Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 February 1913 — REBUILDING OF G. O. P. FAVORED [ARTICLE]

REBUILDING OF G. O. P. FAVORED

Senators Root and Grane Indorse Plan for National Convention Next Fall. i Washington, Feb. 19,—The prospect for a Republican national'eonvention next fall, to revise the rules governing the selection of national delegates and to change the basis of southern representation at regular republican conventions, was Strengthened today through expressions favoring the proposed national gathering by Senator Root of New York and Senator Crane of Massachusetts. ' Demand for a renublican convention has been based upon trie desire to make such changes that states will have the opportunity to select their delegates through primaries or otherwise, and to eut down the number of delegates from states having a light republican vota r ‘T am in favor of holding a republican convention at some convenient time next fall or winter,” said Senator Root, who was chairman of the Chicago convention last June, “for the purpose of doing two things: (1) To make representation in nation convention proportioned to the republican vote—that is, correcting the disproportion in what is spoken bf as the southern representation. “(2) To permit the republicans of each state to elect delegates to national conventions in their own way, so that the choice in each state will be regulated according to the laws of the state. “In order that these changes shall be effective in a convention to nominate a president, they must-he made before that convention and that can be done only by a special convention. The national committee is still bound by the old rules which were adopted by the convention of 1880. They will have to call the next convention just as they did the last one, under these rules, unless a special convention is called to make the changes, which certainly ought to be made.” 4 Senator Grane also endorsed the convention plan. “I am in favor of holding a republican national convention for the purpose of changing the basis of representation in proportion to the republican vote and also to amend the rules for the election of delegates in such manner as may be deemed wise,” Senator Crane said. “History has shown that a change in the basis of representation is not likely to be made at a nominating convention and this emphasizes the necessity of a special convention.” No definite steps have been taken toward issuing a call for the convention. Expression by members of various factions of the party indicate that efforts will be made to bring republicans from all states together within the present year for the revision plans.