Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-24
Progressive Republicans in
Congress Comment on New
York Convention.
PRINCIPLE SANCTIONED
IN THE EMPIRE STATE
Issue Lifted From Provincial Poll
tics, It Now Is
Believed.

Progressive republicans i'm Congress
are very much pleased over the action
of the New York republicans yester-
day urging a change in the basis of
representation in national conven-
tions. This is the first fruit of the
agitation started last December by the
progressive republican conference in
Chicago and subsequent representation
to the national committee.
The action is deemed happily oppor-
tune, inasmuch as the whole subject
Is to come up In an important way in
very short time. The regular repub-
lican national organization is under
pledge to assemble a gathering of re-
publicans within sixty days after this
session of Congress comes to a close
to give some kind of satisfaction to
subject is under consideration by the
sional committee.
Made National Question.
The progressive republicans in Con-
gress feel that great impetus has been
given their contention by yesterday $
events in New York. They point out
that no longer can this subject be con-
tended to be the aim and represent the
work of a faction of republicans geo.
graphically bounded, since adoption of
the idea by the Empire state. the state
casting the largest vote in national con-
vention, lifts it from the possible cate
CORY of provincial politics and more than
ever makes it a national question.
1T now becomes the New York idea
as well as the Iowa idea." declared Il
progressive republican today, and must
be reckoned with by the leaders"
Satisfaction is also felt by the progress
sive republicans that the liberal element
in the republican party in New York won
they augur we'll for future efforts toward
getting the two wings Of the party to-
gether.
Subject Up in Capital.
At a meeting of the executive commit
tee of the republican national commit
| tee in this city May "a last the subject OF
the change of representation in national
conventions was brought up by com.
| munications from committee OF
| progressive republicans, acting in con.
| formity with a previous conference Of
republicans in Chicago. That communities
tion was as follows:
| "At conference of republicans re-
Gently held in Chicago statement was
adopted, a copy of which is inclOsed
| herewith for your consideration.
''The undersigned were appointed q
committee to carry forward the purposes
| of the conference, and in the perform
ance of that duty we ask you to call a
meeting of the republican national COM
mittee in the near future to act upon the
suggestion, made by great many re-
hat 10 during the
present year a republican national con-
yention. We submit briefly our reasons
for the views we hold.
Representation Unjust.
"u) We believe that an overwhelm
ing majority of the republican party
has reached the conclusion that the
basis of representation in our national
conventions is not only unjust but
contrary to the fundamental principle
of representative government. Assum- :
ing that the will of the majority In
any organization ought to prevail! II
must be a real, not a fictitious major
| ity. An actual majority will not long
submit to an actual minority. Tne
present system enables a minority of
republicans to control national conven.
tons dictate party nominations ana
determine party declarations. and,
however praiseworthy may have been
the motive for it's original adoption,
| It is no longer defensible.
| I'VE earnestly desire the restoration
OF the republican party to- to run s'reng.h sn,nd
wise and patriotic, and the body OF the
na rty will apply those principles to the
conditions of modern times In an en-
I;phtened. unselfish way II they nave
fair onnortunity to do SO. TO give tnefn
This fair opportunity is the sole object
of our request. So long as the votins
renuhlicans in certain sections o! tne
country have from eight TO n1ty times
Greater representation In na,ioIiai
Convention than the voting republicans
~ other sections of the country II can
not he said that the act Oh tne CON
,ontion is the act of the majority, ana
S;scnntent, followed by revolt. are the
natural results.
Election Figures Cited.
Let US emphasize our meaning by re-
calling to you a few figures taken from
the returns Of the 1908 presidential cleo
ton.
"In that year the states OF South caro-
lima Georgia, Florida. Alabama, Mlssls-
s,ppi. Louisiana and Arkansas cast loi'-
ts,s votes for the republican nominee for
President The percentage of this repub-
l,can vote to the total vote. o.. course
down AS low as {; to per cent In Mlssis-
sinpi and South Carolina let these seven
states under the apport:onment plan now
nreyailing sent i4o delegates To the re-
nub,tcan convention of 1917. Let us con
trast this with tine situation in some Of
the usually republican states Twelve Of
s,,cb states selected almost a. random
Aiaine, New Hampshire. Vermont, Rhode
leland Connecticut. Michigan. North Da-
koto South Dakota, Utah. Wyoming
washington and Oregon-aisc sent to-
TAI delegation to the last republican con-
vention of 14O. The combined republican
vote Of these twelve states In 1908 was
slightly over a million-almost exactly
seven times the republican vote of the
seven states first enumerated, which,
nevertheless, were given an equal voice
in the councils of the party. and an
equal vote In the selection of it's nominee.
Striking Cases Cited.
ITO cite still more startling cases. South
Carolina, which in 1908 cast 1888 votes
for the republican nominee for
President, sent eighteen delegates
to the national convention to
nominate the next President, or one dele
rate for every 90 votes thus cast. Iowa,
which in 1903 cast 275, ,21O votes for the
republican nominee for President, sent
twenty-six delegates to the republican
convention to nominate the next Presi-
dent, or one delegate for every 1O.5S5
votes thus cast.
THUS the voice of one South Carolina
republican was, in effect, given equal
Continued on Second Page)