If, then, it be a fact that in 1908, for instance, delegates to the National Republican Convention were elected and controlled through administration influences in the interest of any one candidate, such influences were no less potential in Republican than in Democratic States.  Outside of the administration candidate there were at that Convention five very important States that presented candidates of their own.  They were New York, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.  That the delegation from each of said States were practically solid in the support of its “favorite son” was due largely to the wise decision of the managers of the administration candidate to concede to each of said “favorite sons” the delegation from his own State without a contest.  But for this decision, which was wisely made in the interest of party harmony, no one of those “favorite sons” would have had the solid delegation from his own State.  As it was, a large majority of the delegates from the five States named was not unfriendly to the Administration candidate.  These delegates voted for their “favorite sons” simply because they knew that in doing so they were not antagonizing the administration.  There never was a time, therefore, when they could have been united upon any one candidate in opposition to the one that had at his back the powerful support of the Administration.  Our government has reached that point in its growth, where it is not only possible, but comparatively easy, for an administration to secure the nomination of the one by whom it desires to be succeeded,—­especially under the present system of electing delegates.  It was in anticipation of this, and to prevent any one man from perpetuating himself in power, that Washington established the precedent against a third successive term.

If the advocates of this proposed change are to be believed, and if they wish to be consistent, they should include the National Committee.  The composition of that body is somewhat similar to that of the United States Senate.  In the Senate Nevada and Delaware have the same representation as New York and Pennsylvania.  In the National Committee each State, territory, and the District of Columbia has one vote.  If any change in the interest of reform is necessary, the National Republican Committee is the organization where it should first be made; for it often happens that that committee can not only shape the policy of the party but control the nomination as well,—­especially when the result between opposing candidates is close and doubtful.  In such a contest the candidate that has the support of a majority of the National Committee has a decided advantage over his rivals for the nomination.  If the result should be close that advantage will be more than likely to secure him the nomination.