Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-09
DEBATE IN THE ALDRICH-PLOWMAN
CASE BEGINS.
w ELECTED BY FRAUD.
ALABAMA LAWS TEND To ESCoUR-
AGE CROOKEDNEss.
Put IIiiterate Voters Absolutely at
the Mercy Of Ticket Mar<ers-
Representative Fox Declares
the Negro Vote Is SOL
id No Longer.

Washington, Feb. S.-The house to-day
entered upon the consideration of the AID
rich-Plowman contested election case from
the Fourth Alabama district. The major
lily of the committee reported in favor of
seating the Republican candidate on the
ground OF conspiracy, an allegation vigor-
ously denied by the Democratic majority.
Mir. Plowman's plurality. on the face of the
returns. was 1856. The majority revised the
fEurcs so as to give !Aldrich a plurality of
az. Two speeches were made to-day on
each side. by Messrs. Taylor. Of Ohio. and
Mann. of Illinois, and by Messrs Fox, of
mississippi. and Settle. of Kentucky, for
the minority. Il is expected that 4 vote
vii! be reached Tomorrow.
Mr.. Plowman, the sitting member. is 4
Democrat. and Mr.. Aldrich was the Popu-
list and Republican candidate. The ma
1ority of the committee reported soIidly in
favor OF unseating Mr.. Plowman. Mr..
Taylor. who opened the debate with an
elaborate argument In favor of sustaining
The majority report, deplorcd the fact that
a partisan body was called upon TO pass
upon an election case. but in this particular
instance he said there had been no draft
upon his political prejudices. He ex-
pisinee the Alabama election laws, which
ne SAID could not lave been framed more
effectively 10 encourage fraud and thwart
inc people will. The illiteratc voter, he
said, was absolutely at the mercy of the
ticket marker. Fraud. he said. was every
where; not lurking or secret, but bold and
fnsolent.
Mr.. Fox. Democrat. of Mississippi. pre-
sented the case of the minority which re-
ported that Mr.. Plowman was entitled to
retain his seat. He dwelt upon the fact
mat Aldrinh ,y.ne 49, -
nee OF the Republican party and was op-
posed on the stump by leading Republicans
snu Populists. and that any assumption
that he commanded the full strength OF the
Republicans and Populists of the district
vas unwarranted. While there was a time,
eaid Mr. Fox. when the magic names of
Lincoln and Grant. together with 4 base
less fear that the domination Of their for
ner masters might again impress them in
10 slavery. kept the negroes solid. that
time had gone. Republicans from the
North had no right TO assume that every
negro was a Republican because his skin
IVES black. He controverted the claim that
a conspiracy existed. and maintained that
a revision of the returns, in accordance
with the testimony. would Still give Plow-
MIR. Mann. Republican. of Illinois. a mem
Der OF the committee. who followed. I'm
concluding his argument in favor of the
majority report. said he had gone into the
case with his prejudices in favor of the
South. His people were all Southerners.
But after examination of the testimony
fraud was patent and he could not but con-
denim a condition which. by conspiracy.
sought TO control the congress Of the United
States and legislate through fraud for the
business interests of the country. He APP
pealed TO his Republican associates to vote
TO seat the man who, in the face of Wilt
fcation, had the nerve and the manhood to
say to; the rascals who pursued him. L
will fight YOU TIL I die"
Mr.. Settle, Democrat, of Kentucky. an
other member of the committee. in opening
his argument, said that. while he feared
the verdict against Mr.. Plowman was al
ready made up, he could not believe that
honest men would seize upon a combina-
ton of isolated irregularities. none of
which amounted to actual fraud. as a sop
of conscience and vote to unseat a fellow
member because he was a Democrat. Mr..
Settle was very severe in his condemna-
ton of Mr.. Aldrich's tactics. His remarks
were given close attention and frequently
aroused his political associates to mani
festations of enthusiastic approval. Some
of his sallies were applauded even by Re
publicans.
Without completing his he
yielded TO a motion to adjourn, and at sos
p. m. the house adjourned.