G. O. P. Convention Plans

The Republican National Committee came together in Washington and decided that the Republican National Convention would meet on June 10, 1924, at Cleveland. The choice of the convention city was made among three contenders, Chicago (the favorite) having dropped out at the request of the Administration, (TIME, Dec. 17). The vote was: Cleveland 39; San Francisco 10; Des Moines 1.

Cleveland has guaranteed $125,000 to the National Committee for the expenses of the Convention. Public Hall where the Convention will be held, is to be rented to the Committee for the sum of $1.

The Republican National Committee decided, also subject to approval by the Convention, that hereafter there will be one woman as well as one man member from each State composing its membership. This follows the leadership of the Democrats, who gave women similar representation in 1920.

The piece de resistance of the Committee's bill of fare was the decision on the number of delegates which each State shall send to the National Convention. The Southern delegations have long been a bone of contention because they voted heavily in convention but carried no Republican votes to the electoral college. "Unfair!" the Republican Progressives cried. "The Southern delegates are bought by patronage and corrupt politics, and they choose the candidates for which other Republicans vote."

In 1920 the Republican Convention agreed to reduce the South's delegations to conventions by making delegate strength dependent in part on actual Republican votes cast in elections. The National Committee was directed to carry out the plan and delegate allotments under the proposed plan were published by Chairman John T. Adams (TIME, Sept. 24).

But when the National Committee met last week, opposition to carrying out the plan of reducing the South's delegations at once developed. Senator Pepper of Pennsylvania proposed an alternative, on the ground that it was unjust to deprive Southern districts of any direct representation in the Convention. Senator Howell of Nebraska and Senator Bursum of New Mexico made a stand against annulment of the reform--to no avail. Without a roll call the South was restored its full delegate strength--and a little bit more-- and to offset the latter other States were also given increased representation.

The result of this decision for the ten Southern States* which returned substantial Democratic majorities even in the Republican landslide of 1920 is as follows: Per Cent of Total

Votes for Harding in 1920.............. 4.46

Strength in 1920 Convention............ 14.94

Proposed strength in 1924 Convention.............11.39 Strength allotted in 1924 Convention............. 14.05

Why this concession to the South? Senator Hiram Johnson declared it was an effort of C. Bascom Slemp to put over the nomination of Mr. Coolidge by patronage-bought delegates from the South. But it is known, on the other hand, that Mr. Johnson's own campaign manager, Frank H. Hitchcock, is an "expert broker of Southern delegates."

Political observers generally regard the decision as one determined by Party expediency -- aimed not at the South but at the pivotal states in which a reduction of the South's representation was expected to have an adverse effect on the Negro vote. There were Negroes sitting at the back of the meeting when the decision was made and they made no concealment of their pleasure.

But the decision of the National Committee to restore the South's Convention delegates will bring a fight. The opposition group questions the validity of the Committee's decision--contrary to the direction of the 1920 Convention. When the 1924 Convention assembles there will be great strife in the Committee on credentials and loud protests from Senator Howell and his allies.

* Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina.