The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-04-08
To Decrease Southern and Ter
ritoriaI Representation at
National Convention.
REPORT AS IS DRAFTED
Is the Work of a Special Com
mittee on Which is Gov
ernor H. D. Hatfield.


percentage of the southern and ter
titorfal representation in the Repub-
lican national convention in 1916, and
thereafter from approximately thirty
five per cent of the total voting
strength to less than sixteen per cent,
as provided In resolutions adopted by
the committee at its meeting last Ee-
cember.
The plan is addressed to the Pc
publican conventions of the several
states, which are asked to ratify the
action OF the national body before Jan
uary i, 1915. A special committee
composed of Charles B. Warren OF
Michigan, Senator William r. Borah
of Idaho, and Governor Henry d. Hat
field of West Virginia, drafted the re-
port of the action taken in December
which embodies other resolutions
adopted by the national committee
These guarantee:
Referred to States.
Recognition, in the call to be issued
for the next national convention, of the
right of any state to provide for the
election of delegates in direct primar-
les
The right of any state to elect all
delegates from the state at large, or
part from the state at large, and part
from congressional districts.
These provisions we're adopted with
a view to eliminating contests before
the national body such as in the past
have produced discord and dtssenston.
Some members of the National Com
mittee, spurred on by the insistent de-
mands of large body of voters,
sought to have the committee call
special convention for the purpose OF
adopting a new basis of representa-
ton. but the opinion prevailed OF those
who maintained that inasmuch as no
methods were provided by the existing
laws OF the various states for the cleo
ton of delegates to such convention
in direct primary elections, the spec
ial convention might not represent the
sentiments and desires OF a majority
of the party.
1t was resolved that the National
Committee consider the question, for
mulate its conclusions and submit the
result Of its deliberations for ratih-
cation by state conventions. In re-
citing the views that actuated the
national body the special committee OF
three says:
1.-THE committee believed that should
conventions of delegated representa-
tfves of the party, convened in the
number of states entitled to cast ma
iority of the votes in national con-
Vention, ratify the action taken by the
National Committee in this respect, It's
action could be assumed to fairly ex-
press the sentiment of the great ma
FORTY of the party. for obviously such
state conventions when taken together
would consist of more representatives
of the party than would be assembled
in a national convention.
a he plan adopted and recommended
for ratification provides that the Re
publican voters in each state shall
hereafter be represented IN national
convention of the party by four dele
gates-at-Iarge; two delegates for each
presentative-at-large in Congress;
one delegate from each congressional
district. and an additional delegate
from each congressional district IN
which the vote of 1908 for any Repub-
lican elector or for the Republican
nominee for Congress in 1914 shall
not have been less than seven thous-
and five hundred G,500).
Alaska and the District of Col
nmbia under the plan presented Will
each be entitled to two voting dele
gates. while Hawaii, Porto Rico and
the PhiIippin Islands will each be en-
titled to two delegates without the
right to vote"
would Decrease Votes.
The result of this change in the bas-
10 NJ renresentation, If ratified by the
rennisite number OF state conventions,
I viii be a decrease of SO votes as toll
lows: Alabama will lose 8, Arkansas
. FLORIDA a. Georgia IL. Louisiana s,
mississippi g, New York 2, North Caro-
dina q south Carolina z, Tennessee 3,
Texas is. Virginia s. Hawaii 4, Porto
Rico Q. and Philippine Islands 2.
Under the plan presented con-
pressional district not entitled 70 Two
delegates on the vote cast in the presl-
Dental election in 1908 Will quallty
for two If $500 or more votes are cast
for the Republican nominee IN the CON
4,,ticinating criticism from those
r,l,o believed that still greater de-
crease should have been provided in
southern representation, the special
SomnnIttee IN its recital says 1t Is with
IN the province of a majority OF the
convention OF 1915; If 1T so desires, to
oetabIish another new basis for future
conventions.
,,,,hIican convention for the purpose
If nominating candidates for state
ofices. or for the purpose of adopting
n marty platform, or by any conven-
Ntion called by the Republican state
committee and held before January
I 1915. The statement OF the special
committee that drafted the plan Tor
nresentation to the several Republic
can state conventions concludes with
'ls should Be Ratified.
.sTyhe committee appointed to pre-
sent the proposed plan to the state
-,
(Continued on page 1o.J