Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-04


WILLIAM WALTER PHELPS,
CLARKsoN y. POTTER,
SAMUEL S. MARSHALL.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
g. F Hoar, Chairman of the commit
tee, made the minority report, closing
with the following resolutions:
WHEREAS. Both branches of the Legislature of
Louisiana have requested the Select Committee
of the House TO investigate the circumstances at
tending the election and returns thereof in that
State for the year 1919; and
WHEREAS, Said committee has unanimously re-
ported that the Returning Board of that State, in
canvassing and compiling said returns and pro-
mitigating the results, wrOngfully applied erro-
neOuS rule of law, by reason whereof persons were
awarded in the House of Representatives seats TO
which they were not entitled, and persons entitled
TO seats were deprived of them
ReSOtCed, That it is recommended to the House
of Representatives OF Louisiana TO take immediate
steps TO remedy said injustice and TO place the
persons rightfully entitled in their seats.
ReSOlred, That William P Kellogg be recog-
nized as Governor of Louisiana until the end of
the term of office fixed by the Constitution of
that State.
The majority and minority reports
were ordered printed. AS the result OF
the colloquy between members as to
which was the majority report and which
the minority report, it may be stated
that all the members of the committee
report against the action of the Return
ing Board; that Messrs. Foster, Phelps,
Potter and Marshall unite in the major
ltY report that there was no general in
tlmidation in the State, but free and
fair election, which resulted in favor of
the Conservatives, who were deprived OF
the result by the wrongful action of the
Returning Board that MessrS. Hoar,
Wheeler and Frye unite in minority re-
port, and that Foster assents with HOar,
Wheeler and Frye to a compromise rec
ognizing Kellogg as Governor, and Civ
ing the majority in the House to the Con-
servative delegates.
The report signed by Messrs. Hoar,
Wheeler and Frye is summarized under
eleven heads, which are briefly as follows
FirSt-That there exists in the White MEMS
party a purpose to take possession, by force or
fraud, OF the State Government, without regard to
the question who may have numerical majority at
any fair election.
iSecOnd-That in the execution of this purpose
they will not hesitate to use any instrumentali-
ties which they think designed to accomplish
their end, whether the same be murder, fraud,
civil war or coercion OF laborers by their employ
Tb5rd-WhiIe there are many white men of
moderate means who do not themselves use or
approve these unlawful means, such men desire
the accomplishment of the same end, and are
powerless under the leadership of their more in
tiuential associates.
F0u7tb-Three causes have made it easy for the
white men to so unite: The fact that the Admin
lstratlOn party in Louisiana is made up almost
altogether of negro votes, with a few white votes
largely from other States the fact that there has
been maadmnistration by Republican officials
the belief by large number of the white people
that they have been twice defrauded of the re-
suits of the successful election.
Fyth-While these things deplOrable. the
course of the white people themselves has tended
to bring them about. The simple and peaceful
remedies of obedience to law and decent treat
ment Of opponents would, If they had pursued
them, have proven effective long ago.
,SiGth-While we believe Gov. Kellogg received
maj GRITTY of votes in 1872, and while believe
there was violence and fraud in many of the par
ishes in 1874, the illegal order of Judge Durel
and the illegal conduct of the Returning Board
in attempting to cure one wrong by another have
furnished substantial basis for complaints.
SeUcnth-There has been much dishonesty and
corruption in Louisiana. For these the Republi-
can officials under Warmoth's rule largely re-
sponslble although many ftheir opponents have
E9ghth-fhe effect of all this has been to put an
end to the authority of law throughout large por-
ton of Louisiana to deprive the negro of freedom
and suffrage and to destroy the safeguards pro-
vided by law to fairness in elections. This
state of things OverthrOws a republican govern
ment in Louisiana and seriously menaces the
whole country.
Ninth-A new election under national authority
is desired by neither side.
TenM-Congress should exercise It's constitu-
tional powers We think William Pitt Kellogg was
the choice of the majority of the voters of 1872
and should be recognized.
ESegentb-These remedies are but superficial.
Efficient educational aid would have done much
to prevent the evil, and may do much to effect the
cure. The public sentiment of the rest of the
country, without distinction of party, may do
much TO remove, as 1t has already unfortunately
done much to aggravate, the evils of Louisiana.
The people should be made to understand that
the authority lodged in the National Government
to preserve republican form of government and
to protect the rights of all citizens will be kindly
but fearlessly and steadily exercised, and that
men who are seeking power by such methods as
we have been compelled to describe. Unless this
can be done the overthrow of the free institutions
of the whole United States will not long survive
the destruction of those in the South.