The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-15
National Republican Commit
tee Divided in Three Parts.
Split ON the Subject Of Calling
4 Convention.
PLAN OF REPRESENTATION
Also Promises to Make Trouble
at the Meeting.
One Proposed by Congressional
Committee Finds Favor.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 16.-Such members
Of the Republican national comm1ttee
as had arrived here today Indicated al
most an even division Of sentiment ON
questions OF party REORGANIZATION I'd
be taken up tomorrow.
Those opposed to an extraordinary
convention were lining up against the
proposed reduction In soutnern repre-
sentation. Some committeeman re-
garded 1t as probable that before the
actual work of the committee begins
tomorrow there will be three divisions
of opinion In the first will be found
the calling Of a convention tmmeoaAte-
w. In the second will be those VINO
are opposed to any convention az an:
and in the third will be others who
are willing to have a national conven7
ton but who do not see any pressing
need for it
The first and third groups arc ex--
pected to join against the second ana
the odds are said to be IN 1avor OF
convention. According to predictions
of Chairman Hilles the convention
probably will thresh out it's dinerences
in open session and the advocates OF ALI
proposals will have an opportunity 10
give their arguments in public
In addition to the members OF the
committee who expect to speak, Orms-
by McHarg has asked for g. hearing.
| Mr. McHarg is understood to have pre-
pared a brief against the right OF the
| national committee to call an extraof-
dinary convention. Chairman aillea
said today that he was not attempting
| to use the power of his position foI
either contention and holds to the view
| that it is a question to be settled by
majority Of the committee.
! Informal conferences among COM
mftteemen marked the day, but the
real work will begin tonight when the
entire committee will be guests al
dinner Of Chairman Hil1es. All fac
tions are expected to have clearer
understanding OF the situation when
1t is over.
Aside from purely legal argument
one principal point against calling .
national convention is being made BY
committeeman who do not believe ust
can be made Of the primary machin.
I cry provided in several states for tht
i election Of delegates. Many STATE
Il laws provide that elections for dele
gates to nominating convention sinai
be held every four years.
Those who favor an carly conven
ton contend that recognition OF tn
} principle OF primaries by the nationa
committee would be a sufficient guar
, antee OF good faith OF the party. I
the committee decided tomorrow t
). call a convention probably there will
be discussion OF how best to reduc
. southern representation In futur
, conventions The Republican con
eressional committee has drawn u
!. several plans.
Congressional Committee Plan.
, The one which has met with great
est favor in the congressional commit
) tee proposed four delegates at larg
: portionate to the Republican vote caa
! in the election Of 1908 In each cor
, 1ressional district The plan wa
= discussed today with favor by som
= Of the best known men on the CON
!. nittee. The view that the committe
! may not decide to call convention
not shared by boomers from sewers
8 large cities whose representative
r were ON hand early today. stocke
with cash and prepared to press the
| claims to the limit.
AmonR the cities contesting a
Philadelphia, Indianapolis. Cincinna1
st. Louis and Denver. The latter w
on the ground with a promise OF $50
900. st. Louis was said to be reac
. with $4,000. and other cities prol
ably will back their attractions wit
money. If the situation tomorro
q Charles b. Warren Of Michiga
! chairman of the law committee CO..
tors Cummins. Nelson, Root and otl
ers and announced that Senator Gun
- minis had no intention OF demandtl
that a national convention shou
l. adopt q general party PlatAOAA
The plan now in contemplation, II Il
- committee decides to summon q Co
y vention, is to provide in the call tn
!. the various state committees shall CO
s. troll the method of selecting delegate
- except where there are state pr1ma.
- laws covering the subject.
This plan, II adopted. would be t
first step toward one OF the changes
P rules ne1nanded by the so-calIed pr
p gressive faction Of the party. that t
~ district unit system OF selecting d.
egates be abandoned and the prima
laws Of the various states be recogntz
erl az anal by the national committee.