The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-12-24
new BASIS OF
REPRESENTATION
Republican National Committee
Decides to Make Changes.
RANK ANO FILE TO HAVE SAY.
Informally Settled Plan for Cutting
Down Number Of Delegates in South.
ern States Shall Be Referred to Re-
publicans for Ratification.

Washington, Dec. 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 partys ma
tional conventions and had authority
to make reforms in convention rules
and procedure that have been demand.
ed by many elements since the con-
vention of 1912 and the Democratic
victory at the polls last November.
With little bitterness and no tangible
evidence that differences which arose
over methods could not be reconciled,
bhe committee took steps which have
been agitated in the party for thirty
years and which have been vital fac
tors in many exciting conventions in
It's latter day history.
Without a dissenting vote the com
mittee decided to make change in
the basis Of representation in national
conventions. which will greatly affect
southern states, gave full recognition
to the principle of the primary in the
election of delegates to such conven.
tons, approved laws regarding such
elections adopted by several states
which provide that all delegates be Sc.
lected at large and agreed that the
delegates properly accredited by state
authorities shall be placed on the TEN,
porary convention roll Informally It'll
had been agreed that the basis of rep
resentation should be referred to the
Republicans in the various states for
ratification.
Question Of Machinery.
The only difference of opinion that
developed on the surface was over the
question Of the machinery to be used
TO effect the reforms Of the forty
nine committeeman who voted on IT,"
enc ro7 coll t"l-on fo',r+oon f-'~"~
the calling Of special convention to
bring aboat these changes, and Iuil,
five declared themselves opposed.
After this ballot progress was
marked by friendly spirit, with an ex
pressed desire to harmonic and til
face the common political enemy"
The resolution adopted by its own
terms expresses the party's faith in
primary election of delegates and in
the right CT state to choose them at
large, but details of the method of re
ducing southern representation We're
left to special subcommittee, con?
posed Of Chairman Hil1es and Commit
teemen Warren of Michigan, Borah Of
Idaho Smoot of Utah, Hadley Nouisi
ana proxy, Howell of Nebraska, Esta-
brook of New Hampshire, Barnes Of
New York, Saunders of Tennessee and
Pemmell Of Arkansas.
The subcommittee expects to make
report at meeting of the full COM
mittee today.
It was predicted that it would favor
a compromise between the plan advo
Gated by the Republican congressional
committee and by Chairman Hil'es
and other leaders.
This plan would provide for four
delegates at large from each state
one from each congressional district
and additional DELEGATES from each
congressional district where the Re-
publican vote bears a certain ratio to
the total vote.
With the adoption OF the report Of
this subcommittee. the national COM
mittee will adjourn probably until 1916.
In brineing in plan for reduced
the subcommittee will
suggest how the plan shall be ratified
by the Republican voters in all the
states. The much talked of refer
endnm recurring that the plan must
be approved by Republicans in states
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