St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-30
EMPTY SEATS.
House Members Have an Unap-
preciatiVe Audience.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 29.-The debate
on the federal election bill in the house
is slow In warming up. Interest today
rather waned than waXed. Five very
commonplace speeches, by Lacey, of
Iowa; Dearmond, of Missouri; Gillett,
of Massachusetts: Wheeler, of Ala
bama, and Blair, of New Hampshire,
were delivered today to an audi
ence that decreased so rapidly that If
the debate had continued an hour
longer it would have left 10 one but the
speaker, the silver mace and the clock
to listen to the oratory. When the
house adjourned there were scarcely a
dozen members on the floor.
The debate on the Tucker bill was
resumed. Mr.. Lacey, of Iowa, took the
floor in opposition.
When Mr. Lacey began to describe
the peculiar election methods in vogue
in South Carolina, Mr.. Talbert, of that
state. became hOtly Indignant. After a
fierce alteration, the latter said: Il
deny the tone of the gentleman's re-
marks and challenge his proof"
Il am glad the gentleman denies the
tone of my remarks" replied Mr.. Lacey,
''for he cannot deny the facts. l am re-
sponsible for the tone; the facts speak
for themselves" Laughter
he went on to discuss other "South-
ern outrages," and at the conclusion of
his speech Mr.. McLaurin, of South Caro-
lima, secured the floor for five minutes
to reply TO Mr.. Lacey's structures on
South Carolina. He declared he was in
favor of local self-governmept. MI.
Wilson, OF Washington, interrupted to
ask why If the Democratic party was in
favor of local selt-government, Presi-
dent Cleveland had appointed Southern
men to places i'll Minnesota, North and
South Dakota and other Western states?
Mr.. Dearmond, of Missouri, followed
in support OF the measure. Mr.. Dear
mond went at length into history Ot
the purpose of these laws. They were
passed, he SAID. in anger, to repress and
degrade the South. >---
MI. Ray, of New York. interrupted
him to deny that they were aimed al
sections, declaring that they were sltp-
ported by some of the ablest Democrats
OF New York who were trying to use
them to overthrow the Tweed ring.
who were they?" asked Mr.. Dear
mOnd. 'Name them"
III name them in time" replied Mr..
Ray. Sunset Cox was one"
NN'JS ANPiSd I1l. w lSC, Ol v IL
ginia, this oft-repeated statement that
Sunset Cox supported these measures.
L have just examined the record, and /
find that he voted and spoke against
these laws just as every Democrat did,
Applause.
Mr.. Gillett, of Massachusetts, was the
next speaker for the opposition.
Mr.. Gillett and Dewitt Warner en-.
tered into heated alteration about
the condition of affairs in New York,
The existence of Fammany, Mr.. Gillett
said. was undesirable by good men OF
both parties in New York city, FAM.
many was all INSCRIPTIONS and uil-
principled organization, with no senti-
ment higher than spoils.
Mr.. GoldZier. of Chicago, arose to cor
rect some statements by Mr.. Cannon
relative TO the conviction Of Joe Mackin
in Chicago in 1884 for election frauds.
He pointed out that Mackin was ar
rested and sent to prison under state
laws, not federal laws. Mr.. Cannon
contended that, while this was true.
Mackln'S crime had been detected by
federal supervisors.
Gen. Wheeler, of Alabama, the great
Confederate cavalry leader, followed
with vigorous speech in support of the
measure. Graphically he painted tile
tyranny that had obtained in the South
as result of these laws. About the
only notable thing Gen. Wheeler said
was i'll the form of an inquiry sto
whether the people of the South would
prefer an armed deputy marshal or a
big buck negro" presiding at the polls.
Gen. Wheeler was followed by ex-
Senator Blair, of New Hampshire, who
returned to the house with the present
congress after twelve years service at
the other end of the capitol. Mr.. Blair
throat was so affected that he was forced
to ask the indulgence of the house 10
print his remarks i'll the record. The
house at 4:l5 adjourned