The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-12-19
c. O.P. COMMITTEE
TO CHANGE RULES
NEW BASIS OF REPRESENTATION
WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN
DELEGATIONS.
SPECIAL CONVENTION LOSES
subcommittee Given Task of Work.
ing Out Details of New Method
-Borah Says Party Must
Be Progressive.

Washington, Dec. 1S-After five
hours of debate the Republican Ma
tional committee determined that it
was clothed with ample power to read
just the composition of the party's
national conventions and had author
ity to make reforms in convention
rules and procedure that have been de-
manded by many elements since the
convention of 1912 and the Democratic
victory last November.
Representation Basis Changed.
With lttel bitterness and no tangi-
BILE evidence that differences which
arose over methods could not be recon
ciled, the committee without a dissent
ing vote decided to make a change in
the basis of representation in national
conventions which will greatly affect
southern states.
1t also gave full recognition to the
principle of the primary in the cleo.
ton of delegates to such conventions,
approved laws regarding such cleo
tons adopted by several states which
provide that all delegates be selected
at large, and accepted the principle
that delegates properly accredited by
state authorities should be placed on
the temporary convention roll.
Only Difference on Surface.
The only difference of opinion that
developed on the surface was over the
question of machinery to be used to
effect the reforms OF the forty-nine
committeeman who voted on the one
roll taken, fourteen favored the call
ing of special convention to bring
about these changes. and thirty-five de-
clared themselves opposed.
This resolution 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 meth
cd of reducing southern representa-
ton were left to a special subcom-
mittee. ... .-.
With the adoption of the report of
this subcommittee the national COM
mittee will adjourn probably until
1915.
Borah Expresses Regrets.
In closing the discussion for oppon-
ents of the special convention plan
Senator Borah expressed regret to find
| himself not in harmony with such of
his intimate friends as former Cover
| nor IIadley, Senators Cummins of
| Iowa and Jones CT Washington and
others whom he held in high regard.
IF the Republican party adopts a
reactionary platform in 1916 it will be-
come nothing but the voice OF the aris-
| tocracy,' declared 3orah. Il believe it
is progressive and want to gather up
| that progressive sentiment and crys-
| taliZe it in 1916. If we call a conveil-
| ton in 1914 what position will we be
| in? There are states with primary
| laws not adapted for a national con-
| yentiOn except for the selection of a
national ticket. Such a convention
would inevitably result in the selec-
ton of hand-picked delegates in two
thirds of the states and the only plat
| form promulgated would not be true
expression of the rank and file of the
people and would not be one upon
which the party would be able to go to
the country within the next congress
siOnal election
The senator further asserted that a
| convention in 1914 would merely re.
| suit in illumination in the air and that
| the progressive element in the party
| would not iOin in if