Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-05-06

On May 20 In Charleston.
Charleston. w. Va.-(Special). The
Republican State Convention, which
has been called to meet In Charleston
on May 20, will pass upon the reforms
In the national rules OF the party
agreed upon by the National Commit
tee at meeting in Washington last
December and submitted to the con-
yentions OF the various states for rati.
hcation.
The changes in these rules, as set
out in the statement. which has been
prepared by a subcommittee OF the
National Republican Committee, of
which Gov. Hatfield. OF West Virginia,
was one OF the three members, places
the destiny and control OF the Repub-
lican party absolutely in the hands Of
the people; gives them the power to
select their delegates to the National
Convention in conformity with the
laws OF the state or in the manner
designated by the state organization
and makes it mandatory that the Ma
tional Committee make up the tenn
porary roll Of the convention from the
delegates certified from the various
states.
The change in the basis of repre-
sentation. as provided in the resolu-
ton, reduces the representation from
the Southern states to the extent of
eighty-four delegates, while the North
ern states lose only five delegates.
This makes the representation in the
National Convention from the South
ern states sixteen per cent of the total,
while heretofore the Southern states
have had thirty-three per cent of the
delegates to the National Convention.
In order to make the changes in
party rules effective it is necessary
that they be ratified by states entitled
to two-thirds vote in the electoral col
lege. The changes are set forth fully
in the report of the subcommittee, as
given out this week, which is as fol-
lows:
To the Republican Conventions in the
Several States:
The National Committee of the Re
publican party met in Washington, in
December last, to revise the rules gov.
erning the calling, election of dele
gates to, and organization OF, future
National Conventions of the party.
In response to the growing belief in
the minds OF the voters that the cleo.
ton Of delegates to National Conven-
lions in direct primaries is the most
effective means OF recording and ex-
pressing the will OF the voters, the com
mittee. under the powers granted it
by the National Convention, adopted a
resolution providing:
That in any State which shall require
by law, prior to the election of delegates
from such State. the election OF such del
egates to National Conventions of politi-
cal parties by direct primaries, the dele
gates from that State shall be elected in
conformity with such law.
1t is necessary that the party as a
national organization recognize the
right of the voters in any state to de.
termine for themselves the question OF
whether part of the delegates from a
state shall be elected from congress.
sional districts or all from the state
at large
Several states have already enacted
laws requiring the election Of all dele.
gates to National Conventions OF polit-
ical parties from the state at large
rather than part from congressional
districts and part from the state at
large.
In order to eliminate conflicts in the
future between the rules OF the party
and the laws of such states, and OF
other states that may hereafter enact
similar laws, the committee adopted
this resolution:
That all delegates from any state may
pc CHOSEN from the State at large, or part
from the State at large and part from
Congressional Districts in conformity
with the lays Of the state in which the
II the law OF a state requires the del
egates to a National Convention to be
elected in a direct primary election,
the law designates some officer Of the
state TO issue certificates Of election
70 delegates so chosen. The National
Committee should recognize certiR.
Gates so issued and place the names
OK the holders thereof upon the TEN.
porary roll OF the convention.
The committee passed a resolution
which in definite terms provides by
the recognition By the committee
Of such certificates, and directs that
the names OF the delegates presenting
such certificates be placed upon the
temporary roll OF the convention.
The resolution adopted Is in these
words:
That delegates presenting certificates OF
election from the canvas sing board OF Of
hcer created or designated By state law
20 canvass the returns and issue certin-
Gates OF election 70 delegates 90 National
Conventions Of political parties IN a pri-
mary election shall be placed upon ths
temporary roll by the National Commit
Some states already have enacted
laws providing for the election OF dele
gates to National Conventions OF polit
zeal parties in direct primary elections,
and other states Will have enacted sim.
liar laws prior to the convention Ia