Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-06-17
Republican Caucus.

i us vi tuO AIOuoO ~ 1sSP'>
sentatives were called together in caucus
last night to receive the report of the ceu-
Gus mmittee upon the national election
bill.
Mr.. Lodge briefly stated the substance Of
Its provisions.
Southern republicans generally voted
against the bill, aud Representatives E@art,
Of North Carolina, and Frank OF Missouri,
headed the movement In opposition.
The opposition gas directed to those
features of the bill providing for 6 United
States cenvassing board in tho election dis
tric.s. comp osed OF three citizsns of good re-
pute, and for the use of the certificates Of
these boards in the preparation OF The roll OF
membars-ele of The House.
This took form in the shape Of az amend
ment to the the bill proposed By Represen
tative Frank, of Missouri, by the terms Of
which the canvassing boards are to be COM
posed Of the United States chief supervisor,
the clerk of the United State District Court,
and the United States marshal for the dis
trict, and by reverting to the terms of the
original Rowell bill, 30 as to provide that in
case of COZ fictiug State and Federal re-
turns, the clerk of the House shall omit the
names of both parties from the roll of MEM
ber5.
After some discussion this amendment
Was rejected, and the entire bill was ap-
proved as 1t came from the caucus commit
tee.
Mr.. Ewsrt, of North Carolina, in speak
ing against the measure, denomiDated 1t as
"force BILL" He denounced it IS sec
tional measure, productive of nothing but
evil to the South, the only section to which
It WIS intended to apply. AS q measure OF
relief to the republicans Of the South it was
not worth the paper it was written upon.
Il would only Intensity race prejudices aud
engender sectional hosiility AIr. E1art
stated that in North Carolina, eZ
cept in what is known So the black district,
the elections were as fair as in any State in
the Union, and no election law like the
Lodge bill was needed there. The Law
would only be applied In the black district,
where the inevitable result would be riots
aud hloodshed II gentlemen Of the North
desired to show their sympathy for the M
fortunate negro and aooalied dowc-.rodden
republicans of the South. let them exhibit
That sympathy in practica! manner by run
ming their hands down In their pockets, and
passing an educational bill which would III
the negro for citizenship and enable him TO
protect his rights at he balloi-boA. He pre-
dicted that the passage Of the bill, instead OF
increasing, would decrease the republican
majority in the F,fty-seconG Congress. With
all the talk of frauds in eastern North Caro-
lima, and especially in the black district IN
that State, not a single indictment had yet
been found. though both the judge and dis
tsict attorney were republicans. l. was the
sama way in Alabama and other
southern States. If fraud was go
rampant in those States as charged
why could not republican officials en-
force the laws now on the statute books
What was needed in the South was to be
let alone. The negro question would settle
itself after awhile Force bills and election
bills, modelled on The Lodge plan, would
prove abortive and make republican success
10 that section absolutely impossible.
Having disposed OF the election bill the
caucus next turned it's attention to the anti
bin introduced by Repre-
sentative McComas. of Maryland. This was
discussed at some length. Before the vote
was taken many members had left the hal!
and the result was the defeat OF the bill by
a vote Of % to 26, as had been anticipated.