New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-15

HOT CONTEST IN PROGRESS IN THE
STATE.
Observation-Disclosures OF THE CoLoRED VOTERS
PLANNED BY THE DEMoCRATs-EFFEcT OF
THE UNsEArING OF MR. BOATNER--
HOPE OF FUSION VICTORY.

PLANNED BY THE hiS-Df 100 ~
THE UNsEArING OF Mr.. BoATNER--
HOPE OF FUSION VICTORY.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNE.l
Washington March "A (speciaD.-The report OF the
House Elections Committee declaring the seat now
occun,ed by Mr. Boatner, Of Louisiana, vacant
comes at a time when It may influence the canvass
at present in progress In that state 1or iui. S'"
end legislative ticket The election Will take pace o
April q. Excitement Is running hign' ana the re-
suit Is thought to be In doubt The Democracy al
,houyh IN fnII possession Of the States affairs. In
Gliding the election machinery, is unquestohaDiy
uneasy All available forces are being brought into
the field Senator Blanchard. under an indehhile
leave OF absence from his duties here mas gone 10
the rescue and will be followed by several OF HIS
colleagues from the House The opposition Is co'h-
posed Of both Popusts and Republicans anu Is leu
by men to the manner born
The leading issue at stake relates to the Suffrage
Tho Democrats have a scheme designed to dis
franchise the coored voters In bulk. Its adopt'oh
II is charged would deny the right 10 vote ~ az
least $1,000 out OF the 10000 colored voters III the
State and this would bring LOUISIANA into tue
same column with Mississippi and South Caro''"a
of a guaranteed white supremacy for many years
The fusion opposition is fighting this scheme with
all possible energy and is asserting that II can ohiy
no carried by resort 10 wholesale ballot-box
stufiing That Is to say. the negroes can only De
disfranchsed by the boxes being stuhed ana
counted against them In those parishes wnere they
are numerically strong. II the votes can De usea
next month in this way TO elect Democra.'c
Legislature. that Legislature Will enact 'he us
franchisng measure referred TO- s,. - ,ho
II happens that the Boatner case acoruing 10 .lne
Republican report made. illustrates the ev IN ques.
ZION The Vth Louisiana District Is composer vi
some counties with a majority or white men anu
some with a majority Of colored voters MI. Doa. .
nor the Democratic nominee. had Tor MS opponseI..
last I'm Populis and the returns sno"eu ~ ~
tho popullst candidate carried the white countes
ard Mr. Boatner the black counties. Inc returns
from the black counties were at once chaiIehesu
bv The Populist candidate on the ground tnat the
votes OF TIE coored men there were NOT cas- 70,
Mr. Boatner but that the boxes haa Desh stunea
and the returns were fraudulent. the hepupncan
W, toritv of the House Elections Committee aSrees
after investigation with this view or the Hia'e''
and declares that there was no election o
So Tar az the states affairs are concerned. con,
vress has no power OF interference. MISSISSIPPI ana
South Carolina have both DISTINGUISHED their col
ored voters and louisiana, II she can assemble
Legislature In sympathy with the scheme, nay d9
the same thing. But the Legislature 70 De eiectea
next month will be charged with the duty OF
choosing a successor to Mr.. Banchard ana tnat
will bring the situation within reach or the
II an appeal should be made TO that pody afans'
the seating OF the Senator chosen. III the IegIs-
iat,,re elected next month is subject TO the same
criticism on its title that has just been maue IN
the case OF Mr. Boatner there is no DOUBT thit tne
Republicans will ask the Senate TO DO IN tne case
~ MIR Rianchard's successor what the House Is
about TO do in the of Mr.. Boatner