The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1913-05-22
REPUBLICAN REORGANIZATION.

According to dispatches from, Wash
ington, a majority of the Republican
National Committee are in favor OF
a national convention to change the
rules regarding the basis of represen-
'tation and to provide for the recog.
milton of state primary laws in future
nominating conventions. The only
real question of doubt at present
seems to be the time for holding the
national gathering. While the Chi
cago conferees want it held next fall
and Senator Cummins, for instance,
declares that any advantage the par.
ty may gain will be lost if the nation
al convention is delayed until 1914
several of the conservative members
of the party expect that the national
committee will decide on date early
next year. &C., n." ..' ~, T.
Inc most significant thing in con-
nection with the situation at present
is the substantial harmony of opinion
between the two factions of the party
at least so far as the leaders are
oncerned-relative to the need for
changing the rules under which re-
publican national conventions shall
operate in the future. II is by no
means an idea of which the progress
sives, as represented by Senators
Borah, Cummins, ct. al, and by Cover
nor Hadley and various state leaders
have a monopoly. Senator Lodge has
been working for years to have the
basis of representation changed. Sen!
ator Root, who was chairman of the
last republican national convention,
is an ardent advocate of both a
change in the rules affecting repre-
sentation and those pertaining to the
manner of choosing delegates, so as
to allow the state free rein in proyid-
ing election by primaries, or on the
state unit plan instead of the con-
gressional district unit plan. Sena-
tor Root publicly stated his position
in favor of a special national conyen-
ton several months ago.
A tentative plan for the new ma
tional convention already has been
worked out. If adopted it will dis
crimiate slightly in favor Of the
states in which the republican vote
was the smallest by first apportion-
ing four delegates-at-large to each
state, and then apportioning the other
delegates on pro rata basis.
Under this plan, Alabama, which is
now entitled to twenty-four delegates
\ in national convention would be en-
titled to seven; Florida, now entitled
| to twelve, would have five; Georgia,
now entitled to twenty-eight, would be
allowed nine; Louisiana, now entitled
ito twenty, would be allowed five;
Mississippi, now entitled to twenty,
would have five; Tennessee, now en-
titled TO twenty-four, would get sew
enteen; South Carolina, which now
has eighteen, would be allowed four;
Texas, which now has forty, would
be entitled TO eleven, and Virginia,
which now has twenty-four, would be
entitled to ten.
These southern states are the ones
that always come up to a national
convention with contests.
The attitude of the progressive re.
Ipublicans within the party who are
Irresponsible for the movement that
has now been set on foot, is that no
candidate is entitled TO receive any
such support from the southern states
as the delegates from those states
under the present rule can bestow.
Under the proposed reappointment the
border states of Missouri, Kentucky
and Maryland would have larger rep
Presentation than at present
Missouri would be entitled to forty
three delegates instead of thirty-six;
Kentucky thirty-one, instead Of TWEEN
ty-six, and Maryland seventeen in
stead of sixteen. Some of the north
ern states would, of course, have very
much larger representation than at
present For instance, Indiana would
be entitled TO forty-three delegates
instead of twenty-six; Ohio, sixty-nine
instead of forty-eight; Illinois, seven
ty-five instead of fifty-eight, and New
York one hundred and two instead OF
ninety. Iowa would have twenty in
place of eleven, as at present