New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-08
STATES TO DECIDE
APPORTI0NMENT
Conventions Will Sift Re-
publican Proposal on
Delegates.
SOUTH TO FORFEIT
MOST IN NEW DEAL
Committee Would Decrease Num-
Der in Delegations to Go to
National Meeting.

Charles ID. Hilles, chairman OF the Re-
publican National Committee. made pub
lie last night the address of the special
committee outlining TO the Republican
conventions I'm the several states the new
basis Of representation in national CON
ventons recommended by the national
committee at its meeting in Washington
in December.
Based on the vote In 1908. the new plan
would decrease the total number of dele
gates by eighty-nine. This would cut the
voting strength of the \Southern states
down from approximately So per cent to
less than IS per cent
The national committee decided that,
while it might have power arbitrarily TO
change the basis of representation in IA
tional conventions, IL would not be wise
to use II. IL was decided TO make the
plan effective if. prior to January ]. 1915,
Republican state conventions held under
the laws Of the states or called by the
Republican state committees in such
number of states as are entitled to cast
a majority OF. votes i'm the present Elec-
torsl College should ratfy the plan.
The subcommittee of the national COM
mittee, consisting Of Charles b. Warren,
of Michigan; Senator William +. Borah,
Of Idaho, and Henry ID. Hatfield, Of West
Virginia, in Issuing the address, says:
The committee appointed to present
the proposed plan to the state conven-
tons believes that It IS desirable from
every point of view that the action Of the
national committee be ratified and made
effective. All who are opposed TO the
fundamental principles OF the Democratic
arty should join I'm the election Of dele
gates TO the national convention TO be
convened in 1916 The basis proposed for
tho election OF delegates assures the
states having the greatest number Of Re-
publican voters larger proportion OF
voting strength i'm the supreme council
of the party, and by the changes made In
the rules the way is open for the separate
states to enact laws for the election OF
delegates in primary elections, and for the
majority OF the voters participating in
the primaries TO elect delegates who will
voice the sentiment OF the ma Jority."
The national committee in resolutions
the recognition, in the call TO be issued
for the national convention OF 1916. of the
right OF any state 10 provide for the cleo
ton OF delegates in direct primaries, and
OF, the right OF any state 10 elect all dele
gates from the state at large, or part
from the state at large and part from
Congress districts, but also eliminates the
consideration OF many contests by the
national committee, which. as the sub
committee states I'm it's address. in the
past have produced dscord and dissen-
sion"
After the election OF 1912 there arose
demand in the Republican party for
special convention TO change the basis OF
representation in national conventions.
So the national committee adopted
new basis of representation. now submit
ted TO the state conventions for ratifica-
ton.
The plan adopted then provides that
the Republican voters I'm each state shall
hereafter be represented in national
convention OF the party by four delegates
at-large. two delegates for each repre-
sentative at-large in Congress, one dele
gate for each Congress district, and an
additional delegate from each Congress
district in which the vote of 1908 for
any Republican elector or for the Repub
lican nominee for Congress in 1914 shall
rot have been less than 900. IT provides
that Alaska and the District of Columbia
shall be entitled to two voting delegates.
while Hawaii. Porto Rico and the Philip
H1 20, t,.rn
delegates without the right TO vote.
Figuring on the vote Of 1908, New York
States representation would be cut from
30 to S. Tennessee would lose three
The other losses would all be in South
ern states. as follows: Alabama, S. Ar
kansas, ?; Florida. 4: Georgia, II; Lousi
ana, S; Mississippi. s: North Carolina, 3:
South Carolina. I; Texas, 16; Virginia, S;
Hawaii. 4; Porto Rico, g and the Philip
pine Islands. >.
The subcommittee states that the con-
vention of 1916 will. of course. have COM
plete jurisdiction OF the entire question,
"and if the majority of that convention
desires to establish new basis of repre-
sontation for future conventions it will be
entirely within its province TO do So
Chairman Barnes will call the New
York state committee about May to de-
eide whether an. unofficial state conyen-
ton shall be held 10 consider candidates
for state nominations to go on the direct
primary ballot.
IL such a convention is held II probably
will he in August, and the question OF
representation In national conventions
will be considered at the same time.
If It is decided not TO consider candi-
dates at convention, the convention TO
lass on national representation will not
he held In ALL probability until after the
November election.