Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-18
c. 0. P. FACES TASK
|NAPPORT|ONMENT
Redistricting of House Seats
Causes Change in Delegates
7 to Convention.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


ton promises to give the Republican
National Committee some real work
when the committee meets here in De-
cember The representation of the
States in the G. o. P National Conven-
tons has been fixed largely by their
congressional representation, with two
delegates for each member of the House
and each member of the Senate. IN
der the new apportionment of the
House, in accordance with the 1880
census, II States gain a total Of 81
seats in the House and 81 States lose
an equal number Of seats.
The problem before the national COM
mittee will be to determine just how
many delegates each Of the States shall
have at the next convention under the
new conditions. Efforts may be made
to retain for those States losing con-
gressional representation their old rep
reservation in the national convention,
while the States which gain representa-
ton in the House are allotted increases,
it was said yesterday. But there DIM
Guilty arises. Delegates ere elected in
congressional districts and at large, de-
pending on the States. 1t would not
appear to be feasible to elect delegates
for districts that do not exist any
longer.
IS States Lack Redistricting.
The situation, however, is further
complicated for the Republican Ma
tional Committee by the fact that IN
some of the States the redistricting for
al
Accomplished Up to yesterday the
Office Of the clerk of the House had no
official notice that redistricting had
been completed in ID States-Con-
necticut, Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota.
Missouri. New Jersey, North Dakota,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, Virginia and Wiscc nsin
Some of these States are expected to
enact red1stricting laws in time for
the selection Of delegates next year in
accordance with the congressional dis
trictS allowed them under the reappor-
tionment act of Congress. Others are
likely to let the matter stand and to
elect at large their Congressman, which
would mean the selection of delegates
to the national convention at large, too
With the nomination of President
Hoover conceded even by his opponents
in the Republican party, the reappolnt-
ment among the States of the delegates
to the G. o. P. National Convention
is not so important as 1t might other
wise have been. However. 81 delegates
will be taken from 81 of the States and
turned over to IL other States, If the
old plan of apportionment according
to congressional strength is followed
out. And 81 delegates in close nomi-
mating race would be of considerable
importance. If Vice President Curtis
should determine not to be candidate
to succeed himself next year, but to
enter the race for the Senate in Kansas,
the reappointment Of the delegate
strength in the National Convention
may play decisive part in the selec-
ton Of running mate for President
Hoover.
California Increases.
President Hoover's own State, Cali
fornia, is due for a big gain in repre-
sentation in the Republican National
Convention. Because of its great
growth in population, California is to
have 20 members of the House in the
Seventy-third Congress instead of IL
in the present Congress. This ordi-
nar1y would mean gain of 18 dele
gates for California. Texas would gain
6 delegates; Michigan g. and New
York and New Jersey and Ohio each.
The greatest losses in delegate repre-
sentation would be in Missouri, 6;
Pennsylvania, 4; Iowa, 4; Kentucky, 4,
and Georgia. 4. Massachusetts Is due
to lose 2 delegates and Kansas, Vice
President Curtis State. 2 also.
The meeting of the National Com
mittee will be called primarily for the
selection of a convention city and FOR
fixing the date of the convention. But
nf orfo MT
problems will come before the COM
mittee.
Besides the apportionment of dele
gate strength there is the question of
finances. The Democratic national or
ganization already has launched drive
to raise $1500,00O victory fund"
with a Nationwide committee N
charge. The Republicans must give
earnest consideration to strengthening
sible that some Embarrassing plan will
be worked out and laid before the Ma
tional Committee.
The National Committee meeting will
be accompanied by general discussion
of the political situation. With party
leaders here from every State in the
Union and the Republican party adj
mittedly facing a hard fight, the dis
cussions of candidates and policies are
time the committee assemblies here Vice
President Curtis probably will have an
nounced his plans for his own political
future. If he steps aside to seek a nom
nation for the Senate, he leaves the
field wide open for the vice presidential
nomination. The supporters of various
potential candidates for second place
on the national ticket already have been
busy sounding out sentiment. With the
National Committee to canvass they
may be expected to be active in Wash
1ngton.
Soft-PedaI Prohibition.
There is problem which the leaders
Of the G. o. P. will endeavor to soft
pedal at the meeting of the National
Committee, but which may crop up de-
spite them-prohibition. The national
committee men and women in some of
the Eastern and other States which
have big industrial centers are worried
over the liquor question. Some Of them
are anxious to wean the party away
from its dry stand. They may air their
views when they come to Washington,
If not in committee meeting, then out
side the committee chamber. The Re-
publicans are anxious to avoid a split
in the party over this issue. They ex-
pect President Hoover to run as dry
on a dry platform, but they do not wish
to stir the matter up now. Rather,
they are hoping that the liquor question
will cause another 1924 ruction in the
Democratic party when it gathers in
national convention.
Chairman Tess is expected to issue
a call for the Republican National
Committee meeting either tomorrow or
Tuesday. The date fixed probably will
be in the second week of December.
The first week of Congress, which opens
December 7, promises to be busy with
legislation needed to make the one-year
suspension Of intergovernmental debts
effective and with the organization Of
the House and Senate. The chairman
had considered calling the meeting Of
the committee before Congress meets,