Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1883 — THE REPUBLICANS. [ARTICLE]

THE REPUBLICANS.

Meeting of the National Committee at Washington. Chicago the Place and June 3d the Time for the Next Convention. The National Republican committee convened at the Arlington hotel, in Washington, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, and was called to order by John A. Martin, Secretary. W. E. Chandler nominated ex-Senator Chaffee, of Colorado, temporary presiding officer, and he<was elected unanimously. D. M. Sabin, of Minnesota, was nominated by Elkins for permanent President, and elect-, ed by acclamation. On the first ballot for the place of holding the convention the result was as follows: Chicago, 14; Cincinnati, 12; Indianapolis. 4; Philadelphia, 8; Saratoga 8. The second ballot resulted as follows: Chicago, 17; Cincinnati, 17; Indianapolis, 0; Philadelphia, 0; Saratoga, 0; and the third: Cincinnati, 21; Chicago, 20; Saratoga, 4; Philadelphia, 1; Indianapolis, 0. On the fourth ballot Chicago was decided as the place for holding the convention, the result being hailed with cheers. Senator Frye on presenting his plan for a new basis of representation, earlier in the day, supported it with a vigorous speech. He said it presented a subject which demanded honest and conscientious attention. When any gentleman made a proposition to change the form of the National Convention every man who was a candidate for president, or who had one. Immediately sniffed at it. He denied that he offered the new plan in favor of the interests of Mr. Blaine and in opposition to the interests of Mr. Arthur. He had not a candidate, and, so help him Cod, he never again would have one. Mr. Frye then quoted statistics to show that the representation from the Southern States, which were anti-Republican, was nearly as large as that from States which were surely Republican, and argued that his proposition was in the interest of absolute justice, which the National Committee could not afford to deny. Mr. Forbes (Massachusetts) briefly supported the proposition submitted by Mr. Frye, stating that the country would criticise the party if it refused to inaugurate reform in the organization of the convention. When the committee reassembled at 7 p..m. discussion began over a point of oader which had been raised that as the committee had in Feruary last agreed upon a basis of representation it could not now again change that plan. Secretary Chandler spoke against the point of ord®r, holding that the committee had the power to change the basis. Senator Logan denied that the ftommlllej possessed the power; the National convention only had such power. Mr. Chandler, continuing, appealed to the members from the South and from the Territories to vote for the Frye plan, arguing that it was demanded by the sentiment of Republicans in Republican States. Gen. Bradley (Kentucky) favored the position taken by Senator Logan. In reply to a taunt that the South could not give a single electoral vote to the Republican candidate, he said that if the Republican party of the North had given to the South the care and attention that it gave to the doubtful States North the South would furnish electoral votes. It had given lives for the good of the party. Dr. Hicks (Florida) said there were graveyards miles long in the South filled with murdered Republicans. Mr. Fierce (Rhode Island) was sorry to see the debate take such a wide course, and feared if it was reported in the newspapers it would del ght the Bourbons of the, country. The South had given us a President in 1876. He did not'favor departing from the present plan. After further expressions of opinion from various memberßof the committee, Mr. Magee (Pennsylvania > moved, and Mr. Reynolds seconded the morion, to refer Senator Frye’s plan to the next National Republican Convention. The vote on this motion, by States, resulted as follows: Yeas—Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Rhode Island, Connecticut, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Florida, Virginia, lowa, West Virginia, Indiana, Idaho, Illinois, New Mexico, Louisiana, Utah, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon —25. Nays—Alabama, California, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Wasuington Territory, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin, Arizona, Dakota, Wyoming, New Hampshire—lß. On motion of Secietary Chandler, it was resolved that this committee views with regiet and indignation the recent attempts to suppress human rights and destroy free suffrage and an .honest counting of ballots in the various States by methods at war with humanity and civilization. Against the prevalence of suoh methods the Republican party stands sacredly pledged, and we extend our sympathy to all the sufferers from such inhumanities, and pledge our earnest and unconditional cooperation and the right hand of our fellowship to all men and all organizations, whatever may have been their past political action, who now unreservedly commit themselves to organized efforts to secure free education, free suffrage and the protection of life and property to all citizens, without regard to their race or color, political opinions or votes. The following call was then adopted: A national convention will meet at Chicago on Tuesday, June 3,18 M, at 12 noon, for the nomination of candidates to be supported for president and Vice President at the next election. The Republican electors of the several States and all other voters, without regard to past p litical differences, who are in favor of elevating and dignifying American labor, protecting and extending home industries, giving free popular education to the masses ot the people, securing free suffrage and an honest counting of ballots, effectually protecting all human rights in every section of our common country, and who desire to promote friendly feeling and permanent harmony throughout the land by maintaining a National Government pledged to these objects and principles, are cordially invited to send from each State four delegates at large, from each Congressional District two delegates, and for each Repress tatlve at large two delegates, to the.convention. Th • delegates at large shall be chosen by popular delegate State conventions, called on not less than twenty days’ipubllshed notice, and held not more than sixty days ■ before the Jime fixed for the meeting of the National convention. The Republicans of the various Congressional districts shall have the option of electing tln-lr delegates at eeperate popular delegate conventions, called on similar notice, and held in the districts at any time within the fifteen days next prior to the meeting of the State conventions, or by subdivisions of the State conventions into district convent ons, and such delegates shall be chosen in the la ter method if not elected previous to the meeting of the State c< nventions. All district delegates shall be accredited by the officers of such district conventions. Two delegates shall be allowed from each Territory and from the District of Columbia, similarly chosen. Notices of contest sh «U be given to the National Committee, accompanied by ful printed statements of the grounds of contest, which shall also be made public; and preference in the order of hearing and determining contests shall be given by the convention according to the date of the reception of such notices and statements by the National committee. lhe committee then adjourned to meet in Chicago, May 31, 1884.