
authority in the contests was able to
virtually control the conventions. sena-
tor Cummlns declared that each state
termine for itself who are to be its rep
resentatives In the national convention.
Where there are primary laws. as in
Iowa, which provide way for having
the matter Of delegate rights deter
mined in legal manner, there should
be nothing for the national committee
to do but to accept the certificates COM
ing from such states. Where there are
no such laws. then some tribunal,
wholly within the state and free from
any possibility of outside interference.
should be given the authority to de-
termfne in the case of contests who
should go to the national conventions.
1t was at national conference,
somewhat informally brought together
in Chicago last spring. that these re-
forms were whipped into shape and
committee headed by Senator Cummins
and including other members OF the
senate and house and governors. was
delegated to put it up to the republican
national committee to act. The execu-
tive committee, in May, agreed to call
the national committee together within
sixty days after adjournment OF con-
gress At that time It, was supposed
congress would adjourn probably in
June. In view of the probability of
there being no adjournment at all the
committee asked that the spirit of the
resolution be observed and the nation
al committee be called at once. This
has now been done.
Root Stands With Progrsssives.
From the very first all of the pro-
gressives have been favorable to the
holding of the national conference and
adoption of rules or agreement as to a
method for effecting the reforms
deemed essential to future party sue
cess. One of the very fist of those who
had adhered to the old system to join
the progressives in their demand was
Senator Root, of New York But he was
reluctant to get into a battle with
Barnes In New York, and not until Mr..
Stimson had taken hold of the matter
SN ~