The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-27
ADMISSION OF WYOMING.
Mr.. BARNES POINTS OUT The
FLAWS IN THE BILL.

A Lack of Population Alleged and
Objections Raised to the Female
Suffrage Clause-Ar. Dockery Points
Out that it is Only Scheme to In
crease the Power of the Republican
Party.
WASHINGTON, March 26-In the House
to-day Mr. Cannon of Illinois, from the
committee on rules, reported a resolution
making the Wyoming admission bill the
special order for to-day, recess to be taken
at $50 o'clock this afternoon until II o'clock
tomorrow, the previous question to be con-
sdered as ordered at 1 o'clock The res
olution was adopted, and the Wyoming bill
was then taken up.
Mr.. Baker OF New York submitted an
argument in support of the measure
Mr.. Barnes of Georgia opposed the bill
because he believed that there were gross
irregularities in the adoption of the consti-
tuition Of Wyoming, because he believed
that the territory did not contain the popu-
lation requisite for admission into the
union, and because there were Incorporated
in the constitution features based upon
the subject of female suffrage, which
were antagonistic to republican institutions.
On the question of woman's suffrage, he
said that he had no picture to draw of the
home, of women'S choice and Of mans
sphere. He believed that God had made the
two sexes each the complement of the other;
and that each, acting aS the complement of
the other, performed the highest duties
which nature had intended it to discharge.
1t had never been contemplated by the
fathers of the republic that woman should
have the right to vote.
Mr.. Cary of Wyoming made strong plea
for the admission Of the territory, which
he would welcome into the sisterhood of
states, and he defended the provision of the
constitution of the territory extending the
right Of suffrage to women.
ONLY A REPUBLICAN SCHEME.
Mr. Dockery of Missouri favored the ad-
mission Of new states as rapidly as the in-
crease OF population in the territories war
ranted. But he insisted on calling q spade
spade. After territory had been organ
lied fourteen years, the votes cast in 1888
aggregated but 500, and according to the
report of the minority of the committee,
1000 of them had been cast by
females. The total vote of
Wyoming and Idaho was less than
the vote cast in district" He submitted
that this was going too far. The bill was
nothing more or less than partisan meas.
utS, O6SAS uGu W peIPtbudlo OLO PONOA Va
the republican party. II like the Idaho
bill soon to follow should be called bill
to add three electoral votes and two sena-
tors to the republican column in 1892.
A DEPARTURE FROM CUSTOM.
Mr.. Oates of Alabama said that no new
states had ever come into the union on the
union on the terms proposed in this case
that women were TO have the right to vote
and to hold Office. Ii was delicate ques-
ton, aud he looked with great apprehension
upon the growing tendency toward exten-
sion of the right of the franchise. Women
suffrage had always been experimental,
| and the Judgment of history was that it
was not wise to iutrnst government to
women. IL the bill passed the House code
would have to be changed, for otherwise the
speaker might have to recognize lady
representing Wyoming as "the gentleman
from Wyoming" [Laughterl
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
He said the bill had another new feature
It concerned education and established
compulsory attendance at school. He was
opposed to this; it was the first time con-
gress had ever sought to establish compul-
soIy education. This would do for monarch
ical Germany, but not for free America.
We should afford all proper facilities for
education, but not violate personal rights
in requiring attendance upon the schools
Mr.. Washington of Tennessee also at
tackled the woman's suffrage clause and held
that the people of Wyoming had violated
the provision of the act limiting suffrage to
white male suffrage.
Mr.. Kerr of Iowa thought the opponents
of the bill were in bad straits when they
fell back for an objection upon the woman
suffrage provisions.
KELLY NOT AFRAID OF WOMEN.
Mr. Kelly of Kansas did not think that
the apprehensions of the gentlemen respect
ing woman's suffrage were well founded
He would not be frightened if women had
seaats on this floor, and perhaps it would
result in benefit. AT any rate they would
vote as intelligently as the male members
Mr.. Morris of Ohio spoke in support of
the bill, and advocated the civil and legal
enfrauchisement of women in all the states
of The union.
Mr.. Mansur of Missouri, in the few min
utes which remained, addressed himself TO
the country, If not to the House, for act
ually there were not twelve members in
their seats, and he said that the slim attend
ance reminded him of the fact that the
House was bringing a state into the union
by the Caesarean operation, rather than with
the care and comfort which surrounded the
accouchment Of an honorable member of
an honorable family.
The House then, at $50 o'clock, took a
recess until IL o'clock tomorrow morning.