The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-08


take the necessary apa1on IN the prem
Uses. there will be q change in the
basis Of Representation Mt the national
4 convention, to b called I'm 1sle. which
will reduce most materially the power
that has been welded in these con-
ventions in the past by the southern
states.
I When the national committee met
last December and promulgated reso-
buttons Recognising the selection Of
! delegates to national conventions by
direct primaries, wherever this IL pro-
vided for by state laws, the question
of changing the basis OF representation
was considered and . plan for such
q change was drafted. But the COM
mittee did not believe that it possessed
the power to alter this basis unless its
action was ratified by a national con-
vention or by conventions OF dele
gated representatives. Of the party
convened in the several states. 1t was
deemed inadvisable to call q national
convention for this special purpose.
and primarily because there were no
methods provided by the existing laws
Of the various states for the election
of delegates to a special national con-
vention in direct primary elections,
and so such q special national conven-
ton might not represent the senti-
mehts and desires of a majority Of
the party. So it was decided to sub
nit the question to the members of
the party through their state conven-
lions and determine 1t by favorable
action on the part Of conventions in a
sufficient number Of states that would
H,n 20 a q
votes in a national convention.
A special committee OF the national
COMMITTEES, consisting Of Charles b.
Warren of Michigan: William e.
Borah, of Idaho, and Henry D., Hat
field. of West Virginia. have just Issued
a circular letter addressed to the Re-
publican conventions of the several
states, In which the latters' attention
| is called to this important matter. and
the necessity for action on 1t II the
basis of representation in the next
Republican convention is to be
changed.
Under the plan that has been in
vogue ever since the Republican party
was organized. the number of dele
gates to a national convention was
based on the population Of state
without regard to the vote. cast for
the nominees OF the party. In effect
1t was on the basis of representation
Of each state in congress, which IL de-
termined by population. 1t resulted
practically in four delegates at large
from each state and two from each
congressional district in the state. This
gave q southern state with a negligf-
BILE Republican vote the same power
in the convention that was possessed
by a northern state of like population
but where the Republican vote was of
preponderant proportions.
But under the plan that has been
| adopted by the national committee
and which 1t has recommended Tor
! ratification at the hands Of state con-
| ventions,s the Republican voters in
each state shall hereafter be repre-
scented in a national convention by
four delegates at large. two delegates
| for each representative at large in
congress; one delegate from each con-
| gressional district, and an additional
| delegate from each congressional dis
trict in which the vote Of 1908. the last
normal Republican vote. for any Re-
publican elector or for the Republican
nominee for congress in 1914 shall
not have been less than $500. The
plan further provided that the Repub-
lican voters in any state may elect all
DELEGATES from the state at large, or
| part from the state at large and part
| from congressional districts, and that
| in the case of any state electing all
| representatives in congress from the
state at large, such state shall be en-
| titled to the same number of dele
| gates as though the state were divided
into separate congressional districts.
| The result Of this change in the
basis of representation, in case the
plan be ratified by the action Of the
requisite number of state conventions,
and II the vote for presidential cleo
tors in 1908 is used, will be that the
number of delegates from the south
ern states will be decreased seventy
six, the delegates from Tennessee will
he decreased three, from the state Of
New York two. and the number Of
voting delegates from the territories
and territorial possessions will be de-
creased eight. The net result will be
to decrease the percentage Of the
southern and territorial representation
from approximately IS per cent of the
convention to less than 1s per cent.
The resolution of the national COM
mittee relating to the change in the
basis Of representation provides that
the change will become effective only
in the event that conventions held In
pursuance Of the laws Of the separate
states, OF called by the Republican
state committees Of the separate
states. in the number Of states en-
titled to cast q majority Of the votea
in the present electoral college. which
is equivalent to the number Of state.
entitled to cast. on the present basil
Of representation, . majority OF thu