Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-24
National Committee to Pass on
Question of Reducing South's
Representation.
CONVENTION OF PARTY
LIKELY TO BE CALLED
Headquarters to Be Opened Soon in
This City and Maintained
Permanently.


the New Willard Hotel today, unanimously
adopted a resolution offered by Commit
teeman Warren of Michigan recommend
ing a meeting of the full national COM
rittee sixty days after the adjournment
of Congress to consider the question OF
q change in the basis of representation
in national conventions and such other
questions as may arise relating TO the
welfare of the party.
Whether such change in representation
is to be authorized by the national COM
mittee itself or referred to a national
convention to be called is left to the
Judgment of the national committee.
the sentiment expressed in this morn
ings meeting, however, was in favor of
calling a convention to effect the change.
the convention to meet some time in ad-
vance of the next congressional cam
paign.
Committees to Cooperate.
The executive committee also. on mo-
ton of Committeeman West of Illinois.
adopted a resolution providing for CO.
operation between the national commit
tee and the congressional Campaign COM
mittee
motion by Committeeman Niedring-
haus of Missouri was adopted providing
FOR the opening in this city at an early
day of headquarters for the national
nently
The full membership of the executive
committee was represented in person or
oy proxy at this mornings meeting as
follows: Chairman. Charles d. Hilles;
secretary. James B. Reynolds: treasurer.
George r. Sheldon; j. T. Adams of
Iowa. F. W. Estabrook of New Hamp-
shire. J. b. Goodrich of Indiana. ex-
Representative Pray of Montana as
proxy for T. A. Marlowe: Alvah III.
Martin. Virginia: Thomas X Niedring-
haus of Missouri. Senator Jones of
Washington as proxy for Samuel W.
Perkins: Newell Sanders of Tennessee.
Charles b. Warren of Michigan. Roy O.
West of Illinois and Representative
Hawley. as proxy for r. r. Williams of
OREGON Col William r. Stone of Mary
land sergeant-at-arms. was also in at
tendance.
When the committee assembled sena-
tor Jones presented a communication
from the committee of progressive re-
pubficans appointed at the recent Chi
caeo conference.
Request From Chicago Conference.
The communication from the committee
OF the Chicago conference was presented
TO the meeting through Senator Jones.
and was as follows:
Gently held, in Chicago statement was
adopted. copy OF which is inclosed here
with for your consideration.
THE undersigned were appointed a
committee to carry forward the purposes
or the conference. and In the performance
OF that duty We ask you to call a meet
ing of the republican national committee
IN the neare future to act upon the sugges-
ton. made by great many republicans
that there be held during the present year
. republican national convention. We
submit briefly our reasons for the views
we hold
"1D We believe that an overwhelming
majority of the republican party have
reached the conclusion that the basis of
representation in our national conven-
tlons is not only unjust but contrary to
the fundamental principle OF representa-
tive government Assuming that the will
of the majority In any organization ought
10 prevail. ii must be real not iicti-
tious majority. An actual majority will
not long submit to an actual minority
ne present system enables "A minority
Of republicans to control national con-
venuons, dictate party nominations and
determine party declarations and how
ever praiseworthy may have been the
motive Tor its original adoption ii is no
longer defeHsible.
Hope for Party's Restoration.
We earnestly desire the restoration of
The republican party to full strength and
power. Its principles are sound. wise
and patriotic and the body of toe marty
viii apply those principles 10 the condi
tions of modern times in an enlightened
unseifish way IL they have fair on
portunity 10 do SO. To give them this,
1air opportunity is the sole object of our
request. So long as the voting repub-
iicans In certain sections of the country
nave from eight to fifty times greater
representation in national convention
than the voting republicans i'm other sec
lions OF the country IL cannot be said
that the act of the convention is the act
OF the majority ard disconten, followed
BY revolt are the natural results
Let us emphasize our meaning by re-
ealing TO you few figures taken from
the returns OF the 1905 presidential cleo
| tion
I'm that year the states OF South Caro-.
ma Georgia Florida Alabama, Missis-
sippi. Louisiana and Arkansas cast ISL.
6'S votes FOR the republican nominee for
PRESIDENT. The percentage of this repub-
Acan vote 70 the total vote. of course
varied IN the different states but ran
down as low as 9 TO per cent in Missis.
sippi and South Carolina. Yet these seven
states under the apportionment plan now
prevailing sent l4o delegates to the re-
publican convention of 1872 Let us con.
trast this with the situation in some OF
the usually republican states Twelve OF
such states. selected almost al random
Maine. New Hampshire Vermont. Rhod.
Island, Connecticut. Michigan. North Da.
kota. South Dakota. Utah Wyoming
Washington and Oregon-also sent a TO-
tai delegation TO the last republican con.
Nention of 40. The combined republicar
Vote OF these twelve states in 1905 was
slightly over million-almost exactl,
seven times the republican vote OF m,
seven states hrs< enumerated. which nev.
ertheless. were given an equal voice IN
the councils of the party. and an eoua
vote in the selection of its nominee
Striking Cases Cited.
To cite still more startling cases
South Carolina, which i'm 1905 cast 2 at;.
votes for the republican nominee fol
President. sent eighteen delegates 10 IN,
national convention 10 nominate the mex,
President. one delegate for every ool
votes thus cast Iowa, which in lar
cast 215,2iO votes for the republican
nominee for President sent ~ deleSste,
10 the republican convention 10 nominal,
the next President, or one delegates fu,
every 1855 votes thus east
Thus the voice OF one South Carolins
republican was. In effect. given eaua