Evening star., 1943-10-03
Democrats Decree
More Votes From
Fewer Delegates
BY GOULD LINCOLN.

The 1914 Democratic national con-
vention will have rs more delegate
votes than the one in 1910. Chair
man Frank c. Walker of the party's
National Committee announced yes
terday.
The total delegate vote in next
years convention will be 1.176. the
increase being due to a bonus voted
by the 1910 convention for each State
casting its electoral votes for the
Roosevelt Wallace ticket. Thirty
eight States did, hence each will
have an additional two delegates
at-large in the 1914 conclave.
While the next convention will
have an increase in the DELEGATE
vote, it may have fewer delegates.
The Democrats have had in the past
a generous policy whereby they split
delegate votes into fractions, send
ing delegate and an alternate to
represent each fraction. In a recent
convention, each delegate from a
Mississippi district represented one
thirty-second of vote.
The last convention decided that
no delegate thereafter could have
less than a half vote.
1,500 to 1,109.
In the 1910 convention. there were
more than 1900 delegates. though
tie convention was made up of only
LOO votes.
In his statement Mr.. Walker
pointed out that the change would
make for the comfort and con-
venience Of the convention" Not
only did the former practice cause
| croWding and confusion in the con-
ventlon. but it also made it exceed
| ingly difficult for the committee in
| charge of arrangements to provide
the actual number of seats required
for delegates.
There is another reason. Mr..
Walker declared, for limiting the
1914 convention delegates. 1t will,
ne said, limit the pressure for
transportation on the railroads al
ready overworked by the war de-
mands"
| At the request Of Joseph B. East
man, director Of defense transporta-
ton. Mr.. Walker and Chairman
Spangler Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee have agreed that
both national conventions shall be
held IN Chicago-the most centrally
/ located large city in the country.
Date Not Yet Set.
! No decision has been reached vet.
! either by the Democratic National
Committee or that Of the Republican
Party, on a time for holding a ma
tional convention. In the past the
. conventions have convened either in
the latter part Of June or early in
July. Mr, Walker has urged that,
+ because Of the war. the national po-
lltical campaigns next year be br.efer
than usual. with the national con-
ventions held late in the year.
/ To this the Republicans have re-
piled that the Democrats have evi-
IDENTIFY already settled on their next
presidential nOmlnee-WhOm thev
assume to be President Roosevelt.
For themselves. they intend TO hold
their convention at the usual time,
in order TO have full opportunity 70
let the country hear from the Re-
publican candidate. and the public
to become acquainted with the issues
involved. Both committees are eX-
pected to meet early next winter
and fix dates for their conventions.
The Republicans would like very
much to hold their convention after
the Democrats have nominated their
candidates for President and Vice
President. They realize. however,
that when it comes to jockeving for
time. the Democrats have the upper
hand if they are to renominate Mr..
Roosevelt.